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过意不去 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
过意不去guòyìbúqùto feel very apologeticHSK 7, unknown, 28 strokes, rank #16463, Very Hard
guòyìbúqù(guo4yi4bu2qu4) T4
  1. 1to feel very apologetic
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March 24, 2026

过意不去(過意不去)guòyìbúqù(guo4yi4bu2qu4)

The idiom 过意不去 (guò yì bù qù) conveys a sense of feeling apologetic or guilty about a situation where one has imposed on someone else or feels they have caused discomfort. It is often used in contexts where one wishes to express regret for their actions or to acknowledge that they have not met someone's expectations.

Strokes28Frequency#16463DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony and acknowledging one's mistakes is valued highly. The phrase reflects the importance of interpersonal relationships and the social obligation to express remorse when one feels they have inconvenienced others.

Memory Tip

Imagine a guest at a party who has overstayed their welcome and feels so bad that they want to leave but can't. The character 过 (guò) means 'to pass' or 'to go over,' and 意 (yì) relates to 'meaning' or 'intention,' together suggesting the feeling of having crossed a boundary in social interactions.

Meanings of 过意不去

guòyìbúqù(guo4yi4bu2qu4)
1to feel very apologetic
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About 过意不去

过意不去Simplified
過意不去Traditional
28Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 过意不去

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AI Study Notes for 过意不去

Quick Contrast

抱歉 (bàoqiàn) vs 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi) — use 过意不去 when expressing deeper guilt or regret for an action, while 抱歉 is more straightforward and 不好意思 conveys a lighter sense of embarrassment.

Usage Notes

This idiom is typically used in informal conversations, especially when expressing personal feelings of regret. A common mistake is to use it too formally or in contexts where a simpler expression would suffice. Be cautious with the tone, as it can sound overly apologetic if misused.

HSK Study Tips

While not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, this idiom enriches your language skills by providing insight into nuances of apology and social relations. Focus on understanding how it fits into conversations about personal responsibilities and social interactions at HSK Level 4 and above.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse this idiom with other expressions of apology, such as 对不起 (duì bù qǐ). A common error is saying 过意不去 when they just want to say 'sorry' without the implication of guilt; instead, use 对不起 in those cases.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 过意不去

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Component Characters

过guò(experienced action marker)
HSK 26 strokes辶
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意yìItaly
HSK 313 strokes心
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不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
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去qùto go
HSK 15 strokes厶
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How to say to feel very apologetic in Chinese

“to feel very apologetic” in Chinese is过意不去guòyìbúqù

The idiom 过意不去 (guò yì bù qù) conveys a sense of feeling apologetic or guilty about a situation where one has imposed on someone else or feels they have caused discomfort. It is often used in contexts where one wishes to express regret for their actions or to acknowledge that they have not met someone's expectations.

When to use 过意不去

This idiom is typically used in informal conversations, especially when expressing personal feelings of regret. A common mistake is to use it too formally or in contexts where a simpler expression would suffice. Be cautious with the tone, as it can sound overly apologetic if misused.

过意不去 or something close to it

抱歉 (bàoqiàn) vs 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi) — use 过意不去 when expressing deeper guilt or regret for an action, while 抱歉 is more straightforward and 不好意思 conveys a lighter sense of embarrassment.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse this idiom with other expressions of apology, such as 对不起 (duì bù qǐ). A common error is saying 过意不去 when they just want to say 'sorry' without the implication of guilt; instead, use 对不起 in those cases.

Write 过意不去

过
意
不
去

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Frequently Asked Questions about 过意不去

Use it when you genuinely feel sorry for an action that may have affected someone else negatively.

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