to be sorry; sorry
HSK level
抱歉 is written with 22 strokes (抱: 8, 歉: 14). The animation replays automatically.
抱歉 (bàoqiàn) means 'to feel apologetic / sorry,' expressing regret for causing inconvenience or trouble.
Grammatically it behaves like an adjective describing your state ('I feel sorry'): 我很抱歉 (I'm very sorry), 感到抱歉 (to feel apologetic). It is a touch gentler and more polite than 对不起, which is a more direct 'I wronged you / excuse me.' English speakers should note the difference: use 对不起 when you have clearly done something to someone (stepped on their foot, broken a promise), and 抱歉 for softer regret, formal apologies, or troubling someone slightly (很抱歉打扰您 = sorry to bother you).
抱歉 also works well when you regret a situation you did not fully cause, where 对不起 would sound like admitting fault. Literally it is 'to hold (抱) regret (歉).'
Note: A polite, slightly softer 'sorry' than 对不起. Good for minor inconveniences, formal apologies, and situations where you regret something without necessarily being fully at fault.
Character by character
Memory hook: To 'hold' (抱) 'regret' (歉) inside — to feel sorry.
很抱歉，我来晚了。
Hěn bàoqiàn, wǒ lái wǎn le.
I'm very sorry, I'm late.
neutral
抱歉，打扰你一下。
Bàoqiàn, dǎrǎo nǐ yíxià.
Sorry to bother you for a moment.
spoken, polite
对于这个问题，我们感到很抱歉。
Duìyú zhège wèntí, wǒmen gǎndào hěn bàoqiàn.
We feel very sorry about this problem.
written
抱歉，这个座位有人了。
Bàoqiàn, zhège zuòwèi yǒu rén le.
Sorry, this seat is taken.
spoken
对不起 is a more direct apology admitting you wronged someone, and also serves as 'excuse me.' 抱歉 is softer and more formal, better for minor trouble or regret without full blame. Say 对不起 after bumping into someone; say 抱歉 when politely declining or troubling someone.
不好意思 is the casual, everyday 'sorry / excuse me / pardon me' for small social awkwardness. 抱歉 is more formal and expresses genuine regret; 不好意思 is lighter and often just smooths over minor interruptions.
道歉 is the verb 'to apologize' (the act of making an apology): 他向我道歉. 抱歉 describes the feeling of being sorry. You 道歉 by saying 抱歉.
遗憾 means 'to regret / it's a pity' about an outcome, with no apology implied. 抱歉 involves feeling responsible or apologetic toward someone; 遗憾 is regret about a situation, not an apology.
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