来不及

láibují

Meaning

来不及 is a verb meaning “not to have enough time”, “to be too late”. It stands alone or takes a verb after it.

来不及 + Verb → not have time to… ……，来不及了。→ It's too late now.

等(Děng)你(nǐ)身(shēn)体(tǐ)出(chū)现(xiàn)问(wèn)题(tí)了(le)，后(hòu)悔(huǐ)就(jiù)来(lái)不(bu)及(jí)了(le)。

Once your health starts to suffer, it'll be too late for regrets.

今(Jīn)天(tiān)来(lái)不(bu)及(jí)开(kāi)会(huì)了(le)，明(míng)天(tiān)我(wǒ)们(men)再(zài)找(zhǎo)时(shí)间(jiān)说(shuō)这(zhè)个(ge)问(wèn)题(tí)吧(ba)。

There isn't time for the meeting today. Let's find a moment tomorrow to talk it over.

你(Nǐ)不(bù)是(shì)和(hé)同(tóng)学(xué)约(yuē)了(le)下(xià)午(wǔ)两(liǎng)点(diǎn)见(jiàn)面(miàn)吗(ma)？再(Zài)不(bù)走(zǒu)就(jiù)来(lái)不(bu)及(jí)了(le)。

Didn't you arrange to meet your classmate at two? If you don't set off now you'll be late.

来不及吃饭 — no time to eat 来不及上课 — not make it to class 来不及准备 — no time to prepare 来不及回家 — no time to get home 来不及了 — it's too late

来(Lái)不(bu)及(jí)吃(chī)饭(fàn)。

There isn't time to eat.

我(Wǒ)没(méi)时(shí)间(jiān)吃(chī)饭(fàn)。

I don't have time to eat.

来不及 → a deadline is closing in: it can't be done in time. 没时间 → simply having no free time.

来(Lái)不(bu)及(jí)准(zhǔn)备(bèi)。

There's no time to prepare.

赶(Gǎn)不(bu)上(shàng)火(huǒ)车(chē)。

To miss the train.

来不及 → not enough time to do the thing. 赶不上 → failing to catch a train, or to catch up with someone.

Remember: 来不及 = not to make it in time, too late. The cause is always a shortage of time. It works alone or with a verb.