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道歉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
道歉dàoqiànto apologizeHSK 4, v, 26 strokes, rank #902, Medium
dàoqiàn(dao4qian4)dao qian T4
  1. 1to apologize
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March 24, 2026

道歉dàoqiàn(dao4qian4)

道歉 (dàoqiàn) means 'to apologize' in Chinese. It is commonly used in both formal and informal settings to express regret for an action that may have caused harm or inconvenience to another person. Understanding the nuance of sincerity in the apology is important in various social contexts.

Strokes26Frequency#902DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, apologizing is often seen as a way to maintain harmony in relationships. It is customary to apologize sincerely, especially in situations involving family or close friends, to restore balance.

Memory Tip

Think of 道 as 'path' and歉 as 'sadness.' Imagine walking down a path where you accidentally step on someone's foot; you feel sad and need to apologize. The sound 'dào' rhymes with 'how,' which can remind you of the phrase 'how to apologize.'

Meanings of 道歉

dàoqiàn(dao4qian4)
1to apologize
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About 道歉

道歉Simplified
26Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#902Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 道歉

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Podcast: 道歉

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AI Study Notes for 道歉

Quick Contrast

致歉 (zhìqiàn) - use 道歉 (dàoqiàn) for more casual or personal apologies, while 致歉 (zhìqiàn) is often reserved for formal contexts.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of using the correct tone when apologizing; the sincerity of your tone can greatly affect how your apology is received. A common mistake is to confuse 道歉 with 赔偿 (péi cháng), which means 'to compensate'—apologizing does not imply compensation. Also, avoid overusing the phrase in trivial situations to maintain its weight.

HSK Study Tips

As a level 4 HSK word, 道歉 connects well with other verbs related to communication and social interactions, such as 谈 (tán, to discuss) and 感谢 (gǎnxiè, to thank). Students should focus on practicing the phrase in various contexts to enhance their conversational skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 道歉 with 说对不起 (shuō duìbùqǐ), which means 'to say sorry.' While they are similar, 道歉 is more formal and structured. For example, saying '我道歉' is more appropriate in formal settings than '我对不起你.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 道歉

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Component Characters

道dàodirection
HSK 412 strokes辶
View full entry
歉qiànto apologize
14 strokes欠
View full entry

How to say to apologize in Chinese

“to apologize” in Chinese is道歉dàoqiàn

道歉 (dàoqiàn) means 'to apologize' in Chinese. It is commonly used in both formal and informal settings to express regret for an action that may have caused harm or inconvenience to another person. Understanding the nuance of sincerity in the apology is important in various social contexts.

When to use 道歉

Be mindful of using the correct tone when apologizing; the sincerity of your tone can greatly affect how your apology is received. A common mistake is to confuse 道歉 with 赔偿 (péi cháng), which means 'to compensate'—apologizing does not imply compensation. Also, avoid overusing the phrase in trivial situations to maintain its weight.

道歉 or something close to it

致歉 (zhìqiàn) - use 道歉 (dàoqiàn) for more casual or personal apologies, while 致歉 (zhìqiàn) is often reserved for formal contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 道歉 with 说对不起 (shuō duìbùqǐ), which means 'to say sorry.' While they are similar, 道歉 is more formal and structured. For example, saying '我道歉' is more appropriate in formal settings than '我对不起你.'

Write 道歉

道
歉

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Frequently Asked Questions about 道歉

You can say '我想对你道歉' (Wǒ xiǎng duì nǐ dàoqiàn), which means 'I want to apologize to you.'

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