sorry
sorry — 形容詞
1. feeling unhappiness because of something you have done, and wishing you could un
懊悔；抱歉
對做過的事感到後悔
feeling unhappiness because of something you have done, and wishing you could undo it or make it right — for example, saying you are sorry after hurting someone's feelings or breaking something.
Kwame looked at the broken window and told his mother he was sorry.
Kwame 看著打破的窗戶，跟媽媽說他很抱歉。
be sorry + telling someone after doing wrong
Trang felt sorry that she had forgotten her friend's birthday party.
Trang 很懊悔自己忘了朋友的生日派對。
feel sorry + that-clause
Luca wrote a long letter saying how sorry he was for the lie he told.
Luca 寫了一封長信，為自己說謊的事表達深深的歉意。
I am truly sorry for the trouble I caused at yesterday's meeting.
對於昨天會議上造成的麻煩，我由衷感到抱歉。
The little boy said sorry after he accidentally broke his sister's toy car.
那個小男孩不小心弄壞妹妹的玩具車後，說了對不起。
- apologetic
more formal; describes a person's manner rather than a feeling
- remorseful
stronger regret, often for something serious
- regretful
focuses on the wish that something had not happened
- unrepentant
not feeling any regret at all
文法句型
feel sorry about [something]
be sorry that [clause]
be sorry to [verb]
say sorry to [someone]
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'about', 'for', 'that + clause', or 'to + infinitive'. The phrase 'say sorry' is an informal alternative to 'apologise'.
常見錯誤
2. feeling sadness for another person's suffering or unfortunate situation — for in
同情；惋惜
為他人的不幸感到難過
feeling sadness for another person's suffering or unfortunate situation — for instance, feeling sorry for a neighbour who lost their job or a friend whose pet died.
We were all so sorry to hear that your grandmother passed away last week.
聽到你的祖母上週過世了，我們都很難過。
be sorry to hear + news of misfortune
Quinn felt sorry for the homeless cat shivering in the cold rain outside.
Quinn 很同情那隻在冷雨中發抖的流浪貓。
feel sorry for + someone suffering
Roya said she was sorry that her colleague had to move to another city.
Roya 說她很惋惜同事必須搬到另一個城市。
I am sorry for anyone who lost their home in last year's earthquake.
我為任何在去年地震中失去家園的人感到難過。
The whole town felt sorry for the family whose house burned down on New Year's Eve.
整座城鎮都同情那戶在除夕夜燒掉房子的人家。
- sympathetic
emphasises understanding of another's feelings
- compassionate
stronger, suggests wanting to help
- pitying
can sound condescending; use with care
- indifferent
not caring about another person's trouble
文法句型
feel sorry for [someone]
be sorry to hear [clause]
be sorry that [clause]
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'hear' — 'sorry to hear that…' is a standard way to show sympathy. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is about regretting your own action; sense 2 is about pitying someone else's misfortune.
常見錯誤
3. feeling unhappiness about your own problems and believing that life has treated
自憐
覺得自己很可憐、命苦
feeling unhappiness about your own problems and believing that life has treated you unfairly — almost always used in the fixed phrase 'feel sorry for yourself'.
Takeshi stayed in bed all morning, feeling sorry for himself after failing his driving test.
Takeshi 駕照路考沒過，整個早上躺在床上自憐自艾。
feel sorry for himself (reflexive self-pity pattern)
Stop feeling so sorry for yourself — many people face bigger problems every day.
別再自憐了——很多人每天面對的問題比你更大。
Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Stephanie signed up for a new training course.
Stephanie 沒有自怨自艾，反而報名了一門新的培訓課程。
Tara told her brother to stop moping around and feeling sorry for himself all weekend.
Tara 叫弟弟別整個週末悶悶不樂地自憐自艾。
- self-pitying
adjective form, same meaning
- morose
gloomy and withdrawn, but not necessarily complaining
文法句型
feel sorry for yourself
sorry for yourself
用法筆記
Almost always uses a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself). The meaning is critical: it is not simply 'feeling bad' but carrying a tone of complaint or perceived unfairness. Not used in positive contexts.
常見錯誤
4. used before giving information that will disappoint or upset someone — for examp
遺憾
禮貌地說出令人失望的事
used before giving information that will disappoint or upset someone — for example, telling a customer that an item is sold out or announcing that an event will not happen.
