xin lỗi

Vietnamese

Vietnamese phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Etymology

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 It's possibly a shortened form of the more outdated literary form xin thứ lỗi/xin tha lỗi.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

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [sin˧˧ loj˦ˀ˥]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [sin˧˧ loj˧˨]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [sɨn˧˧ loj˨˩˦]

Verb

xin lỗi • (吀纇)

1. to apologise

Interjection

xin lỗi • (吀纇)

1. I'm sorry (for my mistake/transgression)

   Xin lỗi, tớ không cố ý.

   Sorry, I didn't mean to do that.

2. (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

• 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.