Saying Sorry In English - Level Up Your English Conversation

用英文說抱歉 — 提升您的英文會話

Hi I'm Oli. Welcome to Oxford Online English. I’ve got a question: have you ever forgotten  

嗨，我是Oli。歡迎來到Oxford Online English。我有一個問題：您曾經

your best friend’s birthday, or  been late for an important meeting? 

忘記您最好的朋友的生日嗎？或者曾經 在一個重要會議遲到嗎？

Have you ever spilt coffee on a friend’s shirt? 

您曾經把咖啡灑到一個朋友的襯衫上嗎？

What connects all these situations? 

所有這些情況與什麼有關聯？

They’re all situations where you might need to  apologise. If so, what would you say? Of course,  

它們都是您可能需要道歉的情形。如果 是這樣，您要說什麼？當然，

to apologise, you can just say ‘I’m  sorry’, but there’s much more language  

要道歉，您可能只是說“I’m  sorry”，但是，有太多母語人士

that native-level English speakers use  to apologise and express how they feel. 

用於道歉並表達他們 感覺怎樣的說法。

You'll learn a wide range of language to apologise in this lesson.

您會在本節課裡學到很廣 範圍的道歉的說法。

This video is part of a series called 'Level Up'

本影片是一個可以擴展您的日常英文交談

where you can expand your English conversation skills in everyday situations.

技能的名為“Level Up”系列的一部分。

Don't forget to check our other videos in our 'Level Up' series, too.

也不要忘記查看我們“Level Up”系列的其他影片。

Another thing: Don't forget to turn on subtitles if you need them.

另一件事情：如果您想要看， 不要忘記打開字幕。

This video has English subtitles. Click the 'CC' button on the video player to turn them on.

本影片有英文和中文字幕。點擊影片播放 軟體的“CC”按鍵，打開它們。

Are you ready for your class? Let's begin!

您準備好上課了嗎？我們開始吧！

I’m really annoyed! I came here specifically  

I’m really annoyed! I came here specifically

to buy an oven dish that I saw online, but  then I was told you don’t sell them any more. 

to buy an oven dish that I saw online, but  then I was told you don’t sell them any more.

Yes, the supplier went out  of business, unfortunately. 

Yes, the supplier went out  of business, unfortunately.

I drove all the way from Linden to buy one!  Why is it on your website if you don’t have it? 

I drove all the way from Linden to buy one!  Why is it on your website if you don’t have it?

I apologise for the inconvenience. It  happened very suddenly and we haven’t  

I apologise for the inconvenience. It  happened very suddenly and we haven’t

had time to update our website yet. Well, I’m not happy with this. 

had time to update our website yet. Well, I’m not happy with this.

I *do* apologise. I know it must be  disappointing. Is there something else  

I *do* apologise. I know it must be  disappointing. Is there something else

I can help you with instead? No thank you.

I can help you with instead? No thank you.

Saying ‘I apologise’ is a formal way of saying  sorry. You’ll most often hear it in a business  

說“I apologise”是一個說抱歉的正式 方式。您會在商業氛圍裡、在辦公室裡或

environment, at an office or to someone in  authority – like a boss, or a judge or a  

對某些執法人員時 — 像是老闆、或一位 法官、一位警官那樣的人說

police officer, someone like that. You may encounter different forms  of ‘I apologise’ – such as ‘I *do* apologise’,  

— 像是“I *do* apologise”時，最常聽到 它。您也許會遇到“I apologise”的不同形式或

or ‘Please accept my apologies’ or ‘my  *sincerest* apologies’. Words like ‘do’  

“Please accept my apologies”或“my  *sincerest* apologies”。像是"do"和“sincerest”

and ‘sincerest’ add emphasis, showing the other  person that you feel bad about what happened.

的單字增加了強調，向其他人表明 您對發生的事情感覺很差。

These different forms of ‘I apologise’ are  often found in formal writing. Have you  

這些“I apologise”的不同形式常會在 正式的寫作裡看到。您曾經

ever received a letter of apology  from a business for bad service?  

