There are many ways to say “sorry” in Mandarin Chinese, but one of the most common and versatile phrases is ►duì bu qǐ. This consists of three Chinese characters: 對不起. The first, 對 (duì), means “for” or “to.” The second character, 不 (bù), is a negative particle. The third character, 起 (qǐ), means “to rise.”

The literal translation of duì bu qǐ, then, is “don’t get up,” which could perhaps be interpreted as “stay calm.”
Examples of Dui Bu Qi

    ► Duì bu qǐ, wǒ gāi zǒu le.
    對不起, 我該走了｡
    对不起, 我该走了｡
    Sorry, I have to go now.

    ► Rú guǒ wǒ shuō duì bu qǐ, nǐ shì fǒu jiù huì yuán liàng wǒ?
    如果我說對不起, 你是否就會原諒我?
    如果我说对不起, 你是否就会原谅我?
    If I say I’m sorry, will you be able to forgive me?