来不及

§ What 来不及 Means and When to Use It

Let's talk about a super practical Chinese word: 来不及 (láibují). This one is all about time, or rather, the lack of it. Simply put, 来不及 means 'there's not enough time' or 'it's too late'. It describes a situation where you wanted to do something, but the opportunity has passed, or you can't complete a task because time has run out.

Think of it as the opposite of 来得及 (láidejí), which means 'there's still enough time' or 'it's not too late'. We'll focus on 来不及 today, but it's good to know its counterpart exists.

DEFINITION

来不及 (láibují): There's not enough time; it's too late.

You use 来不及 when you realize you've missed a deadline, an event has already started, or you just don't have the minutes or hours needed to get something done. It often carries a slight sense of regret or urgency. It's a very common phrase in daily conversation, so mastering it will make your Chinese sound much more natural.

Here are some common scenarios where you'd use 来不及:

• Missing a train/bus/flight: If you arrive at the station and your transport has already left or is about to leave, and you can't make it.
• Missing an appointment or event: If you're late for a meeting, a movie, or a party.
• Not finishing a task on time: If you have too much to do and the deadline is looming, or has already passed.
• Reacting too late to something: If you see something happening but can't intervene in time.

Let's look at some examples to make this crystal clear:

Translation hint: Let's go quickly, if we don't go now, it will be too late.

Translation hint: Sorry, I don't have time to eat breakfast (it's too late to eat breakfast).

Translation hint: The train has already left, it's too late for us.

Translation hint: If you don't do it now, it will be too late later.

Notice how in some examples, 来不及 is followed by '了 (le)', which emphasizes the completion or change of state – in this case, that it's *already* too late. This '了' is very common with 来不及.

So, when you find yourself in a rush, or you've missed an opportunity because time got away from you, 来不及 is your go-to phrase. Practice using it in different contexts, and you'll quickly get the hang of it!

§ Basic Usage

The verb 来不及 (láibují) literally means 'come not in time' or 'it's too late'. It describes a situation where there isn't enough time to do something, or something happens too late. You'll often see it used to express regret or a sense of urgency. Think of it as 'there's no time to...' or 'it's too late to...'.

DEFINITION

There's not enough time to do something, or it's too late to do something.

Wǒmen kuài zǒu ba, fǒuzé jiù láibují le.

Let's go quickly, otherwise it will be too late.

Wǒ zǎoshang qǐ wǎn le, láibují chī zǎofàn.

I woke up late this morning; there wasn't enough time to eat breakfast.

§ With an Object (来不及 + Verb/Verb Phrase)

You can directly follow 来不及 with a verb or a verb phrase to specify what you don't have enough time for, or what you are too late to do. This is a very common structure.

• Subject + 来不及 + Verb/Verb Phrase

Huǒchē kuài kāi le, wǒmen láibují mǎi piào le.

The train is leaving soon; we don't have time to buy tickets.

Yǔ xià de tài dà, láibují shōu yīfu le.

The rain is too heavy; it's too late to take in the clothes.

§ With “了 (le)” indicating a change of state

Often, 来不及 is followed by the particle 了 (le) at the end of the sentence or clause. This 了 indicates a change of state, meaning that the situation of 'not having enough time' or 'being too late' has now come about.

Nǐ xiànzài cái lái, yǐjīng láibují le.

You're only coming now, it's already too late.

Láibují jiěshì le, wǒmen kuài zǒu!

There's no time to explain, let's go quickly!

§ Expressing Regret: 后悔 (hòuhuǐ)

When you combine 来不及 with verbs like 后悔 (hòuhuǐ - to regret), it highlights a sense of regret for something that can no longer be changed because it's too late.

• Subject + (等到) + Situation + (才) + 后悔 + 也 + 来不及 + 了

Děngdào shīqù le, cái láibují hòuhuǐ.

When you've lost it, it's too late to regret it.

Xiànzài shuō shénme dōu láibují le.

It's too late to say anything now.