No offence, but…
Informal Depends on context
What it really means
A warning that something at least a little offensive is coming. Saying "no offence" first does not really remove the sting; many British people find this phrase itself slightly rude.
Chinese explanation
预告接下来的话多少有点冒犯。先说"无意冒犯"并不能真正消除杀伤力；不少英国人觉得这个短语本身就有点失礼。
Example conversation
A: No offence, but that shirt is very… bright.
B: None taken. I like it, though.
A：无意冒犯啊，不过你这件衬衫真是……够鲜艳的。
B：没关系。不过我自己挺喜欢的。
What you could say back
Related phrases
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake