對唔住

Sorry

Level 1Sounds Like deoi3 m4 zyu6

對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6) is the primary Cantonese phrase for expressing a genuine, heartfelt apology. Use it when you are at fault or have caused significant trouble, rather than for minor interruptions or expressions of sympathy.

How It Works

Understanding 對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6)

The expression is formed by 對 (deoi3, 'to face'), 唔 (m4, 'not'), and 住 (zyu6, 'firmly'). Structurally, it is a verb with a negative potential complement, literally meaning 'unable to face someone due to guilt'.

Key Usage Patterns:

1. Direct Apology with a Reason:
對唔住 (deoi3 m4 zyu6) + [Reason]
Example: 對唔住，我嚟遲咗。(deoi3 m4 zyu6, ngo5 lai4 ci4 zo2. - Sorry, I arrived late.)

2. Adding Intensity:
You can place adverbs like 好 (hou2, 'very') or 真係 (zan1 hai6, 'really') directly before the phrase:
真係好對唔住 (zan1 hai6 hou2 deoi3 m4 zyu6 - I am really very sorry).

3. Separable Verb Structure (Inserting the Person):
Subject + 對 + [Person] + 唔住
Example: 我對你唔住 (ngo5 deoi3 nei5 m4 zyu6 - I am sorry to you / I have let you down). In this traditional separable structure, the pronoun goes between 對 and 唔住. Note that in modern colloquial Cantonese, saying 我對唔住你 (ngo5 deoi3 m4 zyu6 nei5) is also widely heard and acceptable.

4. Using a Prepositional Frame:
同 (tung4) + [Person] + 講對唔住 (gong2 deoi3 m4 zyu6 - Say sorry to someone).

Responding to an Apology:
When someone says 對唔住 to you, the standard and most natural response is 唔緊要 (m4 gan2 jiu3), which means 'never mind' or 'it doesn't matter'.

Important Usage Rules:
• Serious vs. Minor Mistakes: 對唔住 is mainly for more serious offenses where you have truly wronged someone. For minor mistakes (like stepping on someone's toe or making a small typo), use 唔好意思 (m4 hou2 ji3 si3). For light politeness like squeezing past someone or catching a waiter's attention ('Excuse me'), you can use 唔好意思 or 唔該 (m4 goi1). Note that 唔該 is never used as an apology. Note: The standard dictionary Jyutping for 思 is si1, but it changes to si3 in this specific phrase due to a colloquial tone change.
• Never for Sympathy: Do not use 對唔住 to offer condolences (e.g. 'I am sorry to hear your dog passed away'). In Cantonese, saying 對唔住 implies that you caused the bad news!

Examples (4)

  1. 對唔住，我嚟遲咗。

    I'm sorry, I arrived late.

    Word by Word: Sorry, I come late [completed].

    Standard way to apologize for being late by placing 對唔住 before the reason.

  2. 我打爛咗你個花樽，真係好對唔住呀。

    I broke your vase; I'm really very sorry.

    Word by Word: I break-shatter [completed] your [classifier] vase, really very sorry [particle].

    Demonstrates modifying 對唔住 with 真係好 (zan1 hai6 hou2) to convey a deep, sincere apology.

  3. 我對你唔住，搞到你咁麻煩。

    I've let you down, causing you so much trouble.

    Word by Word: I toward you not hold, cause to you so troublesome.

    Shows the infixing structure where the pronoun 你 (nei5) is placed inside the phrase between 對 and 唔住.

  4. 佢同你講咗對唔住未呀？

    Has he apologized to you yet?

    Word by Word: He to you say [completed] sorry not-yet [particle]?

    Uses the frame 同 (tung4) + [person] + 講對唔住 (gong2 deoi3 m4 zyu6) to talk about apologizing to someone.

Common Mistakes

  • Overlooking the separable structure '對 + person + 唔住'.

    Different Meaning我對唔住你。
    我對你唔住。

    Learners often treat '對唔住' as an unchangeable block. While '我對唔住你' is widely accepted and commonly heard in everyday Cantonese, the classic separable structure '我對你唔住' (deoi3 nei5 m4 zyu6) places the pronoun directly after '對'. Both forms are natural in spoken Cantonese.

  • Using '對唔住' to express sympathy or condolences.

    聽到呢個消息，我好對唔住。
    聽到呢個消息，我好難過。

    In Cantonese, '對唔住' implies personal responsibility or fault. Using it when hearing bad news sounds like admitting you caused it. Use '我好難過' (ngo5 hou2 naan4 gwo3 - I feel very sad) instead.

  • Using '對唔住' for minor mistakes or everyday interruptions.

    Different Meaning對唔住，我踩到你。
    唔好意思，我踩到你。

    對唔住 is the stronger apology. For small slips (like accidentally stepping on someone's toe or making a typo), 唔好意思 (m4 hou2 ji3 si3) is lighter, though 對唔住 is also said. For light situations like asking someone to step aside, you can use '唔好意思' or '唔該' (m4 goi1). Remember that '唔該' is only for politeness or thanking, never for an apology.

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對唔住Level 1Sorry

Learn This First

As a Level 1 fixed expression, '對唔住' is largely foundational. However, it is helpful to recognize the negation particle '唔' used within the phrase and to have a basic grasp of Jyutping and tones to pronounce it correctly.

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对唔住