🙏😅⏳❓

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

不好意思，等很久了嗎？

bù hǎo yì sī děng hěn jiǔ le ma

[bù hǎoyìsi děng hen jiǔ le ma]

🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Opening with 不好意思 when you arrive, even if you're barely late, is a polite Taiwanese habit and sets a considerate tone for a date.

Phrase Breakdown

不好意思，

bù hǎo yì sī

sorry / excuse me

不好意思 is a polite apology, softer than 對不起. 思 is said lightly.

Example

不好意思，我遲到了。

Sorry, I'm late.

Words in this phrase

不好意思

bù hǎo yì sī

[bù hǎoyìsi]

excuse me; sorry

A light apology or polite way to get attention; very common in Taiwan.

Example

不好意思，廁所在哪裡？

Excuse me, where is the restroom?

等很久了嗎？

děng hěn jiǔ le ma

have you been waiting long?

等 (wait) + 很久 (long time) + 了嗎 (have you…?).

Example

你們等很久了嗎？

Have you all been waiting long?

Words in this phrase

等

děng

[děng]

to wait

To stay in one place until a certain time or event.

Example

我在等車。

I am waiting for the bus.

很

hěn

[hen]

very; quite

An adverb used before adjectives to mean very or quite.

Example

這家公司很重視溝通。

This company really values communication.

久

jiǔ

[jiǔ]

long (time)

Describes a long duration of time.

Example

我等了很久。

I waited a long time.

了

[le]

change-of-state particle

With 快…了, shows something is about to happen.

Example

火車快來了。

The train is about to arrive.

嗎

[ma]

question particle

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

Example

你喜歡這個活動嗎？

Do you like this event?

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