We learned about saying we’re sorry using the verb dispiacere in the lesson How to say you're sorry in Italian. But that’s only one of its common uses. If we look closely at dispiacere we can detect two parts: the root piacere (to please) and the prefix dis-, indicating negation or the opposite (very much like “dis-” in English). In a sense, dispiacere (to displease) is the opposite of piacere (to please, to be pleasing), so when I say “I’m sorry,” I’m saying that something displeases me:

Mi dispiace ma il tiramisù è terminato.

I'm sorry but we've run out of tiramisù.

Caption 17, Passeggiando per Roma - per Roma

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Normally, dispiacere isn’t used as the opposite of piacere. See the lesson I like it - Mi piace, where liking and not liking are discussed. In order to say I don’t like something, I say non mi piace, but if I say mi dispiace, it means “I’m sorry,” at least most of the time.

Oddly enough, by negating the already negating verb dispiacere by saying non mi dispiace, it becomes a sort of via di mezzo (middle way) between liking something and not liking it. It’s as if to say non male (not bad) without the exclamation point.* Non mi dispiace can be the equivalent of “I like it enough” or “I don’t mind it.” In the end, it depends on the inflection and facial expression, as well as on the context. Tutto è relativo (it’s all relative)! Sometimes it serves to temper or soften a statement that might hurt someone’s feelings, as in the example at the end of this lesson.

*For more on saying “not bad” with an exclamation point, see the lesson Elegant and Not So Elegant Turns of Phrase.

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Dispiacere is also used when asking someone if they mind something. Usually, a positive answer is expected, especially when using the conditional as in the following example. As in English, the answer may or may not answer the actual question:

Ti dispiacerebbe aprire la porta? -Certo.
Would you mind opening the door? [Would it displease you to open the door?] -Sure.

In the example below, the answer is negative in meaning, but said in a positive statement.

Senta, Le dispiace se diamo un'occhiata in giro?

Listen, do you mind if we have a look around?

-Eh, mi dispiace sì!

-Eh, yes I do mind!

Captions 28-29, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva

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In a nutshell:

When dispiacere has to do with minding, the pronoun will generally represent the person being addressed, in the second person:

Ti dispiace? (Do you mind?)
Le dispiace? (Do you mind? [formal])
Vi dispiace? (Do you mind? [plural])

When dispiacere has to do with liking something somewhat, the person doing the liking will be indicated by the pronoun:

Non mi dispiace (I like it pretty much)
Non gli dispiace (He likes it OK)

Putting the pieces together, just for fun:

Mi dispiace dirtelo, ma non mi dispiace la pubblicità della concorrenza. Non ti dispiace se ti dico la verità, vero?
I’m sorry to tell you but I somewhat like the competition’s publicity. You don’t mind if I tell you the truth, do you?
Non mi piace quello che dici ma non mi dispiace se mi dici quello che pensi. Anzi...
I don’t like what you’re saying, but I don’t mind if you tell me what you think. On the contrary...

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Check your comprehension:

Make a search of the different conjugations of dispiacere in a Yabla search and choose what you think the closest meaning is in each case. There’s no translation right there, so you won’t get any hints except context, but you can check your results by watching the video.

Ci Gets Around - Part 1

We saw in the previous lesson that the short word ci fits into (c’entra in) many situations.

But not only can ci mean “there,” ci can represent an object pronoun like “it,” “this,” or “that” plus a preposition (to, into, of, from, about, etc.) all in one, as we see below.

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On the job, Manara finds himself in the wine cellar of an important estate and has questioned Count Lapo’s housekeeper about some rifle shots. She answers evasively:

Colpi di fucile qui se ne sentono spesso, è zona di caccia.

We hear gun shots often here, it's a hunting area.

Sinceramente non c'ho badato.

Honestly I didn't pay attention to that.

Captions 13-14, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 5

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And things get more mysterious when Manara discovers Count Lapo’s cryptic parting words about his estate:

Ma ci penserà qualcun altro...

Well, someone else will take care of that...

Caption 36, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 5

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Ci can even get into the kitchen! Two kids are putting the finishing touches on a recipe they have demonstrated:

La nostra pasta è pronta.

Our pasta is ready.

Ci aggiungiamo un cucchiaino di parmigiano.

We'll add a teaspoon of Parmesan to it.

Captions 21-22, Ricette bimbi - Gli spaghetti con zucchine e uova

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But what happens when there are two object pronouns in the same sentence (indirect and direct)? Non c’è problema! Ci transforms itself into ce. The most important question when it’s time to buttare la pasta (throw the pasta in) is:

Ci hai messo il sale? (Did you put the salt in?)

Sì, ce l’ho già messo. (Yes, I already put it in.)

Even when it means “us” (see previous lesson), ci is transformed into ce when a direct object pronoun is also present, like “it” or “that.”

Morto come?

How did he die?

Eh, non ce l'hanno detto.

Uh, they didn't tell us that.

Captions 45-46, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 1

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Ci (often in the form of ce) can easily sneak into a sentence where there is technically no need for it, just to give it some weight.

Io son contadino mica grullo [stupido], ce l'avete il mandato?

I'm a farmer, not an idiot, do you have a warrant?

Caption 34, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 8

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While it’s nice to know what all these little words mean, it can be frustrating trying to account for all of them or to string them together in a logical order, so learning some common frasi fatte (idiomatic expressions) can get you off to a great start.

Lara’s aunt is being pulled by her little dog:

Non ce la faccio, mi fai cadere.

I can't keep up, you'll make me fall.

Caption 2, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 1

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And the Commissario has no clue why Lara is mad at him:

Lara! Io non l'ho capito perché ce l'hai con me.

Lara! I don't get what it is that you have against me.

Captions 61-62, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 5

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A good way to get a realistic sense of ci and ce in context is to watch Yabla series like Commissionario Manara, Un medico in famiglia, or even Acqua in bocca. Listen for these words, and when you hear them, press pause and repeat the sentence out loud. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll discover these little words all over the place, sprouting like wildflowers.

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Learning suggestion:

You will get a good helping of phrases using ci here. Get to know the ones that resonate with you. Enjoy a comprehensive and entertaining introduction to the word ci here.