Meanings of 赶不上
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Podcast: 赶不上
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AI Study Notes for 赶不上
迟到 (chídào, to be late) — use 赶不上 when emphasizing inability to keep pace, while 迟到 focuses on arrival time.
This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, such as discussing academic performance or work deadlines. A common mistake is to confuse 赶不上 with 追上 (zhuī shàng), which means 'to catch up', instead of indicating inability.
While 赶不上 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for learners at HSK 4, where they encounter phrases discussing progress and competition. Focus on its use in sentences to express limitations in achieving goals.
Learners might mistakenly say 赶得上 (gǎn de shàng), suggesting they can catch up, which is the opposite of the intended meaning. The correct usage is 赶不上 to indicate they cannot keep up.
Pronunciation of 赶不上
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Component Characters
How to say can't keep up with in Chinese
“can't keep up with” in Chinese is赶不上
赶不上 (gǎn bù shàng) means 'to not be able to catch up' or 'to not be able to keep pace with'. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is trying to match someone else's speed, progress, or success, indicating a sense of falling behind.
When to use 赶不上
This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, such as discussing academic performance or work deadlines. A common mistake is to confuse 赶不上 with 追上 (zhuī shàng), which means 'to catch up', instead of indicating inability.
赶不上 or something close to it
迟到 (chídào, to be late) — use 赶不上 when emphasizing inability to keep pace, while 迟到 focuses on arrival time.
What learners get wrong
Learners might mistakenly say 赶得上 (gǎn de shàng), suggesting they can catch up, which is the opposite of the intended meaning. The correct usage is 赶不上 to indicate they cannot keep up.
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Frequently Asked Questions about 赶不上
No, 赶不上 typically has a negative connotation, indicating failure to keep pace rather than a positive achievement.
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