Meaning of 赶不上
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- can't keep up with
- can't catch up with
- cannot overtake
How to use 赶不上
赶不上 is a potential complement form of 赶上 (gǎnshàng, to catch up or make it in time). It is used for missing a train, a deadline, or not being as good as someone. Example: 快点儿，不然我们赶不上火车。(Kuài diǎnr, bùrán wǒmen gǎnbushàng huǒchē.) Hurry up, or we will miss the train.
赶 (gǎn) means to rush or chase, 不 (bù) means not, and 上 (shàng) means up or reaching the target. Picture yourself running after a bus and it pulls away: you chase but do not get up onto it.
Common mistake: Learners often say 不赶上 to mean 'can't catch up', but that sounds wrong; the 不 must go in the middle as 赶不上 to express inability. Also, 不 here is usually light and toneless (bu), not a full fourth tone.
赶不上 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
赶 gǎn · to overtake · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
不 bù · no · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
上 shàng · up · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
Related words
Words that share a character with 赶不上.
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 不用 | bùyòng | need not |
| 马上 | mǎshàng | at once; right away |
| 晚上 | wǎnshang | evening; night |
| 身上 | shēnshang | on the body; at hand |
| 早上 | zǎoshang | early morning |
| 上次 | shàng cì | last time |
| 路上 | lùshang | on the road; on the way; en route |
| 上班 | shàngbān | to go to work; to be on duty |
| 上车 | shàng chē | to get on or into (a bus, train, car etc) |
| 地上 | dìshang | on the ground; on the floor |
Questions about 赶不上
What does 赶不上 mean?
赶不上 (gǎnbushàng) means "can't keep up with; can't catch up with" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 赶不上?
赶不上 is made of 3 characters: 赶 (10 strokes), 不 (4 strokes), 上 (3 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 赶不上 an HSK word?
Yes. 赶不上 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 赶不上 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 赶不上 is written 趕不上.
How do I say I can catch up or make it in time?
Replace 不 with 得: 赶得上 (gǎndeshàng) means you are able to make it. For example, 现在走还赶得上。(Xiànzài zǒu hái gǎndeshàng.) If we leave now we can still make it.
Can 赶不上 mean 'not as good as'?
Yes. It can compare ability or quality, similar to 比不上 (bǐbushàng). For example, 我的中文赶不上他。(Wǒ de Zhōngwén gǎnbushàng tā.) My Chinese is not as good as his.