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How to Say ‘Sorry, have you been waiting long?’ in Simplified Chinese

不好意思，等很久了吗？

bù hǎo yì sī děng hěn jiǔ le ma

[bù hǎoyìsi dung hen jiǔ le ma]

Phrase Breakdown

不好意思，

bù hǎo yì sī

sorry / excuse me

This is a polite, light apology, often used when you are late or bother someone. Say it as bù hǎo yìsi, with 思 in the neutral tone.

Example

不好意思，我来晚了。

Sorry, I'm late.

Words in this phrase

不好意思

bù hǎo yì sī

[bù hǎoyìsi]

sorry; excuse me

Polite expression of mild apology or embarrassment.

Example

不好意思，我来晚了。

Sorry, I'm late.

等很久了吗？

děng hěn jiǔ le ma

Have you been waiting long?

This asks whether someone has waited a long time. Remember the tone change: 很久 is said hén jiǔ.

Example

你等很久了吗？

Have you been waiting long?

Words in this phrase

等

děng

[dung]

to wait

Describes the act of staying prepared or in expectation for something to happen.

Example

我在等班车。

I am waiting for the bus.

很

hěn

[hen]

very

An adverb meaning “very,” often used before adjectives in polite conversation.

Example

这个活动很热闹，“很”常用来加强语气。

This event is lively; 很 is often used to strengthen the tone.

久

jiǔ

[jiǔ]

long (time)

Describes a long period of time.

Example

你等了多久？

How long did you wait?

了

[le]

change-of-state particle

Used with 快…了 to show something is about to happen.

Example

火车快来了。

The train is about to arrive.

吗

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你是第一次来吗？这里的“吗”表示提问。

Is this your first time here? Here, 吗 marks a question.

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