Usage note
“赶上”用来表示在某个时间点之前达到或追上某人或某事。
gǎnshàng lái bù yòng biǎoshì zài kěnéng de shíjiānduī qián dá dào huò zhuī shàng shuí huò shuíshì.
"赶上" is used to indicate reaching or catching up with someone or something before a certain time.
Context note
这个词常用于描述时间紧迫的情况下，比如上学、赶火车或参加活动。
zhè gè cí cháng yòng wù miáo shíjiān pínjǐng de kàngxiàng, bǐrú shàng xué, gǎn huǒpán huò tàncāng huódòng.
This word is commonly used to describe situations where time is pressing, such as going to school, catching a train, or attending an event.
5 examples
我们要赶上早班车。
wǒ men yào gǎn shàng zǎo bān chē。
We need to catch the early bus.
他没赶上末班地铁。
tā méi gǎn shàng mò bān dì tiě。
He missed the last subway train.
你得赶快赶上飞机。
nǐ dé gǎn kuài gǎn shàng fēi jī。
You have to hurry to catch your flight.
比赛开始前我们赶上了。
bǐ sài kāi shǐ qián wǒ men gǎn shàng le。
We made it just in time for the start of the game.
他没赶上会议的开始。
tā méi gǎn shàng huì yì de kāi shǐ。
He missed the beginning of the meeting.
5 mini stories
小明今天起晚了，但他赶上了最后一班车。
xiǎo míng jīn tiān qǐ wǎn le， dàn tā gǎn shàng le zuì hòu yì bān chē。
Xiaoming overslept today, but he caught the last bus.
妈妈提醒我们早点出发，这样我们可以赶上早课。
mā ma tí xǐng wǒ men zǎo diǎn chū fā， zhè yàng wǒ men kě yǐ gǎn shàng zǎo kè。
Mom reminded us to leave early so we could catch our morning class.
小红没赶上火车，结果晚了一天到站。
xiǎo hóng méi gǎn shàng huǒ chē， jié guǒ wǎn le yì tiān dào zhàn。
Xiaohong missed the train and ended up arriving a day late.
我们提前出发，赶上了最后一班地铁。
wǒ men tí qián chū fā， gǎn shàng le zuì hòu yì bān dì tiě。
We left early and caught the last subway train.
比赛已经开始了，但小李还是赶上了。
bǐ sài yǐ jīng kāi shǐ le， dàn xiǎo lǐ hái shì gǎn shàng le。
The game had already started, but Xiaoli still managed to catch up.
Mini dialogue
赶上校车
A
快点儿，我们要迟到了！
Kuài diǎnr, wǒmen yào chídào le!
Hurry up, we're going to be late!
B
别担心，我们能赶上校车。
Bié dānxīn, wǒmen néng gǎnshàng xiàochē.
Don't worry, we can catch the school bus.
赶上火车
A
火车快开了，我们跑吧！
Huǒchē kuài kāi le, wǒmen pǎo ba!
The train is about to leave, let's run!
B
好的，希望我们能赶上。
Hǎo de, xīwàng wǒmen néng gǎnshàng.
Okay, I hope we can make it in time.
Related words and contrasts
similar
追上
zhuīshàng
to catch up with (by chasing)
追上 emphasizes the action of chasing to catch up, while 赶上 can be more about timing.
opposite
迟到
chídào
to be late
迟到 means to be late, the opposite of 赶上 (to make it in time).