This application discloses a reference signal transmission method and apparatus. The method includes: generating one or more OFDM symbols, where at least one OFDM symbol includes a PTRS resource block, the PTRS resource block includes at least two of three sequences: a PTRS sequence of Y elements, X elements after the PTRS sequence, and Z elements before the PTRS sequence, and the PTRS resource block occupies a plurality of consecutive resource elements REs, where X, Y, and Z are all integers; and sending the one or more OFDM symbols. According to the foregoing method and apparatus, inter-carrier interference is reduced, thereby improving spectral efficiency.