赶不上

趕不上

gǎnbushàng

verb

Meanings

Cannot chase and reach - can't keep up or can't make it in time.

HSK 1

我赶不上飞机了。

Wǒ gǎnbushàng fēijī le.

I'm going to miss my flight.

HSK 2

他跑得太快，我赶不上他。

Tā pǎo de tài kuài, wǒ gǎnbushàng tā.

He runs too fast - I can't keep up with him.

HSK 5

现代社会竞争激烈，不努力就会赶不上别人。

Xiàndài shèhuì jìngzhēng jīliè, bù nǔlì jiù huì gǎnbushàng biéren.

Competition in modern society is fierce; if you don't work hard, you'll fall behind others.

usage

This is the potential complement (可能补语) negative form of 赶上. The positive potential form is 赶得上 - 'can catch up with.'

赶 gǎn

不 bù

上 shàng