因為糟糕的服務收到一封來自一個 商業實體的致歉信嗎？

In English, those letters would often  start with something like: ‘We apologise …’

在英文裡，這些信件通常會以某些 像是：“We apologise …”開頭。

How else could you apologise in formal writing? The letter from the college came! 

在正式書寫裡，您可以怎麼做出其他的道歉？ 一封來自大學的信件到了！

That’s so exciting! What does it say? Dunno, haven’t opened it yet. 

那真是太興奮了！它說什麼了？ 不知道，還沒有打開它呢。

Well, what are you waiting for? Here goes... 

好，您在期待什麼？ 在這裡，來吧...

Go on! What does it say? Dear Miss Phillips, we regret to inform you… 

繼續！它說什麼了？ Dear Miss Phillips, we regret to inform you…

Oh, no... I’m so sorry. “We regret to inform you that your  

噢，不要... 我很抱歉。 “We regret to inform you that your

application to was unsuccessful.” I’m so sorry you didn’t get  

application to was unsuccessful.” 我真的很抱歉您沒有得到。

in. I know how much you wanted it. Well, we’re here now, so we might as well get an  

我知道您是多期待它。 好，我們現在在這裡，所以我們

What? Why? There’s a sign: “We regret to  

也許一樣會得到一個什麼？為什麼？ 有一個信號： “We regret to

inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances  we will be closed until further notice.”

inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances  we will be closed until further notice.”

Communication from companies often use  the phrase ‘we regret to inform you that…’

來自公司的通信通常會使用片語 “we regret to inform you that…”

‘We regret to inform you that you  were not selected for the interview’.

“We regret to inform you that you  were not selected for the interview”。

‘We regret to inform you that your insurance  policy does not cover such situations.’

“We regret to inform you that your insurance  policy does not cover such situations.”

But what about everyday conversations?  Perhaps you want to apologise to a friend  

但是，日常對話呢？您也許想對  一位朋友，或一位

or a sibling or a neighbour?

兄弟姐妹或一位鄰居道歉嗎？

Oooh! Ouch! look what you’ve done,  you’ve spilt hot coffee all over me! 

噢！哎呀！看看您做了什麼， 您把熱咖啡灑了我一身！

Oh! I am so sorry! This shirt is ruined! 

噢！我真的太抱歉了！ 這件襯衫毀了！

Here, let me help…

在這裡，我來幫一下…

I’m really sorry! That was so  clumsy of me! Please let me pay  

我真的很抱歉！我太笨拙了！  請允許我來付錢再幫您買件襯衫，

for the shirt. It’s the least I can do. Sometimes I don’t know where your head is. 

那是至少我可以做的。 有時，我不知道您聽到哪裡。

I know, I really should pay more  attention to my surroundings.

我知道，我真的應該更注意 我的周邊環境。

The simplest way of apologising is to say,  

最簡單的道歉方式是說

‘I'm sorry’. It’s neutral language  which fits almost any situation.

“I'm sorry”。這是幾乎適合任何 情形的中性說法。

However, if the incident is more serious,  

然而，如果意外是很嚴重的，

you could add a word like  ‘very’ or ‘really’ for emphasis.

您可以增加一個單字像是 “very”或“really”來強調。

You can also make an apology sound  stronger by emphasising the auxiliary verb.  

您也可以通過強調助動詞的方式 來讓道歉聽起來更強。

For example, ‘I *am* sorry’ sounds  stronger than just ‘I’m sorry’.

例如“I *am* sorry”比只是 “I’m sorry”聽起來要更強。

I’m sorry, but I just don’t think your  son is ready to play on the team yet! 

I’m sorry, but I just don’t think your  son is ready to play on the team yet!

I don’t understand why you say that. He’s  been working so hard and he’s improved a lot. 

I don’t understand why you say that. He’s  been working so hard and he’s improved a lot.

