Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'Kaip gaila' to show you care when something goes wrong, from missing a bus to hearing bad news.
- Means: 'What a pity' or 'How sad' in response to minor or moderate misfortunes.
- Used in: Social conversations, reacting to news, or expressing personal regret about an event.
- Don't confuse: With 'Atsiprašau' (I'm sorry/excuse me); use this for empathy, not for apologizing.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
Expressing sympathy or disappointment.
文化的背景
Lithuanians value 'shared silence'. Sometimes saying 'Kaip gaila' and then just being quiet is more powerful than a long speech. There is a common thread of 'melancholy' in Baltic folk music (dainos). 'Gaila' is a frequent theme in these songs, often referring to the passing of youth or the loss of a home. In Lithuanian social media, 'Kaip gaila' is often used with the 'broken heart' or 'crying face' emoji to show support without being intrusive. In Lithuanian business, 'Kaip gaila' is used to soften the blow of a 'No'. It shows that the speaker is human and regrets the negative outcome.
The 'Kad' Connection
Always follow 'Kaip gaila' with 'kad' if you want to explain the reason. It makes you sound much more fluent.
Watch the Tone
If you say it too flatly, it can sound like you don't actually care. Add a little sigh for authenticity.
The 'Kad' Connection
Always follow 'Kaip gaila' with 'kad' if you want to explain the reason. It makes you sound much more fluent.
Watch the Tone
If you say it too flatly, it can sound like you don't actually care. Add a little sigh for authenticity.
The Lithuanian Nod
Often accompanied by a slow, single tilt of the head to the side.
自分をテスト
Choose the most natural response to: 'Mano katė susirgo.' (My cat got sick.)
Mano katė susirgo.
'Kaip gaila' expresses empathy for the cat's illness. 'Atsiprašau' would imply you poisoned the cat.
Complete the sentence with the correct particle.
_______ gaila, kad tu negali ateiti.
'Kaip' is the correct intensifier for the adverbial 'gaila'.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Situation: You hear that your friend's flight was cancelled.
Cancelled flights are a disappointment, requiring 'Kaip gaila'.
Fill in the missing line.
A: Ar žinai, kad kavinė šiandien nedirba? B: __________________.
Reacting to a closed cafe with disappointment.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
When to say 'Kaip gaila'
Weather
- • Rainy day
- • Too cold
- • No snow
Social
- • Friend is sick
- • Missed party
- • Late friend
Daily Life
- • Lost keys
- • Broken cup
- • Closed shop
練習問題バンク
5 問題Mano katė susirgo.
'Kaip gaila' expresses empathy for the cat's illness. 'Atsiprašau' would imply you poisoned the cat.
_______ gaila, kad tu negali ateiti.
'Kaip' is the correct intensifier for the adverbial 'gaila'.
Situation: You hear that your friend's flight was cancelled.
Cancelled flights are a disappointment, requiring 'Kaip gaila'.
A: Ar žinai, kad kavinė šiandien nedirba? B: __________________.
Reacting to a closed cafe with disappointment.
🎉 スコア： /5
よくある質問
10 問No, you should say 'Atsiprašau' or 'Apgailestauju'. 'Kaip gaila' makes it sound like an accident you weren't involved in.
Absolutely. It is a gender-neutral expression of social politeness.
'Labai gaila' is just more intense. Use it for bigger disappointments, like a cancelled vacation.
Yes, it's very common to use it when a child drops a toy or falls down.
It is neutral. It's fine for both formal and informal settings.
Use 'Man jo gaila' (Dative 'Man' + Genitive 'jo').
It can also mean 'stingy' or 'to regret wasting something' (e.g., 'gaila laiko' - a waste of time).
Not really, but 'Nu, gaila' is the most casual way to say it.
Yes, it's perfect for responding to a client who can't make a meeting.
'Kaip puiku!' (How great!) or 'Valio!' (Yay!).
関連フレーズ
Užuojauta
similarCondolences
Apgailestauju
formalI regret / I am sorry
Gaila man tavęs
specialized formI pity you
Nieko tokio
contrastNo big deal
Koks gailestis
synonymWhat a pity
どこで使う？
Missed Connection
Aistė: Aš pavėlavau į autobusą!
Lukas: O, kaip gaila. Kitas bus tik po valandos.
Broken Item
Mantas: Mano telefono ekranas sudužo.
Eglė: Kaip gaila! Ar jis dar veikia?
Weather Ruining Plans
Tomas: Šiandien neisime į parką, nes lyja.
Jolanta: Kaip gaila, aš taip norėjau pasivaikščioti.
Sold Out
Pardavėja: Atsiprašau, bandelių nebeturime.
Pirkėjas: Kaip gaila. Jos tokios skanios.
Friend is Sick
Rūta: Negaliu ateiti, labai skauda galvą.
Giedrius: Kaip gaila. Ilsėkis, pasveik greitai.
Job Rejection
Kandidatas: Negavau to darbo.
Draugas: Kaip gaila, tu buvai geriausias kandidatas.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of a 'Guy' named 'La' (Gaila) who is always sad. When something goes wrong, you say 'How's Guy-La?' (Kaip Gaila).
視覚的連想
Imagine a small, wooden carved figure (a Rūpintojėlis) sitting on a bench, looking at a dropped ice cream cone and sighing 'Kaip gaila'.
