Signification
To admit a mistake.
Contexte culturel
In many Gujarati homes, children are taught to hold their ears as a sign of respect when they realize they've been naughty. It's a way to 'reset' the emotional tension between parent and child. Historically, 'Utthak-Baithak' (squats while holding ears) was a common punishment. While now banned in most modern schools, the linguistic memory remains strong in the idiom. During certain festivals or prayers, devotees might hold their ears while asking for forgiveness from God (Prāyashchita), showing that the idiom has spiritual roots in humility. In informal business meetings in Gujarat, using this idiom can actually build trust because it shows the speaker is honest and not too arrogant to admit a fault.
Use it for sincerity
If a simple 'sorry' feels too weak, use 'Kān pakaḍyā' to show you really mean it.
Watch the gender
Remember 'Kān' is masculine plural. Always use 'pakaḍyā' in the past tense for yourself.
Signification
To admit a mistake.
Use it for sincerity
If a simple 'sorry' feels too weak, use 'Kān pakaḍyā' to show you really mean it.
Watch the gender
Remember 'Kān' is masculine plural. Always use 'pakaḍyā' in the past tense for yourself.
The Emoji Trick
In texts, use the 👂 or 🙇♂️ emoji along with the phrase to sound very natural.
Physicality
You don't actually have to touch your ears unless you are being very dramatic or playful.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
મેં ખોટું બોલીને મોટી ભૂલ કરી, હવે હું ___ ___ છું.
The idiom is 'કાન પકડવા' (to hold ears).
Which situation is best for using 'Kān pakaḍavā'?
તમે તમારા મિત્રનો ફોન તોડી નાખ્યો, તમે શું કહેશો?
Holding ears is the appropriate idiom for admitting a mistake.
Match the Gujarati sentence with its English meaning.
1. મેં કાન પકડ્યા. 2. તેણે કાન પકડાવ્યા. 3. કાન પકડ!
Matches the past tense, causative, and imperative forms.
Complete the dialogue.
પત્ની: તમે શાકભાજી લાવવાનું ભૂલી ગયા? પતિ: અરે! સાવ ભૂલી ગયો, ___ ___.
The husband is admitting a mistake, so 'કાન પકડ્યા' is the natural response.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Apology Levels
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesમેં ખોટું બોલીને મોટી ભૂલ કરી, હવે હું ___ ___ છું.
The idiom is 'કાન પકડવા' (to hold ears).
તમે તમારા મિત્રનો ફોન તોડી નાખ્યો, તમે શું કહેશો?
Holding ears is the appropriate idiom for admitting a mistake.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Matches the past tense, causative, and imperative forms.
પત્ની: તમે શાકભાજી લાવવાનું ભૂલી ગયા? પતિ: અરે! સાવ ભૂલી ગયો, ___ ___.
The husband is admitting a mistake, so 'કાન પકડ્યા' is the natural response.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is actually a sign of humility and respect.
Only if you have a friendly, informal relationship. Otherwise, use 'I apologize'.
The past tense is 'મેં કાન પકડ્યા' (Me kān pakaḍyā).
Yes, but it is almost always used figuratively today.
Yes, 'Kaan pakadna' is very common in Hindi with the same meaning.
Using it sarcastically is possible but can be seen as very annoying.
It is 'Kān' with a long 'a' sound.
Ears represent listening and learning from one's mistakes in Indian culture.
Rarely. It's mostly a spoken idiom or used in informal literature.
The idiom is always plural ('Kān'), so hold both or just use the phrase!
Expressions liées
માફી માંગવી
synonymTo ask for forgiveness
ભૂલ સ્વીકારવી
synonymTo accept a mistake
કાન આમળવા
similarTo twist someone's ears
નાક લીટી તાણવી
builds onTo rub one's nose on the ground
તોબા કરવી
similarTo repent or vow never to do again
