动词 + 不过来
too many to manage; cannot get round them all
Structure
动词 不过来 ／ 动词 得过来 吗？
What it means
“Too many to manage”: there are too many things or people to get round them all.
How it is built
Verb + 不过来: 他一个人根本送不过来 (he can’t possibly deliver them all alone). Positive: 你照顾得过来吗？ (can you look after them all?)
When to use it
About quantity, with verbs such as 送, 忙, 看, 照顾, 数: 周末根本忙不过来. Everyday speech. The positive 得过来 mostly appears in questions.
Watch out
Do not confuse it with 醒不过来 or 转不过弯来, where 过来 means coming back to a normal state, not getting round everything.
Examples
中午订单太多，他一个人根本送不过来。
At midday there are too many orders for him to deliver on his own.
店里只有两个服务员，周末根本忙不过来。
With only two waiters, the restaurant simply cannot cope at weekends.
这么多孩子，你一个人照顾得过来吗？
So many children: can you really look after them all on your own?
Learn this in Lesson 60 · HSK 6: 外卖骑手 (Delivery riders and the gig economy)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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