Rhyme
Kai lyja ir šalta, man labai gaila. (When it's raining and cold, I feel very sorry.)
Story
You are at a bus stop in Vilnius. The bus splashes a puddle on your new shoes and drives away. An old lady standing next to you looks at your shoes, shakes her head slowly, and says 'Kaip gaila'. You realize she isn't apologizing for the bus; she's sharing your pain.
In Other Languages
It is very similar to the German 'Wie schade' or the Spanish 'Qué lástima'. It functions as a standard emotional response rather than a literal description of one's internal state.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Next time you see a minor 'fail' video online or a friend complains about something small, type 'Kaip gaila!' as your response.
Review this phrase whenever you feel a minor disappointment. Associate the sound 'gaila' with the feeling of a small sting in the heart.
発音
Sounds like 'kite' but with a 'p' at the end.
The 'ai' is a diphthong like in 'sky'. The 'l' is soft.
フォーマル度スペクトル
Labai apgailestaujame, kad susitikimas atšauktas. (Business/Social)
Kaip gaila, kad susitikimas neįvyks. (Business/Social)
Gaila, kad nesusitiksim. (Business/Social)
Nu, gaila, nepavyko. (Business/Social)
From the Proto-Indo-European *ghail-, meaning sharp or biting. It evolved into the Lithuanian 'gailas' (sharp, bitter) and eventually the impersonal 'gaila' (it is a pity).
豆知識
The same root in German became 'geil', which meant 'full of life' or 'powerful' before it became modern slang for 'cool' or 'horny'.
文化メモ
Lithuanians value 'shared silence'. Sometimes saying 'Kaip gaila' and then just being quiet is more powerful than a long speech.
“A friend loses a job; you say 'Kaip gaila' and sit with them.”
There is a common thread of 'melancholy' in Baltic folk music (dainos). 'Gaila' is a frequent theme in these songs, often referring to the passing of youth or the loss of a home.
“Folk song lyrics: 'Gaila man jaunų dienelių' (I pity my young days).”
In Lithuanian social media, 'Kaip gaila' is often used with the 'broken heart' or 'crying face' emoji to show support without being intrusive.
“Commenting on a post about a closed local cinema.”
In Lithuanian business, 'Kaip gaila' is used to soften the blow of a 'No'. It shows that the speaker is human and regrets the negative outcome.
“'Kaip gaila, bet šiuo metu neturime laisvų vietų.'”
会話のきっかけ
Ar tau gaila, kad vasara baigiasi?
Girdėjau, kad tavo mėgstamiausia kavinė užsidarė. Kaip jautiesi?
Ar tau kada nors buvo labai gaila pamesto daikto?
よくある間違い
Atsiprašau, kad tavo šuo mirė.
Kaip gaila, kad tavo šuo nugaišo.
L1 Interference
Koks gaila!
Kaip gaila!
L1 Interference
Aš esu gaila.
Man gaila.
L1 Interference
Kaip gaila tave.
Kaip gaila tavęs.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Qué lástima
Spanish 'lástima' is a noun, while Lithuanian 'gaila' is a predicative adverb.
Quel dommage
Lithuanian focuses on the feeling of sorrow, French on the 'harm' done.
Wie schade
German 'schade' is an adjective/adverb, very close to 'gaila'.
残念ですね (Zannen desu ne)
Japanese is more focused on the 'regrettable' nature of the fact.
يا للأسف (Ya lil-asaf)
Arabic uses a vocative 'Ya' (Oh) which adds emotional weight.
太可惜了 (Tài kěxī le)
Chinese often implies a sense of 'waste' (of time/money/talent).
아쉬워요 (A-swip-eo-yo)
Korean has different levels of politeness built into the verb ending.
Que pena
The word 'pena' also means 'feather', which is a unique etymological quirk.
Spotted in the Real World
“Gaila, gaila man tavęs...”
A famous Lithuanian pop song about a breakup.
“Kaip gaila, kad jis vėl viską sugadino.”
A character reacting to another character's failure.
“Kaip gaila, užuojauta šeimai.”
Comment on a news post about a local business closing down.
間違えやすい
Learners use it to mean 'I'm sorry to hear that'.
Use 'Atsiprašau' only if you are the one who caused the problem.
Learners think it means 'The money is sad'.
This means 'to begrudge money' or 'to be stingy'.
よくある質問 (10)
No, you should say 'Atsiprašau' or 'Apgailestauju'. 'Kaip gaila' makes it sound like an accident you weren't involved in.
usage contextsAbsolutely. It is a gender-neutral expression of social politeness.
basic understanding'Labai gaila' is just more intense. Use it for bigger disappointments, like a cancelled vacation.
practical tipsYes, it's very common to use it when a child drops a toy or falls down.
usage contextsIt is neutral. It's fine for both formal and informal settings.
grammar mechanicsUse 'Man jo gaila' (Dative 'Man' + Genitive 'jo').
grammar mechanicsIt can also mean 'stingy' or 'to regret wasting something' (e.g., 'gaila laiko' - a waste of time).
usage contextsNot really, but 'Nu, gaila' is the most casual way to say it.
practical tipsYes, it's perfect for responding to a client who can't make a meeting.
practical tips'Kaip puiku!' (How great!) or 'Valio!' (Yay!).
comparisons
