迫不及待

pòbùjídài
idiom HSK 7 #5,005

Meanings

  1. 1 can't wait
  2. 2 impatient
  3. 3 eager

Examples

Háizimen pòbùjídài de dǎkāi le lǐwù.
The children couldn't wait to open their presents.
Wǒ pòbùjídài xiǎng qù lǚxíng.
I can't wait to go traveling.

Tips

memory
(pressed/urgent) + 不及 (cannot reach) + (to wait) — so urgent you cannot even manage to wait. Picture someone so excited they're already running before the starting whistle.
grammar
Used as an adverb before a verb, often with : 迫不及待 + verb. Can also be used as a predicate: 已经迫不及待

Stroke Order

dài