láibují: 来不及 - Too Late To, Not Enough Time To
Quick Summary
Keywords: laibuji, 来不及, Chinese for too late, not enough time in Chinese, lai bu ji meaning, what does laibuji mean, how to use laibuji, potential complement, Chinese grammar, opposite of laideji, HSK 3 vocabulary.
Summary: 来不及 (láibují) is a fundamental and extremely common Chinese phrase used when there isn't enough time to do something. It perfectly captures the feeling of urgency, panic, or regret when you're about to miss a deadline, a train, or an opportunity. More than just “too late,” it signifies the inability to complete an action within the available time, making it a crucial term for expressing the pressures of time in everyday conversation.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): láibují
Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Potential Complement
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: There is not enough time to do something; it's too late to act.
In a Nutshell: Think of the feeling when you're running for a bus, but you can see it starting to pull away from the stop. That sense of “I'm not going to make it!” is the core of 来不及 (láibují). It's not a statement about the past; it's a judgment about the immediate future. It focuses on the impossibility of accomplishing a task because the window of time is closing or has just closed.
Character Breakdown
来 (lái): To come, to arrive. It signifies the start or arrival of an action.
不 (bù): A negation particle, meaning “not” or “no.”
及 (jí): To reach, to catch up with, to be in time for.
When combined, 来不及 (láibují) literally means “to come, but not reach” or “unable to arrive in time.” You are “coming” to do the action, but you will “not reach” the deadline. This structure is a “potential complement,” a common Chinese grammar pattern that expresses ability or inability.
Cultural Context and Significance
来不及 (láibují) is a profoundly practical term that reflects the rhythm of modern life. While not tied to ancient philosophy, its frequent use highlights a cultural awareness of schedules, deadlines, and the consequences of being late in a fast-paced society.
In Western culture, we might say “We're not going to make it” or “It's too late.” The English “it's too late” often feels like a final, past-tense judgment. For example, “It's too late to apologize” implies the moment has passed entirely.
来不及 (láibují) shares this meaning but also carries a more dynamic, present-tense sense of urgency. It's the feeling you have while time is running out. It's the panicked thought in your head as you rush to finish a report or race to the airport. It embodies the anxiety of the countdown, making it an emotional and immediate expression of a time crunch. This sense of a closing window of opportunity is a universal experience, and 来不及 is the perfect Chinese tool to express it.
Practical Usage in Modern China
来不及 is used constantly in daily conversation. It's generally informal but can be used in any context where time is a factor.
Transportation: The most common usage. It's what you shout when you might miss a bus, train, or flight.
Work/School Deadlines: Expressing the inability to finish homework, a project, or a presentation on time.
Social Situations: Regretting not being able to say something, do something, or attend an event because the moment has passed.
Emergencies: Conveying extreme urgency, as in “There's no time to explain!”
Its connotation is almost always negative, expressing stress, regret, or panic. It's a statement of failure due to time constraints.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
快点！我们来不及了！
Pinyin: Kuài diǎn! Wǒmen láibují le!
English: Hurry up! We're not going to make it!
Analysis: A classic and very common phrase. The `了 (le)` at the end emphasizes the change of state—the situation has now become “not having enough time.”
Example 2:
糟糕，我来不及吃早饭了。
Pinyin: Zāogāo, wǒ láibují chī zǎofàn le.
English: Oh no, I don't have time to eat breakfast.
Analysis: This shows how 来不及 is often followed by a verb phrase (吃早饭 - to eat breakfast), specifying what action cannot be completed.
Example 3:
如果现在不出门，你就会来不及赶上火车。
Pinyin: Rúguǒ xiànzài bù chūmén, nǐ jiù huì láibují gǎnshàng huǒchē.
English: If you don't leave now, you won't have enough time to catch the train.
Analysis: Here, 来不及 functions as the negative outcome in a conditional “if…then…” sentence.