He has, I can see that, but he’s  still the weakest pitcher on the team. 

He has, I can see that, but he’s  still the weakest pitcher on the team.

You should give him a chance. He may not be  great at the game but he’s very enthusiastic. 

You should give him a chance. He may not be  great at the game but he’s very enthusiastic.

I’m sorry but that doesn’t make any sense at all.  

I’m sorry but that doesn’t make any sense at all.

We have a championship coming up. Well, I’m sorry you see it that way…

We have a championship coming up. Well, I’m sorry you see it that way…

You can see that ‘I’m sorry’ can be used in many  different useful ways depending on the context.  

您可以看到“I’m sorry”可以以很多有 用的不同方式依上下文來使用。

You can say 'Sorry' or 'I'm sorry' even in  situations where you haven’t done anything wrong!

甚至是在您沒有做錯任何事情的情形 之下，您可以說“Sorry”或“I'm sorry”！

You can use it to disagree politely. For example:  ‘I’m sorry, but what you’re saying isn’t logical’.

您可以用它來禮貌地拒絕。例如： “I’m sorry, but what you’re saying isn’t logical."

You can use it to introduce something you  think the other person won’t want to hear;  

您可以用它來介紹某些您認為 其他人可能不想聽的事情。

for example: ‘I'm sorry, but I don’t think  James will qualify for the race this season’.

例如：”I'm sorry, but I don’t think  James will qualify for the race this season.“

You can use it to express disappointment: ‘I’m  sorry you won’t be joining us this evening!’

您可以用它來表達失望：”I’m  sorry you won’t be joining us this evening!“

You can even say 'I'm sorry' to express  sympathy when you hear sad news: ‘I’m sorry  

甚至當您聽到悲傷的訊息時，您可以說 ”I'm sorry“來表達同情。”I’m sorry

you haven’t been feeling well’. Oh no! Are you okay? 

you haven’t been feeling well’. Oh no! Are you okay?

I’m okay… but, my car! It’s a complete  write-off! What am I going to do! 

I’m okay… but, my car! It’s a complete  write-off! What am I going to do!

I am really sorry. It’s my  fault. I wasn’t paying attention. 

I am really sorry. It’s my  fault. I wasn’t paying attention.

How will I get to work? Oh, what a mess! I’m really very sorry. I’ll sort it out.  

How will I get to work? Oh, what a mess! I’m really very sorry. I’ll sort it out.

Please give me your insurance details. I’ll  have the car towed. Can I call you a taxi?

Please give me your insurance details. I’ll  have the car towed. Can I call you a taxi?

You heard before that you can  use words like ‘really’ or ‘very’  

您之前有聽過您可以使用像是 “really”或“very”搭配“sorry”

together with ‘sorry’ to make your apology  stronger. However, as you heard here,  

來讓您的道歉更有誠意嗎。 然而，當您聽到這裡，

you can also use both words together for  extra emphasis: ‘I’m really very sorry.’

您也可以同時使用這兩個單字來特別 強調：“I’m really very sorry.”

If you not only want to apologise, but  also take responsibility for something,  

如果您不僅想道歉，也想 對某事情承擔責任，

you can say ‘It’s my fault.’ Hi, excuse me, hello, I think you’re in my seat. 

您可以說“It’s my fault.” Hi, excuse me, hello, I think you’re in my seat.

No, I don’t think so. This  is 23A. And it says so on my ticket. 

No, I don’t think so. This  is 23A. And it says so on my ticket.

May I have a look? Um, no... your  ticket says 28A. That’s over there. 

May I have a look? Um, no... your  ticket says 28A. That’s over there.

I beg your pardon? I said: your ticket says twenty eight A. 

I beg your pardon? I said: your ticket says twenty eight A.

Oh, excuse me... my eyes and  ears aren’t what they use to be. 

Oh, excuse me... my eyes and  ears aren’t what they use to be.

It’s quite alright. Do you  need help moving your things?

