对不起 (duìbuqǐ) · sorry
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) means “sorry”. It is written with 3 characters: 对 (right) + 不 (not) + 起 (to get up). It is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 对不起 is built
The characters
对 duì · right
What 对 is made of
- 又yòu — and
- 寸cùn — inch
Origin hint: A pair 又 of hands 寸 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
不 bù · not
What 不 is made of
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: A bird flying toward the sky 一 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
起 qǐ · to get up
What 起 is made of
- 走zǒu — to walk
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 止zhǐ — to stop
- 上shàng — up
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 土tǔ — earth
- 己jǐ — self
- 乚 — hook stroke
Origin hint: 走 gives the meaning, 己 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
Questions about 对不起
What does 对不起 mean?
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) means “sorry”.
How do you pronounce 对不起?
对不起 is pronounced duìbuqǐ.
Which HSK level is 对不起?
对不起 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 1.
Related words
- 不对bùduìwrong
- 对话duìhuàdialogue
- 对面duìmiànopposite
- 对待duìdàito treat
- 对方duìfāngthe other side
- 对手duìshǒuopponent
- 对象duìxiàngboyfriend or girlfriend
- 反对fǎnduìto oppose
- 绝对juéduìabsolutely
- 面对miànduìto face
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 47: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.