excuse me

IPA/ɛkskjˈuːs mˌiː/
IPA/ɛkskjˈuːs mˌiː/

excuse me — 慣用語

1. a phrase you say to a stranger before asking them something or letting them know

1.慣用語A1
釋義

不好意思

用來引起陌生人注意的禮貌用語

a phrase you say to a stranger before asking them something or letting them know about a problem

例句

Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the main library building?

不好意思，請問要怎麼走到總圖書館？

excuse me + could you for polite questions to strangers in public

Excuse me, I believe your backpack has come unzipped.

不好意思，你的背包拉鍊好像開了喔。

同義詞
  • pardon me

    slightly more formal; more common in American English than British

  • hey

    very informal and can sound rude if used with strangers

用法筆記

The speaker nearly always follows 'excuse me' with a question or a piece of helpful information the stranger would want to know.

2. a phrase you say to ask someone politely to make room and let you pass in a crow

2.慣用語A1
釋義

借過一下

請人讓路時的禮貌用語

a phrase you say to ask someone politely to make room and let you pass in a crowded place

例句

Excuse me, may I just get past you to the window seat?

不好意思，借過一下，我要到靠窗的座位。

excuse me + may I for asking to pass in tight spaces

Excuse me — sorry, I need to reach the exit before the next stop.

借過——抱歉，我得在下一站之前走到出口。

同義詞
  • coming through

    more direct and informal; used when carrying something or in a hurry

用法筆記

Often paired with a small hand gesture or by turning your body sideways to show that you are trying to pass.

常見錯誤

❌Move!' (when trying to pass someone).
✅Excuse me.
💡'Move' without 'excuse me' sounds like a command and is considered rude.

3. a polite phrase used to let people know you are about to leave, especially in th

3.慣用語A2
釋義

不好意思

離開或中斷社交場合的禮貌用語

a polite phrase used to let people know you are about to leave, especially in the middle of a social event

例句

Excuse me, I really must be going — early start tomorrow.

不好意思，我真的該走了——明天要早起。

excuse me + I must be going for announcing your departure

Alessia checked her watch. "Excuse me, everyone — I must catch the last train."

Alessia 看了看手錶。「不好意思，各位——我得趕最後一班火車。」

同義詞

用法筆記

Often followed by a short reason for leaving. The reason does not need to be the full truth — it is a social routine that softens the departure.

4. a short apology for a small accident, such as bumping into someone, sneezing, or

4.慣用語A1
釋義

不好意思

為小失誤或打擾道歉的用語

a short apology for a small accident, such as bumping into someone, sneezing, or knocking something over

例句

Baraka knocked the table, spilling water. "Oh, excuse me — let me get a cloth."

Baraka 撞到桌子，水灑了出來。「啊，不好意思——我去拿抹布。」

excuse me for minor accidents like bumping into things or spilling

Excuse me, I didn't mean to step on your foot.

不好意思，我不是故意踩到你的腳的。

同義詞
  • sorry

    more general apology; can be used for both minor and serious matters

  • pardon me

    more formal; common in American English for minor bodily accidents like burping

用法筆記

For more serious mistakes or when someone is upset, use 'I'm sorry' or 'I apologize' instead. 'Excuse me' is only for minor, everyday accidents.

常見錯誤

❌I stepped on your foot — sorry about that.' (spoken with a flat tone).
✅Oh, excuse me! I'm so sorry.
💡For accidents involving another person's body, 'excuse me' should sound quick and genuinely sorry, not casual.

5. a phrase you say before correcting someone or offering a different opinion, to s

5.慣用語B1
釋義

不好意思

表達不同意見前的禮貌緩和語

a phrase you say before correcting someone or offering a different opinion, to show that you are not being unfriendly

例句

Excuse me, but I think that figure is from 2023, not 2022.

不好意思，但我認為那個數字是2023年的，不是2022年的。

excuse me + but for politely correcting someone

Rosa looked up from the report. "Excuse me, I see it a little differently — may I offer another view?"

Rosa 從報告中抬起頭來。「不好意思，我的看法有點不同——可以說說另一種觀點嗎？」

同義詞
  • with respect

    more formal; often used in debates and professional settings

  • I'm sorry, but

    slightly more apologetic; softens the disagreement even further

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'but'. Without it, the disagreement can sound too sudden and the softening effect is lost.

常見錯誤

❌You're wrong — the meeting is on Tuesday.
✅Excuse me, but I think the meeting is on Tuesday.
💡Stating a correction directly without 'excuse me' can sound aggressive, especially in a group.

6. a phrase you use when you did not hear or could not understand what someone said

6.慣用語A2
釋義

不好意思

沒聽清楚時請對方再說一次

a phrase you use when you did not hear or could not understand what someone said and you need them to say it again

例句

Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that — the line is very bad.

不好意思？我沒聽清楚——訊號不太好。

excuse me? with rising intonation to ask someone to repeat themselves

Antonia leaned closer in the noisy room. "Excuse me — what did you say?"

Antonia 在吵雜的房間裡湊向前去。「不好意思——你剛剛說什麼？」

同義詞
  • pardon

    very common in British English; can sound formal to American ears

  • sorry?

    common in British English as a request to repeat; softer than 'what?'

  • come again?

    informal and friendly; more common in American English

用法筆記

Often spoken with a rising intonation, like a question. In American English, 'pardon me?' or simply 'sorry?' are common alternatives for this sense.

常見錯誤

❌What?' (when you didn't hear someone).
✅Excuse me?
💡Saying just 'What?' with a flat tone can sound impatient. 'Excuse me?' with a rising tone is polite.