来
不
及

About

The word "来不及" is formed by the character 来 (lái), meaning "to come", which sets the context of an impending action or event, followed by 不 (bù), meaning "not", which negates the subsequent character 及 (jí), meaning "to reach" or "in time", resulting in a literal sense of "coming to not reach" and expressing the idea that there is not enough time to do something before it is too late.

Example Sentences Hide

我快来不及吃早饭了。

Wǒ kuài láibují chī zǎofàn le.

I almost don't have time to eat breakfast.

我睡过头了，现在上学来不及了。

Wǒ shuìguòtóu le, xiànzài shàngxué láibují le.

I overslept, and now it's too late to get to school.

真可惜，来不及说再见他就走了。

Zhēn kěxī, láibují shuō zàijiàn tā jiù zǒu le.

What a pity, he left before we could even say goodbye.

即使现在出发，也来不及赶上会议了。

Jíshǐ xiànzài chūfā, yě láibují gǎnshàng huìyì le.

Even if we leave now, it will still be too late to make it to the meeting.

时间流逝得太快，我们来不及细想童年就结束了。

Shíjiān liúshì de tài kuài, wǒmen láibují xìxiǎng tóngnián jiù jiéshù le.

Time passes too quickly; our childhood ended before we had time to contemplate it.

Word Definition - 来不及

lái bu jí there's not enough time (to do sth); it's too late

Individual Character Details

来 lái
不 bù
及 jí