exPreSSiNG aPoloGieS, reGretS, SymPathy, aNd Bad NeWS
63.363.1.4 asking for forgiveness: 请原谅我/請原諒我 qHng yuánliàng wI
‘please forgive me’
请原谅我/請原諒我 qǐng yuánliàng wǒ is used in an apology acknowledging personal
responsibility for an action that negatively affects others.
The response to this kind of apology is the same as for 对不起/對不起 duìbuqǐ, 抱歉 bàoqiàn,
and 道歉 dàoqiàn.63.2 Expressing sympathy
To acknowledge a bad situation that another is experiencing, say:真可惜。
Zhēn kěxī.
What a pity. What a shame.To express sympathy when another is ill, say:多保重身体。
多保重身體。
Duō bǎozhòng shēntǐ.
Take care of your health.希望你早日康复。
希望你早日康復。
Xīwàng nǐ zǎo rì kāngfù.
I hope your health is soon restored.63.3 Conveying bad news
To introduce bad news or a negative situation use 怕 pà ‘to fear’ and 恐怕 kǒngpà ‘to be afraid
that.’ Notice that 怕 pà requires a subject and 恐怕 kǒngpà does not take a subject.(subject) 怕 pà situation这件事，我怕他做不好。
這件事，我怕他做不好。
Zhè jiàn shì, wǒ pà tā zuòbuhǎo.
I am afraid that he won’t be able to do this job well.我怕你这次考得不好。
我怕你這次考得不好。
Wǒ pà nǐ zhècì kǎo de bù hǎo.
I am afraid that this time you didn’t do well on the exam.我怕我帮不了你的忙。
我怕我幫不了你的忙。
Wǒ pà wǒ bāngbuliǎo nǐ de máng.
I am afraid that I can’t help you.恐怕 kǒngpà situation恐怕明天会下雨。
恐怕明天會下雨。
Kǒngpà míngtiān huì xià yǔ.
I’m afraid it will rain tomorrow.