It’s quite alright. Do you  need help moving your things?

‘Excuse me’ is mostly used  to get someone’s attention,  

“Excuse me”常用來得到某人的注意。

as in ‘Excuse me, but can I ask you a question?’

像是在“Excuse me, but can I ask you a question?”

However, you might also use it as  an apology in certain situations.  

然而，您也許會使用它在 某些情形下當做一個道歉。

It’s quite old-fashioned and  formal when used in this way.

當以這種方式使用時，那是 十分過時的正式方式。

‘Excuse me’ can also mean ‘I’m sorry,  but I didn’t hear what you said’.

“Excuse me”也可以意思是“I’m sorry,  but I didn’t hear what you said.”

You heard another formal phrase in the  dialogue just now. Do you remember it?

您在剛剛的對話裡聽到了另一個 正式的片語。您記得它嗎？

You heard: ‘I beg your pardon’. This is a  formal way of apologising. It’s rarely used  

您聽到：“I beg your pardon.”這是一個 正式道歉的方式。那是在現代

in modern conversational English, but you might  hear it. Sometimes people use it ironically.

英文會話裡極少用到的，但是，也許您 聽過它。有時人們會諷刺性地使用它。

Hello, Derek, thanks so much for coming to see me. 

Hello, Derek, thanks so much for coming to see me.

Hello, Mrs Sanders. As you may have guessed,  

Hello, Mrs Sanders. As you may have guessed,

this is about the whole petty cash incident. Go on... 

this is about the whole petty cash incident. Go on...

Well, it seems we owe you an apology;  the thief was caught this morning. 

Well, it seems we owe you an apology;  the thief was caught this morning.

That’s good to hear. I told  you I didn’t take the money. 

That’s good to hear. I told  you I didn’t take the money.

Yes, you did, and I owe you a  sincere apology for accusing you. 

Yes, you did, and I owe you a  sincere apology for accusing you.

Well, I appreciate the apology, but  I was really hurt by the accusation. 

Well, I appreciate the apology, but  I was really hurt by the accusation.

I know, I know. And for that, I  apologise and hope we can move past it.

I know, I know. And for that, I  apologise and hope we can move past it.

You can use ‘I owe you an apology’ when you  realize that you’ve done something wrong  

當您意識到您做錯了什麼，您想改正 它時，您可以用“I owe you an apology”。

and you want to put it right. You can also say it  to other people if *they've* done something wrong.  

如果*他們曾*做了某些錯事， 您也可以對另一個人說它。

For example, if your child  snatches a toy from another child  

例如，如果您的小孩從另一個 小孩那裡搶走了一個玩具，

you could say: ‘Kelly, I think you  owe Neil an apology, don’t you?’

您可以說：“Kelly, I think you  owe Neil an apology, don’t you?”

You can also use this phrase to  demand an apology from someone else,  

您也可以說“I think you owe me an apology.”這個片語來要求

by saying ‘I think you owe me an apology.’

其他人給一個道歉。

We’ve now heard some words and phrases  you can use to say you are sorry.  

我們現在聽到了您可以用來說 您很抱歉的一些單字和片語。

But sometimes, people apologise without  actually using any of these words.

但是，有時，人們在沒有實際 使用這些單字的情形下道歉。

Why isn’t the environmental report on my desk yet? The internet was down again.  

Why isn’t the environmental report on my desk yet? The internet was down again.

I couldn’t do the research. 

I couldn’t do the research.

I’m so tired of this service provider. I  couldn’t even do my presentation yesterday. 

I’m so tired of this service provider. I  couldn’t even do my presentation yesterday.

This has been going on for weeks now.  We’re all falling behind on our work. 

This has been going on for weeks now.  We’re all falling behind on our work.

Oh well, what can you do? We’re all  so reliant on technology these days.

Oh well, what can you do? We’re all  so reliant on technology these days.

