a. 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi】 is generally used when you feel bad/reluctant to disturb others.
Example 1:
Sorry I have disturbed you.
不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi=feel bad/reluctant】,
打扰【dǎrǎo=bother, disturb】 你【nǐ=you】 了【le】。
不好意思,打扰 你 了。
The literal meaning is I feel bad that I have disturbed you.
Example 2:
Sorry to put you some trouble.
不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi=feel bad/reluctant】, 麻烦【máfan=bother, put you some trouble】 你【nǐ=you】 一下【yīxià=for a while】。
The literal meaning is I feel bad to put you some trouble for a while.
不好意思,麻烦 你一下。
Note:
When 麻烦【máfan=bother, inconvenient】is used, you have to use 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi=excuse me】, not 对不起【duìbùqǐ=sorry】.
b. 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi=excuse me】is generally used when you feel bad to ask people to help.
Example:
Excuse me, could you please help me?
不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi= feel bad/reluctant】, 麻烦【máfan=bother, put you some trouble】 能【néng=can】 帮【bāng=help】 我【wǒ=I】 一下【yīxià=for a while】 吗【ma】?
The literal meaning is “I feel bad to bother you, could you please help me for a while?”
不好意思,麻烦 能 帮 我 一下 吗?
c. 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi】is used when you feel embarrassed because people are too kind to you.
Example:
A: I really feel embarrassed when we go out, it’s always you paying.
B: It doesn’t matter.
A: 真【zhēn=really】 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi= feel bad】,我们【wǒmén=we】 出来【chūlai=go out】,一直【yīzhí=always】 都是【dōushì=all are】 你【nǐ=you】 付【fù=pay】 钱【qián=money】。
B: 没关系【méiguānxi=it doesn’t matter, never mind】。
A: 真 不好意思,我们 出来,一直 都是 你 付 钱。
B: 没关系。
Description:
There are generally three ways to answer 对不起【duìbùqǐ=sorry】or 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi=sorry, feel bad/reluctant】:
a.没关系【méiguānxi=it doesn’t matter, never mind】
b. 没事儿【méishìr=it doesn’t matter, never mind】
c. 不要紧【bùyàojǐn=it doesn’t matter, never mind】
Example 2:
A: This is for you.
B: Thank you, I'm very embarrassed.
A: 送【sòng= give as a present】 给【gěi=give】 你【nǐ=you】。
B: 谢谢【xièxiè=thank you】 , 太【tài=very, extremely】 不好意思【bùhǎoyìsi=feel embarrassed】 了【le】。
A: 送 给 你。
B: 谢谢, 太 不好意思 了。