来不及

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 来不及 (lái bù jí) is a compound of three characters. The first character, 来 (lái), means "to come" or "to arrive". The second character, 不 (bù), is a negation particle. The third character, 及 (jí), means "to reach" or "to catch up". Together, the three characters mean "to not have enough time to do something".The word 来不及 is often used in a negative sense, to express regret or frustration about not being able to do something. For example, someone might say 我来不及赶上火车了 (wǒ lái bù jí gǎn shàng huǒchē le), which means "I didn't have enough time to catch the train".However, the word 来不及 can also be used in a positive sense, to express determination or a sense of urgency. For example, someone might say 我一定要来得及 (wǒ yīdìng yào lái dé jí), which means "I will definitely make it in time".The word 来不及 is a common word in Chinese, and it is important for HSK learners to understand its meaning and usage.