The Set Phrases “来得及 / 来不及”

In Chinese, “来得及” (lái de jí) and “来不及” (lái bu jí) say whether there is enough time or not.

来得及 — there is still time, the thing can be done in time 来不及 — there is not enough time, it cannot be done in time

How it is translated

来得及 — be in time / there is time enough 来不及 — be too late / there is not time enough

来得及 + verb be in time to do something

来不及 + verb be too late to do something

没来得及吃早饭的人在这里就能买到热包子和牛奶等

没 + 来得及 + 吃早饭 negation + be in time + have breakfast

没来得及 — did not have time 吃早饭 — have breakfast 在这里 — right here 买到 — manage to buy 热包子和牛奶等 — hot baozi, milk and so on

没来得及吃早饭

你现在才告诉我，我来不及通知大家了

来不及 + 通知大家 be too late + tell everyone

现在才告诉我 — only told me now 来不及 — I won’t be in time 通知大家 — tell everyone

Here it is simply too late, so the thing cannot be done in time.

中午12点的飞机，咱们9点出发来得及吗？

9点出发 + 来得及吗？ set off at nine + will we be in time?

中午12点的飞机 — the twelve-noon flight 咱们 — we 9点出发 — set off at nine 来得及吗 — will we be in time?

When there is time enough:

来得及 + verb be in time to do something

来得及吗？

When there is not time enough:

来不及 + verb be too late to do something

来不及通知大家

没来得及 + verb did not have time to do something

没来得及吃早饭