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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "apologize" in Chinese?
道歉
dào qiàn
In Chinese, "apologize" is 道歉 (dào qiàn).
Listen to the pronunciation:
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Pronunciation
Native speakers give dào qiàn "dào" snapped down sharply (fourth tone), then "qiàn" snapped down sharply (fourth tone).
Writing and usage
道歉 is written using hanzi. It's a verb, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
他来为错误道歉。
tā lái wèi cuò wù dào qiàn 。
He came to apologize for the mistake.
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How to remember 道歉
Hold this scene in mind: apologize, paired tightly with the sound "dào qiàn" — that's the whole trick.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 道歉
How do you pronounce 道歉?
Native speakers give dào qiàn "dào" snapped down sharply (fourth tone), then "qiàn" snapped down sharply (fourth tone).
Is 道歉 formal or casual?
道歉 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 道歉 used in Chinese?
道歉 is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: 他来为错误道歉。 (He came to apologize for the mistake.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Apologize" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.
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