How to Say ‘Sorry, Manager Wang isn't in right now.’ in Traditional Chinese
不好意思，王經理現在不在。
bù hǎo yì sī wáng jīng lǐ xiàn zài bù zài
[bù hǎoyìsi wáng jīnglǐ xiànzài bù zài]
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: 不好意思 is the go-to soft apology in Taiwan. It sounds lighter and more natural here than 對不起 "I'm sorry", which is used for real wrongdoing.
Phrase Breakdown
不好意思，
bù hǎo yì sī
Sorry,
不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) is a soft, polite 'sorry' or 'excuse me'. 不 stays fourth tone here because 好 is third tone.
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.
不好意思，廁所在哪裡？
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
王經理
wáng jīng lǐ
Manager Wang
Surname 王 (Wáng) plus the title 經理 (jīnglǐ), manager.
王經理很忙。
Manager Wang is very busy.
Words in this phrase
王
wáng
[wáng]
Wang (surname)
A very common Chinese family name.
王先生住在我家隔壁。
Mr. Wang lives next door to me.
經理
jīng lǐ
[jīnglǐ]
manager
A person in charge of a team or department; used as a polite title.
她是我們的經理。
She is our manager.
現在不在。
xiàn zài bù zài
is not here right now.
This is a common phone phrase meaning the person is out. Say 不 as bú before 在.
老闆現在不在。
The boss isn't here right now.
Words in this phrase
現在
xiàn zài
[xiànzài]
now
At the present moment.
現在幾點？
What time is it now?
不
bù
[bù]
not
Used for negation.
這篇文章根本不含劍法招式的描述。
This article fundamentally does not include descriptions of sword skills.
在
zài
[zài]
to be present; to be in
Means someone is present at a place; 不在 means they are not here.
老闆今天不在辦公室。
The boss isn't in the office today.
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