When do you use "mi dispiace" and "mi scusi"? What's the difference?

Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 video

Nachricht senden Videositzung reservieren

We use "mi dispiace" when we want to express sadness and/or empathy towards something that happened, but this something didn't depend on us, it's not our fault. So, let's imagine this situation: you meet a friend at the supermarket, you ask her how she is and she tells you that she's sad because her boyfriend had an accident. To express sadness here you're gonna say "mi dispiace" (I'm sorry) because the accident was not your fault. We use "mi scusi" (formal) or "scusa" (informal) when we want to say that we are sorry about something that depended on us, that we have done, it's our fault. For example: if you quarrelled with a friend and it's your fault and you ask for forgiveness you're gonna tell her "scusa" (informal), whereas if you step on someone's foot in the subway you're gonna use "mi scusi" (formal), because it's someone you don't know.

Thematisch ähnliche Unterrichtseinheiten

Soziale Etikette
L'etichetta Sociale

Themenbezogene Videos

Introduction: Sen Shi
Sen Shi
In Western culture, we can nod our heads up-and-down for "yes" and shake them left-and-right for "no". Does Chinese have anything similar, or do they do the same thing? Are there other gestures for "yes" and "no"?
XoKo Yu
When do you use "mi dispiace" and "mi scusi"? What's the difference?
Silvia
Simple Introduction of Counting in Chinese
Chumei P
How do you say "I will miss you a lot" in Chinese?
XoKo Yu
Introduction: XoKo Yu
XoKo Yu
What are some cool ways that young people might greet their friends besides the usual "ni hao"?
XoKo Yu
Simple Introduction of Counting in Chinese
Chumei P
Sprache wechseln:
中文