xin lỗi
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Vietnamese
[edit]Vietnamese phrasebook
 | This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. |
Etymology
[edit]xin (“to beg”) lỗi (“mistake”).
The literal meaning of these two words is "to beg for someone's mistake", which some people might consider strange. It's possibly a shortened form of the more outdated literary form xin thứ lỗi/xin tha lỗi.
Pronunciation
[edit]Verb
[edit]- to apologise
Interjection
[edit]- I'm sorry (for my mistake/transgression)
- Xin lỗi, tớ không cố ý.
- Sorry, I didn't mean to do that.
- (polite) excuse me/pardon me (for intruding/disturbing you)
- Xin lỗi, cho hỏi đây có phải là nhà anh Tiến không ạ?
- Excuse me, is this Mr. Tiến's address?
Usage notes
[edit]- For the English phrase I'm sorry (about this inconvenience / about your loss / what you've been through), translators may use rất tiếc / tiếc quá (“that's a pity”) or xin chia buồn với... (“my condolences to...”). For example:
- Rất tiếc, chúng tôi hết phòng đôi rồi ạ.
- I'm sorry, we have run out of twin rooms.