Fixed Phrase: 来得及 / 来不及 (have time / not have time)
来得及/来不及
Use 来得及 and 来不及 to express whether there is enough time to do something
来得及 means "there is still time to" or "can make it in time." 来不及 means "there is not enough time" or "cannot make it." They can be used alone or followed by a verb phrase.
These are potential complement forms: 来 (come/manage) + 得及 (able to be in time) / 不及 (unable to be in time). They focus specifically on time sufficiency, not general ability.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Fixed Phrase: 来得及 / 来不及 (have time / not have time) (来得及/来不及)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 来得及/来不及 pattern
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Understanding 来得及/来不及
The expressions 来得及 (láidejí) and 来不及 (láibùjí) are essential for talking about time pressure in Chinese. 来得及 means "there is still enough time" or "you can still make it," while 来不及 means "there is not enough time" or "you cannot make it in time." These are incredibly practical in daily life — catching a bus, meeting a deadline, arriving somewhere on time. The structure follows the potential complement pattern: 来 (to come/manage) + 得 (can) or 不 (cannot) + 及 (reach/be in time). You can use them alone as responses (来得及! / 来不及!) or before a verb phrase to specify what you can or cannot do in time (来不及吃早饭了 — no time for breakfast). They also appear naturally in questions: 还来得及吗？ (Is there still time?). Mastering these two phrases will make you sound practical, natural, and time-aware in Chinese conversations.
Key Points
- 来得及 = there is still enough time / can make it in time.
- 来不及 = no time left / cannot make it in time.
- Can be used alone: 还来得及！(There is still time!)
- Can precede a verb: 来不及吃饭了 (No time to eat).
- Common question form: 来得及吗？ / 还来得及吗？
- Focus is specifically on TIME — not ability, permission, or possibility.
- 来得及 often appears with 还 (still): 还来得及 (there is still time).
Punctuality is highly valued in Chinese professional and academic settings. The phrase 来不及了 (no time left!) carries real urgency. In daily life, you will hear it at bus stops, before meetings, and whenever someone is running late. Being able to use these phrases naturally shows you understand the rhythm of Chinese daily life.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
你别着急，时间来得及。
Don't worry, there is enough time.
现在刚六点半，你马上去还来得及。
It is only six thirty — if you go right now, you can still make it.
来不及了，我们快走吧。
There is no time — let us go quickly.
时间还早，不会来不及的。
It is still early — there is no way we will run out of time.
早上起晚了，来不及吃早饭。
I woke up late this morning and did not have time for breakfast.
你觉得现在出发来得及吗？
Do you think there is enough time if we leave now?
飞机两点起飞，现在一点了，来不及了！
The plane takes off at two, and it is already one — we will not make it!
Common Mistakes
来得及 expresses potential — whether you CAN do it in time. Adding 了 after the verb implies you already did it, which conflicts with the meaning of 来得及.
The negative form is 来不及, not 不来及. The 不 goes between 来 and 及, following the potential complement pattern.
来不及 cannot be modified by degree words like 很多. It is a binary concept: either you can make it or you cannot.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
When someone is stressed about time, reassure them with 别着急，还来得及！
Use 来不及了 when you feel time running out — it naturally conveys urgency.
Practice with daily scenarios: getting to class, catching a bus, finishing homework before a deadline.
Remember: 来得及/来不及 is ONLY about time. For ability, use 能/不能. For permission, use 可以/不可以.
Homework
Describe a morning where you overslept. Write six sentences using both 来得及 and 来不及 to describe what you had time for and what you did not.