Few words are spoken more often every day on the streets of Britain than "I'm sorry". This phrase has become such a common response(反应) that it has taken on a lot of meanings.
Saying "Sorry" means to apologize(道歉). This is simple and easy to understand. We learn it both as a native speaker and as a student of foreign languages.
But in Britain, it takes on another meaning. It is a cultural expression. Imagine this: a man walks down the street, looking down at his phone. A woman is walking in the opposite direction, towards the man. She sees him, but she can't get out of the way in time. The man bumps (碰撞) into the woman. Who should say sorry? Naturally, the man should say sorry, because it was he who wasn't looking where he was going. Yet in Britain, it is common for both to apologize.
It is known that British people, like most people, do not enjoy conflict(冲突).So to quickly calm the situation, British people will apologize to each other.
Other times it may sound funny to hear "sorry". Some of my friends say it at restaurants, as they ask the waiter: "Sorry, but can I order another drink?" It is not to apologize, but just to express that we need the waiter. In Britain, sorry doesn't always mean exactly what you think.
