# 负荆请罪

fù jīng qǐng zuì

Offer a sincere apology

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Carry thorn branches to ask forgiveness

**Traditional Chinese:** 負荊請罪

**Register:** Apologetic · literary

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Use for an emphatic, sincere acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

It is stronger and more literary than an ordinary apology.

## Behind the words

A historical story describes Lian Po carrying thorn branches to apologize to Lin Xiangru. The gesture acknowledges fault and seeks reconciliation.

The traditional image of carrying thorn branches expresses willingness to acknowledge fault and seek forgiveness. Modern speakers generally use it figuratively, sometimes with playful exaggeration over a small mistake. It signals more than a casual acknowledgment: the speaker takes responsibility and approaches the person affected sincerely. An apology should still be accompanied by practical repair when the problem requires it.

## Examples

上次误会了你，今天我来负荆请罪。

### Traditional Chinese

上次誤會了你，今天我來負荊請罪。

shàng cì wù huì le nǐ ， jīn tiān wǒ lái fù jīng qǐng zuì 。

I misunderstood you last time; today I’m here to sincerely apologize.

误会澄清后，他主动登门负荆请罪。

### Traditional Chinese

誤會澄清後，他主動登門負荊請罪。

wù huì chéng qīng hòu ， tā zhǔ dòng dēng mén fù jīng qǐng zuì 。

After the misunderstanding was clarified, he visited in person to sincerely apologize.

我把你的资料弄丢了，今天是来负荆请罪的。

### Traditional Chinese

我把你的資料弄丟了，今天是來負荊請罪的。

wǒ bǎ nǐ de zī liào nòng diū le ， jīn tiān shì lái fù jīng qǐng zuì de 。

I lost your documents and came today to offer a sincere apology.

她没有找借口，而是负荆请罪，承认自己的责任。

### Traditional Chinese

她沒有找藉口，而是負荊請罪，承認自己的責任。

tā méi yǒu zhǎo jiè kǒu ， ér shì fù jīng qǐng zuì ， chéng rèn zì jǐ de zé rèn 。

She offered a sincere apology and accepted responsibility instead of making excuses.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=46&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%B2%A0%E8%8D%8A%E8%AB%8B%E7%BD%AA)

## Keep exploring

- [甘拜下风 gān bài xià fēng Willingly concede another's superiority ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gan-bai-xia-feng)

- [刚愎自用 gāng bì zì yòng Stubbornly trust only one's own judgment ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gang-bi-zi-yong)

- [高风亮节 gāo fēng liàng jié Admirable integrity and principled conduct ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gao-feng-liang-jie)

- [高朋满座 gāo péng mǎn zuò Have many honored guests gathered ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gao-peng-man-zuo)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 浮光掠影 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/fu-guang-lve-ying) [Next idiom 覆水难收 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/fu-shui-nan-shou)