The Mandarin Chinese phrase for “embarrassed” is bù hao yì si. It is frequently used in Chinese culture as a way of saying “thank you” and “sorry.”

The Chinese tradition of gift-giving demands that the gift is first refused, and finally accepted with xiè xie, bù hao yì si. This is done for any type of gift, including picking up the tab in a restaurant.

Bù hao yì si is also said to customers if they have been kept waiting or otherwise inconvenienced, even slightly.

Bù hao yì si consists of four Chinese characters: ????. The literal translation is “not good meaning.”