Apologies are sometimes given in an indirect  way, without using words such as ‘I am sorry’,  

道歉有時是以一種非直接的方式 給出的，沒有使用像是“I am sorry”或

‘or ‘please accept my apology’. Instead,  people sometimes offer an explanation instead.

“please accept my apology”的話。取代 的是，人們有時提出一個解釋來替代。

For example, in a city where public  transportation is unreliable, coming  

例如，在公共交通不可信賴的城市， 出席會議遲到並給出一個

late to a meeting and giving an explanation like,  ‘The bus was late,’ might be perfectly acceptable.  

像這樣的解釋 “The bus was late,” 也許是完全可以被接受的。

In a city known for its heavy snowfall,  an explanation like ‘The snow was so heavy  

在常下大雪的城市裡， 一個解釋像是“The snow was so heavy

this morning I couldn’t get my car out of  the driveway’ may be all you need to say.

this morning I couldn’t get my car out of  the driveway”也許是全部您要說的。

Now, let’s see if you can take the language you’ve  learned today and apply it to a real situation.

現在，我們看看您是否能把您今天學到的 說法運用到一個真實的情形裡。

I can’t believe you missed the meeting!

I can’t believe you missed the meeting!

Could you respond? What did you say?

Could you respond? What did you say?

There are many possibilities. But  some are more appropriate than others.  

有很多可能性。但是， 有些是比其他的更合適。

Maybe you were tempted to say ‘I’m sorry!’ – but  is that really the best choice in this situation?

也許您想說“I’m sorry!” – 但是，在這個情形 裡，那真的是最好的選擇嗎？

Let’s see how this may play out in the real world.

我們看看這會怎樣在現實世界裡發揮作用。

Molly: I can’t believe you missed the meeting! The bus was late and the traffic on  

Molly: I can’t believe you missed the meeting! The bus was late and the traffic on

Stevens Street was awful! That’s hardly an excuse. You  

Stevens Street was awful! That’s hardly an excuse. You

should’ve made another plan. You know how  important this meeting is for the company. 

should’ve made another plan. You know how  important this meeting is for the company.

I know. I apologise. I should’ve left home sooner. You really let me down. I thought I  

I know. I apologise. I should’ve left home sooner. You really let me down. I thought I

could rely on you. You can! I sincerely  

could rely on you. You can! I sincerely

apologise. It won’t happen again. Maybe I  can phone Mr Beach to try and reschedule?

apologise. It won’t happen again. Maybe I  can phone Mr Beach to try and reschedule?

By saying ‘I apologise’ and adding the word  ‘sincerely’, you have a better chance of  

通過說“I apologise”以及添加單字 ”sincerely“，您有一個更好的

communicating just how much you regret missing  the meeting. You could say ‘it won’t happen  

機會表達您對錯過會議有多遺憾。 您可以說”it won’t happen

again’ to show your commitment to not making  the same mistake again. Adding an offer to  

again“來表明您不再犯相同錯誤的承諾。 添加嘗試解決問題的提議

try and fix the situation may just show how much  you care, and smooth things over with the boss.

可能只是表明您有多關心，  來和老闆打圓場。

So, you’ve seen many different ways to apologise.  Why not put your new skills to the test right now?

那麼，您看到了道歉的很多不同方式。為 什麼不現在把新技能運用在測驗裡面呢？

Pause the video and try to complete the phrases.

暫停影片並試著完成片語。

Could you do it? Need more time? You can take  more time! Try to get as many answers as you can.

您可以做什麼？需要更多時間嗎？您可以花 更多的時間！試著做您能做的更多答案。

Let’s see the answers now.

我們現在看看答案。

How did you do? Did you get them all?  Being able to apologise effectively is  

您做得怎樣？全部都做好了嗎？ 能夠有效率地道歉是一個

a skill that will be useful throughout your life.

在您一生中都能用到的技能。

I hope you enjoyed today’s  lesson. Thanks for watching!

我希望您享受今天的課程。 感謝觀看！

See you soon!

下次見！