The pattern

"It's too bad" plus a sentence expresses light regret or sympathy. "It's too bad you can't come" says you are disappointed, kindly. It is lighter than "I'm sorry to hear that", so it fits small disappointments: a missed party, a rained-out picnic, a closed restaurant. For serious bad news, use "I'm so sorry" instead.

"That's too bad" is the quick reply to someone else's small bad news: "The concert was canceled." "That's too bad." Said with a flat tone and a shrug, "Too bad" can also mean "I don't care", so watch your voice.

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  5. The quick, kind reply to someone's small bad news.

  7. "It's a shame" means the same thing and is very common.

  9. Said flatly, it can mean "not my problem". Tone matters.

Check yourself

1A friend says her flight was delayed three hours. What is a kind reply?
2Which phrase means the same as "It's too bad"?
3Why should you be careful with "Too bad" said alone?

Practice · 3 min

React to small disappointments. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.