<p>To an emperor: 恕臣愚昧，肯请圣上再次指点一二，臣等万分荣幸。 smth like that</p>
<p>Perhaps： 臣有一事不明, and then continue to ask about some details, etc.</p>
<p>I don't believe there are many historical accounts of such conversations.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-06T15:37:08.893Z
If you are a nobody (peasant, merchant, etc.), then you probably have no right to ask the emperor or someone with high status (in ancient times) to speak again.
De Rien
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-07T01:48:30.213Z
So if the emperor asked you a question and you did not hear it clearly, you will be doomed?
Zuriel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-07T03:58:50.130Z
@Zuriel Pretty much yes. If you are someone with high status (like a 太监) and you fail to understand the emperor, it was suggested that if it is something important, it is better to ask the emperor in the way I stated above. However, asking like this would certainly offend the emperor, and you would be crowned with the title of “办事不力”, so you might get demoted.
De Rien
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-07T04:03:08.767Z
If you are a 太监 and the emperor summons you for something important, this probably means that you are also high-ranked (perhaps preferred by the emperor), so it would be best to "plead guilty" and ask again (or else if you made wrong orders, you're probably gonna get killed), but you'll probably get punished (beaten). If you're a nobody, you're definitely getting demoted and might get killed... Nevertheless, you're pretty screwed and you'll never see the emperor ever again...
De Rien
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-06T15:35:16.693Z
2022-04-06T15:35:16.693Z
De Rien
<p>抱歉，请问您可以重复一遍吗？
Sorry, could you please repeat that?</p>
<p>您 is a courteous version of 你, and should be polite enough in most cases. 陛下 (Your Majesty) is usually used for emperors, and 阁下 (Your Excellency) is usually used for high-level officials.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-06T08:41:07.923Z
2022-04-06T08:41:07.923Z
kyc
<p>This is the People's Republic of China, the Emperor is long since gone!</p>
<p>同志，你能重复一遍吗？<br />
Comrade, could you please repeat that?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-04T08:32:06.790Z
There are however still lots of "Little Emperors" around from whom parents have to "beg pardons" from?
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-06T23:48:16.167Z
Well, the gf thinks she is an Empress and I must needs obey her Royal Commands!
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-04T07:39:47.237Z
2022-04-04T07:39:47.237Z
Pedroski
<p>望见谅!
I think this is the best choice.</p>
<p>望 means hope, 见谅 get the pardon. 望见谅 it means I do hope that you forgive me.
Hope this can help.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-08T02:48:13.743Z
2022-04-08T02:48:13.743Z
Henry1968
<p>If you intend to ask the person to repeat his word/sentence, the polite way to say is &quot;對不起,可以請你再說一遍嗎?&quot;, or &quot;抱歉,可以請你重覆一遍嗎?&quot;. Both mean &quot;Sorry, can you please...&quot;.</p>
<p><strong>ADD:</strong> I've missed the word &quot;emperor&quot; in the question. In that case, you shall say &quot;皇上恕罪,恕(excuse)小(草)民(me)....&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-05T03:38:34.547Z
I believe, in the Chinese emperor's case, (in case you manage to travel back in Time), you need to start or end with, 萬歲...萬歲...萬,萬...歲, to avoid begging not to be beheaded? In the Japanese emperor's case, I believe it's "Banzai", which is the same as 萬歲, but with a very heavy Japanese accent.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-05T03:53:44.410Z
@WayneCheah It is not necessarily the case, depending on when the beg for pardon is brought up. And the truth is everybody's guess.
r13
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-04T02:09:52.413Z
2022-04-04T16:51:45.863Z
2022-04-04T16:51:45.863Z
r13
<p>Say you are talking to an emperor (or anyone with high social status), what is the <strong>most</strong> polite way to say &quot;I beg your pardon&quot; in Chinese?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-04T05:11:11.120Z
You'll have to clarify what exactly are you "begging pardon" for? You say talking to an emperor, a rarity these days, so begging not to be beheaded? :)
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-04T15:26:03.553Z
@WayneCheah, I did not hear clearly what the emperor said and had to ask him to repeat it.
Zuriel
<phrase><conversation>
What is the most polite way to say "I beg your pardon"?
# What is the most polite way to say "I beg your pardon"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-04-03)

Say you are talking to an emperor (or anyone with high social status), what is the **most** polite way to say "I beg your pardon" in Chinese?

**Tags:** phrase, conversation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You'll have to clarify what exactly are you "begging pardon" for? You say talking to an emperor, a rarity these days, so begging not to be beheaded? :)  
> **username_0**: @WayneCheah, I did not hear clearly what the emperor said and had to ask him to repeat it.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-04-06. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

To an emperor: 恕臣愚昧，肯请圣上再次指点一二，臣等万分荣幸。 smth like that

Perhaps： 臣有一事不明, and then continue to ask about some details, etc.

I don't believe there are many historical accounts of such conversations.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: If you are a nobody (peasant, merchant, etc.), then you probably have no right to ask the emperor or someone with high status (in ancient times) to speak again.  
> **username_0**: So if the emperor asked you a question and you did not hear it clearly, you will be doomed?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Pretty much yes. If you are someone with high status (like a 太监) and you fail to understand the emperor, it was suggested that if it is something important, it is better to ask the emperor in the way I stated above. However, asking like this would certainly offend the emperor, and you would be crowned with the title of “办事不力”, so you might get demoted.  
> **username_2**: If you are a 太监 and the emperor summons you for something important, this probably means that you are also high-ranked (perhaps preferred by the emperor), so it would be best to "plead guilty" and ask again (or else if you made wrong orders, you're probably gonna get killed), but you'll probably get punished (beaten). If you're a nobody, you're definitely getting demoted and might get killed... Nevertheless, you're pretty screwed and you'll never see the emperor ever again...  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-04-06. Score: 3

抱歉，请问您可以重复一遍吗？
Sorry, could you please repeat that?

您 is a courteous version of 你, and should be polite enough in most cases. 陛下 (Your Majesty) is usually used for emperors, and 阁下 (Your Excellency) is usually used for high-level officials.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-04-04. Score: 2

This is the People's Republic of China, the Emperor is long since gone!

同志，你能重复一遍吗？  
Comrade, could you please repeat that?

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are however still lots of "Little Emperors" around from whom parents have to "beg pardons" from?  
> **username_4**: Well, the gf thinks she is an Empress and I must needs obey her Royal Commands!  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2022-04-08. Score: 1

望见谅!
I think this is the best choice.

望 means hope, 见谅 get the pardon. 望见谅 it means I do hope that you forgive me.
Hope this can help.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2022-04-04. Score: 1

If you intend to ask the person to repeat his word/sentence, the polite way to say is "對不起,可以請你再說一遍嗎?", or "抱歉,可以請你重覆一遍嗎?". Both mean "Sorry, can you please...".

**ADD:** I've missed the word "emperor" in the question. In that case, you shall say "皇上恕罪,恕(excuse)小(草)民(me)....".

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I believe, in the Chinese emperor's case, (in case you manage to travel back in Time), you need to start or end with, 萬歲...萬歲...萬,萬...歲, to avoid begging not to be beheaded? In the Japanese emperor's case, I believe it's "Banzai", which is the same as 萬歲, but with a very heavy Japanese accent.  
> **username_6**: @WayneCheah It is not necessarily the case, depending on when the beg for pardon is brought up. And the truth is everybody's guess.  

---

