randall_flagg Posted January 10, 2006 at 08:24 AM Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 at 08:24 AM So I've been watching a lot of "Friends" lately. Kind of bought every season ever shot the last time I was in China. Now, there are Chinese subtitles that I can't turn of, which is not a bad deal since I now have an excuse for watching friends. I just tell myself that I am reading the subtitles to improve my Chinese, right? Well anyway, I've got a question: Whenever Rachel says: "Well, EXCUSE me....." Or Joey says: "Sorry, I'm Joey, I'm stupid" the Chinese subtitles are always 抱歉 for I am sorry or excuse me. It never ever is 对不起！ Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:56 AM Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:56 AM The fewer characters the better, perhaps? Because of limited space for the subtitles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jukebox Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:46 PM Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:46 PM 对不起 is used when apologizing for sth that someone has done wrong. I think that when English-speaking people say 'I'm sorry', they simply feel 遗憾 rather than 道歉. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francisw2000 Posted January 11, 2006 at 06:03 AM Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 at 06:03 AM well, to me as a native Chinese speaker, "Excuse me, i am ...." "sorry, i m..." all these occasions you should use"不好意思" instead of "遗憾" or "道歉". "遗憾"it is a formal word, when USA made war on Iraq, you could say I feel "遗憾" that war in the end breaks out at UN; or in writing. it just somewhat feels too formal for close friends' chat, mates. "道歉" means to apologize; you can say i to you "道歉". and it is also a formal phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan ni er Posted January 11, 2006 at 08:53 AM Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 at 08:53 AM I think 不好意思 or 对不起 would be most appropriate in the Joey sentence; however I think they could all be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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