As is known to all, "I am sorry" is the phrase we hear most in daily communication in Britain. What does it mean? Does it always mean you apologize (道歉) for what you have done wrong?
Let us review a scene happening in a British street one day. A young man walked down a road playing with his smart phone when a lady came over in his opposite direction. The man tried in vain to give his way to the lady in time. As a result, he bumped (碰撞) into the lady. As a rule in China, the man must say" I am sorry.”" first，because he was so busy playing with his smart phone that he got in the way of the lady. However, both the persons apologized to each other by saying "I am sorry. "Why is this the case? As a matter of fact, the phrase "I am sorry." takes on another meaning in Britain. Anyone should speak to the other this way if either of them creates inconvenience. They apologize is way just to avoid unnecessary fights between them.
Another cultural difference about "I am sorry." can also be found at British restaurants. Supposing an old woman says to a waiter in a pub (酒馆)," I am sorry，but can I order another drink? "This time you must realize it doesn't mean she apologizes to the waiter for what she has done wrong, but means she really needs the waiter to do something for her.
