How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in Traditional Chinese
不好意思
bù hǎo yì sī
[boo how ee suh]
💬 Usage Tip: Literally 不好意思 means "embarrassed", so you'll also hear it as a light "sorry" when you bump into someone or ask a small favor.
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: In Taiwan this is the go-to way to interrupt a coworker or stranger. It's softer and more common than 對不起, which is saved for real apologies.
Phrase Breakdown
不好意思
bù hǎo yì sī
[boo how ee suh]
excuse me; sorry to bother you
A polite opener used to get someone's attention gently, especially with strangers or in social settings like a bar.
不好意思，你今天的穿搭真的很好看。
Excuse me, your outfit looks really great today.
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