polite formula of apology; excuse my rudeness
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to apologize for one's lack of manners; (polite formula) excuse me for my rudeness
formalUsed as a polite formula when one realizes they have been impolite, negligent, or failed to recognize someone's status. Often doubled as 失敬失敬 for emphasis.
Ó哦
，
yuán原
lái来
shì是
Lǐ李
jiào教
shòu授
，
shī失
jìng敬
shī失
jìng敬
！
Oh, so it was Professor Li, please forgive my failure to recognize you!
Gāng刚
cái才
duō多
yǒu有
mào冒
fàn犯
，
shī失
jìng敬
le了
。
I was rather offensive just now; please excuse my rudeness.
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Bù不
zhī知
nín您
dà大
jià驾
guāng光
lín临
，
yǒu有
shī失
yuǎn远
yíng迎
，
shī失
jìng敬
shī失
jìng敬
。
I was unaware of your honorable presence and failed to greet you from afar—my sincere apologies.