randall_flagg Posted January 10, 2006 at 08:24 AM Report 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
skylee Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:56 AM Report Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:56 AM The fewer characters the better, perhaps? Because of limited space for the subtitles? Quote
jukebox Posted January 10, 2006 at 09:46 PM Report 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
francisw2000 Posted January 11, 2006 at 06:03 AM Report 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
dan ni er Posted January 11, 2006 at 08:53 AM Report 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
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