1
be apologetic about sth
about 后接所道歉的事情或原因。
She was apologetic about the misunderstanding.
她对这场误会表示歉意。
道歉的；表示歉意的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
道歉的；表示歉意的
offering or expressing an apology
She was apologetic about the misunderstanding.
她对这场误会表示歉意。
带有道歉性质的；表示歉意地辩解。
Having the character of apology; regretfully excusing.
She gave me an apologetic smile when she arrived late.
她迟到时给了我一个歉意的微笑。
He was genuinely apologetic for the mistake he had made.
他对自己犯的错真心感到抱歉。
Her apologetic tone made it clear that she hadn't meant to offend anyone.
她道歉的语气表明她并非有意冒犯任何人。
about 后接所道歉的事情或原因。
She was apologetic about the misunderstanding.
她对这场误会表示歉意。
apologetic 作定语时常修饰 smile、look、tone、letter 等名词。
He gave an apologetic smile.
他露出一个表示歉意的微笑。
Not this
She was very apology for arriving late.
Use this
She was very apologetic for arriving late.
系动词 was 后需要形容词作表语；apology 是名词，表示“道歉的内容或行为”，而 apologetic 是形容词，表示“道歉的、表示歉意的”。
Not this
He looked at me apologetic.
Use this
He looked at me apologetically.
这里需要用副词修饰动词短语 looked at；apologetic 是形容词，不能修饰动作，其副词形式是 apologetically，意为“歉疚地”。
Not this
Please accept my apologetic.
Use this
Please accept my apology.
动词 accept 后需要名词作宾语；apologetic 是形容词，不能作宾语，应改用名词 apology，表示“道歉、歉意”。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
歉意的微笑
She gave an apologetic smile as she squeezed past me.
她从我身边挤过去时露出了歉意的微笑。
歉意的语气
His apologetic tone softened her anger.
他歉意的语气缓和了她的怒气。
感到抱歉
I felt apologetic for forgetting your birthday.
我因为忘了你的生日而感到抱歉。
对……表示歉意
She was apologetic about the delay.
她对延误表示歉意。
道歉信
He sent an apologetic letter to the customer.
他给顾客寄了一封道歉信。
Use apologetic naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
apologetic 就是 apology（道歉）的形容词，想象一个人连连说 sorry 时满脸愧疚的样子。
语域：neutral 常见场景：正式书信或声明、职场或服务场合、日常对话中说明失误时 apologetic 是形容词，多用于正式或中性语境，表示道歉或表达歉意；日常口语中也会出现，但比较常见于书面或礼貌的说法。
这些词的重读音节都包含 /etɪk/，因此与 apologetic 押韵；其中 energetic 的 /dʒetɪk/ 与 apologetic 的韵脚完全一致。注意不要只按拼写判断：logic /ˈlɒdʒɪk/、magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ 也以 -ic 结尾，但重音和元音不同，不押韵；apology /əˈpɒlədʒi/ 虽同根，读音也不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.