I am sorry to tell you that your application for the job was not successful.
我很遺憾地告訴你，你的求職申請沒有成功。
sorry to tell you + bad news
The airline was sorry to announce that all flights had been cancelled due to the storm.
航空公司遺憾地宣布，所有航班因暴風雨而取消。
We are sorry to inform our customers that the store will close early this Friday evening.
我們很遺憾地通知顧客，本店本週五傍晚將提早打烊。
Luca was sorry to report that the garden project had run out of money half way through.
Luca 遺憾地回報，花園改造計畫進行到一半就沒錢了。
The school is sorry to say that today's sports day has been postponed until next month.
校方很遺憾地表示，今天的運動會已順延至下個月。
- regret to inform
more formal; used in official letters and announcements
- unfortunately
adverb, not a verb pattern
文法句型
be sorry to [verb] that [clause]
be sorry to say/tell/inform
用法筆記
The 'sorry' here does not express personal regret or apology — it is a polite formula to soften bad news. Common in formal announcements (sorry to inform, sorry to announce) and everyday speech (sorry to say).
常見錯誤
5. used as a polite way to say no to an offer, invitation, or request — for instanc
抱歉（婉拒）
禮貌拒絕邀請或不同意
used as a polite way to say no to an offer, invitation, or request — for instance, telling someone you cannot attend their party or that you disagree with their opinion.
I am sorry, but I will not be able to join you for dinner this Saturday evening.
抱歉，我沒辦法參加你們這週六晚上的聚餐。
sorry, but + polite refusal pattern
Tamar was sorry to turn down the promotion because it required a move to another country.
Tamar 很抱歉地婉拒了升遷，因為那份工作需要搬到另一個國家。
sorry to turn down + offer or invitation
We are sorry, but the hotel does not allow pets in any of its guest rooms.
不好意思，這間旅館的客房不允許攜帶寵物。
Lucía was sorry to disagree with the plan because she found the costs far too high.
Lucía 很抱歉無法同意這個計畫，因為她認為成本實在太高了。
The manager said he was sorry, but the store policy did not allow refunds after thirty days.
經理說他很抱歉，但店裡規定超過三十天不能退貨。
- afraid
used similarly: 'I am afraid I cannot come' — slightly less formal
文法句型
be sorry, but [clause]
be sorry to [verb of refusing]
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'but' + the reason. Unlike sense 1, there is no regret about an action — the speaker is simply being polite while refusing. This pattern overlaps with sense 4 (bad news), but sense 4 introduces information the hearer does not expect, while sense 5 responds to a direct request.
常見錯誤
6. so bad, poor, or sad that people feel disappointment or pity — used to describe
可悲；寒酸
形容狀況極差令人搖頭
so bad, poor, or sad that people feel disappointment or pity — used to describe a thing, situation, or result that is far below an acceptable standard, such as a garden overgrown with weeds or a meal that is barely edible.
The abandoned house was in a sorry state, with broken windows and a leaking roof.
那間廢棄的房子狀況悽慘，窗戶破損、屋頂漏水。
a sorry state — describing physical decay
After the storm, the garden was a sorry sight of fallen trees and muddy water.
暴風雨過後，花園一片狼藉，倒下的樹木和泥水四處可見。
His explanation for being late was a sorry excuse that nobody in the room believed.
他對遲到的解釋是個可悲的藉口，在場沒有人相信。
The team's performance on Saturday was a sorry display of poor passing and slow running.
那支球隊週六的表現糟透了，傳球差、跑得又慢。
That old bicycle is in a sorry condition — both tyres are flat and the chain is rusted.
那台舊腳踏車狀況很慘——兩個輪胎都沒氣了，鏈條也生鏽了。
- pitiful
stronger emotional reaction; more sympathetic
- lamentable
more formal and dramatic
- wretched
emphasises misery or poor quality
- admirable
worthy of praise, the opposite of pitiful
- magnificent
far above the expected standard
文法句型
a sorry [state/sight/excuse/condition]
in a sorry [state/condition]
用法筆記
Always modifies a noun (sorry state, sorry sight, sorry excuse). It carries a critical tone — the speaker is expressing disapproval, not sympathy. This is the only sense where 'sorry' does not describe a person's feelings.
