赔礼道歉 (péi lǐ dào qiàn) — to make a formal apology, to offer a sincere apology (often with compensation)

Definition

赔礼道歉 (péi lǐ dào qiàn) is a formal set phrase meaning to offer a sincere apology, often with compensation or restitution. It is heavier and more official than a simple 道歉, implying you also make amends for the harm done.

idiom
to make a formal apologyto offer a sincere apology (often with compensation)

Examples

  • 赔礼道歉。
    Tā bì xū xiàng shòu hài zhě gōng kāi péi lǐ dào qiàn.
    He must publicly apologize to the victim.
  • 赔礼道歉。
    Gōng sī wèi shī wù xiàng gù kè péi lǐ dào qiàn bìng péi cháng sǔn shī.
    The company formally apologized to the customers for the mistake and compensated for the loss.
  • 赔礼道歉，。
    Nǐ yīng gāi péi lǐ dào qiàn, ér bú shì zhǎo jiè kǒu.
    You should make a formal apology rather than making excuses.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

赔礼make amends/apologize
赔péicompensate礼lǐcourtesy
动宾Verb + object
道歉apologize
道dàoexpress歉qiànapology
动宾Verb + object

赔礼 means making amends or apologizing, where 赔 suggests compensating and 礼 suggests the courtesy offered; 道歉 adds 道 expressing 歉.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 賠; 赔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell; money
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu賠péi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 賠, 貝 (shell; money) shows the idea of making amends, and 咅 supplies the sound; the simplified 赔 is a later shorthand.

Open 赔 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
礻Written in full as示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ禮lǐ
Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

Open 礼 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
欠欠qiànperson with mouth open
Sound part声符shēngfú
兼
兼jiān歉qiàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

歉 uses 兼 for its sound; 兼 is drawn as a hand holding two crop plants. It also uses 欠, a person with mouth open, to show feeling hunger after eating.

Open 歉 →

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