what is the difference between "excuse me" and "im sorry"

July 20, 2008 9:18am CST
i am a chinese .. i want to know what's the difference between sorry and excuse .. you know ..every time when we feel sorry to sb..some time maybe you do the big mistake ..some time maybe not serious..but also we should say sorry . pardon or excuse..when and which should i say more suitable...hoping you tell me. TX..
1 person likes this
2 responses
• United States
20 Jul 08
when someone in your way and you want them to move you say excuse me. you also say excuse me if you burp or fart or sneeze. excuse me is more for not so serious things. excuse me is not an apology it is more just politeness. usually sorry means you apologize for something you did. you want someone to forgive you because you did not mean to do it. you say sorry when you make accident. if you bump into someone you tell them sorry. if you spill something you say sorry. if you say something that hurt feelings of another you say sorry. usually sorry is more than excuse me. i no some people say excuse me or sorry if they did not hear what other person say too.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Aug 08
hi nichola you use excuse me when you need to pass someone and you really dont have enough room so they need to move. you use pardon me when you bump someone or spill something on someone You can also use sorry in the same ocassions. Or you can use sorry if someone asks you something that you do not know or asks you if you can loan them a quarter and you dont have it or do not want to loan it to them, you can just say sorry, i dont have a quarter.Sorry is usually used when you cannot do something for someone.