来得及 · 来不及
there is (not) enough time to do something
Structure
来得及／来不及 + 动词
What it means
Whether there is enough time to do something: 来得及 “there’s still time, can make it”, 来不及 “there isn’t time, too late”.
How it is built
来得及／来不及 + verb: 来不及吃早饭了 (No time for breakfast). Ask 来得及吗？ or 来得及来不及？
When to use it
It works like 看得清楚 / 看不清楚: with 得 you can make it, with 不 you can’t. Often with 还 or 就: 现在去机场还来得及; 再不走就来不及了.
Watch out
The negative is 来不及, not ✗ 不来得及. For the past, say 没来得及, “didn’t get the chance”: 我没来得及告诉他.
Examples
飞机两点起飞，现在去机场还来得及。
The plane leaves at two; if we go to the airport now we’ll still make it.
快走吧，再不走就来不及了。
Come on, if we don’t leave now we’ll be too late.
来不及吃早饭了，我在路上买个包子吧。
No time for breakfast. I’ll grab a baozi on the way.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 1: 国庆去哪儿 (Booking a trip)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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