常見錯誤
sorry — 感嘆詞
1. said as a quick apology for a small accident or mistake — for instance, when you
對不起
為小失誤或意外道歉
said as a quick apology for a small accident or mistake — for instance, when you bump into someone, interrupt a conversation, or arrive a few minutes late.
"Sorry!" Roya said as she accidentally bumped into a man on the crowded train.
「對不起！」Roya 在擁擠的火車上不小心撞到一名男子時說道。
single-word apology for accidental contact
"Sorry I am late," Trang whispered as she quietly slipped into her seat near the back.
「對不起我遲到了，」Trang 小聲說著，悄悄溜進後排的座位。
Lucía knocked over a cup of tea and quickly said, "Sorry about that!"
Lucía 打翻一杯茶，趕緊說：「對不起！」
"Sorry for the noise," the neighbour called out from across the fence on Saturday morning.
「抱歉吵到你們了，」鄰居週六早上隔著圍欄喊道。
Takeshi held the door and said sorry to the woman whose bag he had knocked off.
Takeshi 扶著門，向那位被他碰掉包包的女子說了聲對不起。
- pardon
more formal; common in British English
- my apologies
formal; used in writing or serious situations
文法句型
Sorry!
Sorry about [something]
Sorry for [something]
用法筆記
This is the exclamation form, distinct from 'be sorry' (adjective sense 1). The exclamation is used for small, everyday apologies and is less formal. For serious matters, a fuller expression (I am so sorry / I apologise) is more appropriate.
常見錯誤
2. said politely before refusing an offer, invitation, or request, or before statin
抱歉（婉謝）
禮貌拒絕或表示不同意
said politely before refusing an offer, invitation, or request, or before stating a different opinion — for example, declining a second helping of food or disagreeing with a suggestion at work.
"Sorry, but I cannot stay any longer," Tomás told his host at the party.
「抱歉，我真的不能再待了，」Tomás 在派對上對主人說。
Sorry, but + explanation of refusal
"Sorry, I disagree with that idea," Quinn said quietly during the team meeting on Tuesday.
「抱歉，我不同意那個想法，」Quinn 在週二的團隊會議上小聲地說。
"Sorry, we do not accept credit cards here," the cashier told the customer at the counter.
「不好意思，我們這裡不收信用卡，」收銀員在櫃檯前對顧客說。
"Sorry — that seat is already taken," Tara told the tourist heading towards her table.
「抱歉——那個位子已經有人坐了，」Tara 對朝她桌子走來的遊客說。
- afraid
as in 'I am afraid not' — slightly softer
文法句型
Sorry, but [clause]
Sorry, [statement of refusal]
用法筆記
Similar to adjective sense 5 but used as a standalone interjection. This exclamation is very common in everyday spoken English. The 'sorry' itself does not express regret — it simply softens the refusal.
常見錯誤
3. said with a rising tone to ask someone to repeat what they just said, or used at
不好意思
請對方重複或禮貌打斷
said with a rising tone to ask someone to repeat what they just said, or used at the start of a polite interruption — for instance, when you did not hear a name clearly or need to leave a conversation early.
"Sorry?" Stephanie said, leaning closer because the music in the cafe was far too loud.
「什麼？」Stephanie 湊近了一點問道，因為咖啡廳的音樂實在太大聲了。
Sorry? (rising intonation) — asking to repeat
"Sorry to interrupt, but your taxi has just arrived at the front gate," said the receptionist.
「不好意思打擾一下，您的計程車已經到大門口了，」櫃檯人員說。
Sorry to interrupt, but + interruption statement
"Sorry, could you say that again? The phone connection was very poor just now."
「不好意思，可以請你再說一次嗎？剛才電話訊號很差。」
"Sorry? I did not catch your name — could you please repeat it?" Luca asked politely.
「什麼？我沒聽清楚你的名字——可以請你再說一次嗎？」Luca 有禮貌地問。
文法句型
Sorry?
Sorry to interrupt, but [clause]
Sorry, could you [repeat]?
用法筆記
The rising intonation is essential — 'Sorry?' said flat or falling sounds rude. 'Sorry to interrupt…' is a standard polite formula for breaking into a conversation. 'Pardon?' is a more formal alternative in British English.