How common it is
来不及 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say láibují slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
来不及表示时间太晚，赶不上。
lái bù jí biǎo shì shí jiān tài wǎn， gǎn bú shàng。
Too late means there is not enough time to make it.
Context note
来不及常出现在赶车、上课和匆忙里。
lái bù jí cháng chū xiàn zài gǎn chē 、 shàng kè hé cōng máng lǐ。
Too late often appears when rushing for transport, class, and being in a hurry.
5 examples
我来不及了。
wǒ lái bù jí le。
I am too late.
快点，不然来不及。
kuài diǎn， bù rán lái bù jí。
Hurry up, otherwise it will be too late.
现在来不及去。
xiàn zài lái bù jí qù。
It is too late to go now.
他来不及说话。
tā lái bù jí shuō huà。
He did not have time to speak.
我们来不及吃饭。
wǒ men lái bù jí chī fàn。
We do not have time to eat.
5 mini stories
我起床太晚，来不及去上学了。
wǒ qǐ chuáng tài wǎn， lái bù jí qù shàng xué le。
I got up too late and was too late to go to school.
快递要到了，我们来不及出门。
kuài dì yào dào le， wǒ men lái bù jí chū mén。
The delivery is about to arrive, and we do not have time to go out.
他来不及拿书包就跑出了门。
tā lái bù jí ná shū bāo jiù pǎo chū le mén。
He ran out the door before he had time to take his school bag.
如果再慢一点，就来不及了。
rú guǒ zài màn yì diǎn， jiù lái bù jí le。
If we are a little slower, it will be too late.
老师说出门前要准备好，不然会来不及。
lǎo shī shuō chū mén qián yào zhǔn bèi hǎo， bù rán huì lái bù jí。
The teacher said we should prepare before going out, otherwise it will be too late.