How to Say Sorry I'm Late and My Bad in Mandarin Chinese
Learn casual Mandarin apologies for small mistakes: 对不起我来晚了, 我错了, 不好意思, 没事, 没关系. Use brief, friendly phrases to apologize and accept apologies in everyday situations.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin Chinese, apologizing for minor issues like being late or making a small mistake is often brief and casual. Unlike formal apologies that may include lengthy explanations, everyday apologies use short phrases such as 对不起我来晚了 (duìbuqǐ wǒ lái wǎn le) or 我错了 (wǒ cuò le). This lesson teaches you five essential phrases to apologize casually and accept apologies naturally. You will learn when to use 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) versus 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi), and how to respond with 没事 (méishì) or 没关系 (méiguānxi). By the end, you can handle minor social slip-ups in Mandarin with confidence and appropriate politeness.
By the end, you can…
- apologize for being late using 对不起我来晚了 or 不好意思我来晚了.
- say 'my bad' with 我错了 or 我的错.
- accept an apology with 没事, 没关系, or 不要紧.
- choose between formal and casual apology phrases based on context.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
对不起，我来晚了。
Sorry, I'm late.
duìbuqǐ, wǒ lái wǎn le.
Standard apology for being late. 对不起 is polite but not overly formal; suitable for friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. Note: 对不起 is often written with a comma after it, as in the phrase text.
不好意思，我迟到了。
Sorry, I'm late.
bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ chídào le.
Softer and more casual than 对不起. 不好意思 literally means 'embarrassed' and is common for minor inconveniences. 迟到 (chídào) is a verb meaning 'to be late/arrive late'.
我错了。
My bad. / I was wrong.
wǒ cuò le.
Very casual, often used among friends or close colleagues. Can sound blunt if used with strangers or superiors. 我错了 literally means 'I was wrong', not specifically 'my bad'.
没事。
It's okay. / No problem.
méishì.
Common response to an apology. Friendly and casual; use with peers or in informal settings. 没事 literally means 'nothing's wrong / it's nothing'.
没关系。
It doesn't matter. / It's okay.
méiguānxi.
Slightly more neutral than 没事. Works in both casual and semi-formal situations. 没关系 literally means 'it doesn't matter / it's alright'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To apologize for a minor issue, use 对不起 or 不好意思 followed by a short reason. For example: 对不起，我来晚了。 (Sorry, I'm late.) 不好意思，我迟到了。 (Sorry, I'm late.) You can also use 我错了。 (My bad.) as a standalone. To accept an apology, reply with 没事。 (It's okay.) or 没关系。 (It doesn't matter.) These phrases are brief and do not require a subject or verb change. Note that Chinese does not conjugate verbs for tense; 了 (le) here marks a change of state or completion, as in 我来晚了 (I've arrived late / I'm late now).
When to use it
Use 对不起 for a sincere apology when you have caused a small inconvenience, such as arriving late to a meeting with a friend. Use 不好意思 for lighter situations, like bumping into someone or interrupting. 我错了 is best among close friends or peers; it can sound too casual with a boss or elder. When accepting an apology, 没事 is very common among friends, while 没关系 is safe in most situations. Avoid using 我错了 with strangers; instead, say 对不起. In formal contexts, you might add an explanation, but for minor issues, brevity is preferred.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
对不起，我来晚了。
Sorry, I'm late.duìbuqǐ, wǒ lái wǎn le.没事，我也刚到。
It's okay, I just got here too.méishì, wǒ yě gāng dào.不好意思，让你久等了。
Sorry to keep you waiting.bù hǎoyìsi, ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le.没关系，别放在心上。
It's okay, don't take it to heart.méiguānxi, bié fàng zài xīn shàng.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese culture, minor apologies are often brief to maintain harmony and avoid over-dramatizing. Using 不好意思 is very common in daily life for small inconveniences. While 对不起 is polite, overusing it for trivial matters may seem overly formal. Accepting an apology with 没事 or 没关系 helps smooth social interactions. Among friends, 我错了 can be used playfully, but with elders or superiors, a more respectful tone is expected.
One thing to watch for
Using 我错了 with a boss or elder as a casual 'my bad'.
Try this instead: 我错了 is too casual for formal or hierarchical relationships. Instead, use 对不起，我错了。 (Sorry, I was wrong.) or 不好意思，是我的错。 (Sorry, it's my fault.) to show appropriate respect.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'Sorry, I'm late' in a casual way?
Show a sample answer
不好意思，我迟到了。
不好意思 is a common casual apology, and 我迟到了 means 'I'm late'. 对不起，我来晚了 is also correct but slightly more formal.
2What is a common response to '对不起' among friends?
Show a sample answer
没事。
没事 is a friendly, casual way to say 'it's okay'. 没关系 is also correct and slightly more neutral.
3Translate 'My bad' in a casual situation with friends.
Show a sample answer
我错了。
我错了 literally means 'I was wrong' and is used casually among peers. 我的错 is another option, but 我错了 is more common.
For minor apologies in Mandarin, keep it short: use 对不起 or 不好意思 plus a brief reason, or 我错了 among friends. Accept with 没事 or 没关系. Match your tone to the relationship.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr