对不起
Meaning
- I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon
- to let (sb) down; to disappoint
Example sentence
对不起啊！
Sorry!
Characters in 对不起
Literally unable to face someone: 对 to face, plus the negative potential 不起. 起 in this pattern means cannot afford or cannot manage, as in 买不起 cannot afford to buy.