Example 4:
我有很多话想对他说，但是已经来不及了。
Pinyin: Wǒ yǒu hěn duō huà xiǎng duì tā shuō, dànshì yǐjīng láibují le.
English: I had so much I wanted to say to him, but it was already too late.
Analysis: This example expresses regret for a missed emotional opportunity. `已经 (yǐjīng)` means “already,” reinforcing the finality.
Example 5:
别问了，来不及解释了，快跟我走！
Pinyin: Bié wèn le, láibují jiěshì le, kuài gēn wǒ zǒu!
English: Stop asking questions, there's no time to explain, just come with me!
Analysis: A phrase straight out of an action movie. It demonstrates extreme urgency where action must take priority over explanation.
Example 6:
作业明天要交，今天开始做恐怕来不及了。
Pinyin: Zuòyè míngtiān yào jiāo, jīntiān kāishǐ zuò kǒngpà láibují le.
English: The homework is due tomorrow; I'm afraid it's too late to start today.
Analysis: `恐怕 (kǒngpà)` means “I'm afraid that,” adding a layer of worried speculation to the 来不及 outcome.
Example 7:
看到事故时，司机想刹车已经来不及了。
Pinyin: Kàndào shìgù shí, sījī xiǎng shāchē yǐjīng láibují le.
English: When he saw the accident, it was already too late for the driver to brake.
Analysis: This describes a split-second situation where the time to react was insufficient.
Example 8:
即使你现在道歉，也来不及挽回她的心了。
Pinyin: Jíshǐ nǐ xiànzài dàoqiàn, yě láibují wǎnhuí tā de xīn le.
English: Even if you apologize now, it's too late to win back her heart.
Analysis: This highlights a point of no return in a relationship, where the window of opportunity for reconciliation has closed.
Example 9:
堵车堵得太厉害了，今天的会议肯定来不及参加了。
Pinyin: Dǔchē dǔ de tài lìhài le, jīntiān de huìyì kěndìng láibují cānjiā le.
English: The traffic jam is so bad, I definitely won't make it to the meeting today.
Analysis: A common real-world excuse. It links an external cause (traffic jam) to the inevitable `来不及` result.
Example 10:
等我意识到自己错了，想改已经来不及了。
Pinyin: Děng wǒ yìshí dào zìjǐ cuò le, xiǎng gǎi yǐjīng láibují le.
English: By the time I realized I was wrong, it was already too late to change it.
Analysis: A phrase of deep regret, often used when reflecting on past mistakes and their irreversible consequences.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The most common mistake for learners is confusing 来不及 (láibují) with 晚了 (wǎn le).
Simple Rule: If you are rushing towards a deadline you might miss, use 来不及. If the deadline has already passed and you have failed, you can say you were 晚了.
Another point of confusion is with 没有时间 (méiyǒu shíjiān).
没有时间 (méiyǒu shíjiān) - “To not have time”
来不及 (láibují) implies there's a specific, urgent deadline that you cannot meet. It has a built-in sense of pressure that “没有时间” lacks.
来得及 (láidejí) - The direct antonym of 来不及. It means “to have enough time,” “to be able to make it in time.”
赶不上 (gǎnbushàng) - A very close synonym, literally “can't catch up with.” It's often used interchangeably with 来不及 for transportation (e.g., 赶不上飞机 - can't catch the plane).
晚了 (wǎn le) - “To be late.” This is the state of having arrived after the deadline, often the result of a 来不及 situation.
迟到 (chídào) - A more formal verb meaning “to be late” or “to arrive late,” commonly used for work or school.
错过 (cuòguò) - To miss an opportunity, to let something slip by. You might 错过 an opportunity because it was 来不及 to seize it.
抓紧时间 (zhuājǐn shíjiān) - “Seize the time,” “hurry up.” This is the command you give someone to avoid a 来不及 situation.
时间不够 (shíjiān bùgòu) - “Not enough time.” This is a literal statement of fact that is the reason for a 来不及 outcome.