Chinese phrases
How to say sorry to keep you waiting in Chinese
Sorry to keep you waiting in Chinese is 让你久等了 (ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le), literally “I made you wait a long time.” Most people put 不好意思 in front: 不好意思，让你久等了.
让你久等了
sorry to keep you waiting
The sentence has no word for “sorry.” 让 (“to make, to let”) carries the apology: you admit that you caused the wait.
Ways to say sorry to keep you waiting
让你久等了
Everydaysorry to keep you waiting
When you arrive late or come back after making someone wait. Fine with friends and colleagues.
久等了
Everydaysorry for the wait
The short form. Friends say it when they arrive, and staff say it when they bring your order.
让您久等了
Formalsorry to keep you waiting (polite)
Staff to a customer, or you to someone older or more senior. Often after 抱歉.
我来晚了
EverydayI’m late
When you arrive late to meet someone. Start with 不好意思.
等很久了吧
With friendshave you been waiting long?
A friendly question when you arrive. It apologizes and asks at the same time.
How to answer 让你久等了
没事
it’s fine
The everyday answer.
没关系
it doesn’t matter
A little more formal. Fine everywhere.
我也刚到
I just got here too
Kind, and people say it even when it is not quite true.
没等多久
I didn’t wait long
A relaxed answer to 等很久了吧.
Common mistakes
Answering with 不客气
不客气 answers thanks. When someone says 让你久等了, answer 没事 or 没关系.
Using 对不起 for a short wait
对不起 is not wrong, but for a few minutes it sounds heavier than you need. 不好意思 is the usual apology for a small delay.
Translating word for word with 等待
抱歉让你等待 sounds like a written notice. 等待 is a written word; in speech say 等, as in 让你久等了.
Meeting at a café
不好意思，我来晚了！让你久等了。
Leon: Sorry I’m late! Sorry to keep you waiting.
没事，我也刚到。
Qiqi: It’s fine, I just got here too.
路上太堵了。
Leon: The traffic was terrible.
先点喝的吧。
Qiqi: Let’s order drinks first.
