对不起
Chinese · HSK1 · I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint
I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint
对不起，我不能待很久。
I'm sorry, I can't stay long.
对不起 in real context
对不起 is a HSK1-level word in Chinese meaning "I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint" in this vocabulary set. Every word on LangOria comes with a real example sentence, so you meet 对不起 the way native speakers actually use it — not as an isolated dictionary entry, but inside a living Chinese sentence.
The example sentence for 对不起 is: "对不起，我不能待很久。" (I'm sorry, I can't stay long.). Learning 对不起 through example sentences helps you internalize Chinese word order and collocations, so 对不起 is ready the first time you actually need it.
Add 对不起 to your HSK1 spaced-repetition review and it will resurface right before you are about to forget it — tomorrow, in three days, in a week. Combined with the rest of the Chinese HSK1 vocabulary set, a daily 45–65 minute loop is the fastest proven path from first exposure to confident, natural use of 对不起.
About Chinese HSK1
HSK 1 is the beginner tier of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi — the standardised Chinese proficiency test recognised by employers and universities worldwide. HSK 1 covers 150 vocabulary words and the most basic grammar patterns, which is the minimum needed to introduce yourself, order food, and hold a simple conversation in Mandarin. Every entry in LangOria's HSK 1 deck shows simplified characters with pinyin and a real example sentence from the Tatoeba corpus. Mastering HSK 1 is the foundation for HSK 2 and beyond.
How to learn Chinese HSK1
Spend your first 4-6 weeks on HSK 1. The 45–65-minute daily loop is enough — review the HSK 1 deck with spaced repetition until your recall rate is above 90%, then move on to HSK 2. Tone pairs are critical at HSK 1: train them with the audio shadowing drills, not just by memorising tone marks. By the end of HSK 1 you should recognise all 150 words on sight and be able to introduce yourself in Mandarin.
Common questions about 对不起 in Chinese
What level is 对不起 in Chinese?
In LangOria's Chinese deck, 对不起 sits at the HSK1 level of the language's recognized ability ladder (CEFR for most languages, JLPT for Japanese, HSK for Chinese). At this level you learn 对不起 alongside the highest-frequency words you actually need.
How do I memorize 对不起?
Rote repetition rarely sticks on its own. Learn 对不起 inside its example sentence, say it out loud, and let spaced repetition bring it back at the right moments. The 45–65-minute daily loop is usually enough to anchor 对不起 in long-term memory.
Where does the example for 对不起 come from?
Every word — including 对不起 — carries a real example drawn from the community-built Tatoeba sentence corpus: sentences written by native speakers, not synthetic textbook filler. That context is what makes 对不起 memorable.
What should I learn after 对不起?
Cover the remaining words at the HSK1 level, then move up. LangOria schedules spaced reviews and frequency-ordered decks, so 对不起 reinforces the rest of your HSK1 Chinese vocabulary instead of standing alone.