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March 24, 2026
赶不上(趕不上)gǎnbùshàng(gan3bu4shang4)
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.
Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese education and work culture, the concept of competition is prevalent, and 赶不上 can reflect the pressure individuals feel to keep up with peers, especially in high-stakes environments like exams or career advancement.
Memory Tip
Imagine a runner who is trying to catch up with others in a race but keeps falling behind. The character 赶 (gǎn) looks like a person running, and 上 (shàng) indicates going up, suggesting the effort to reach the same level or position.
Meanings of 赶不上
gǎnbùshàng(gan3bu4shang4)
1can't keep up with
2can't catch up with
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About 赶不上
赶不上Simplified
趕不上Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 赶不上
Podcast: 赶不上
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AI Study Notes for 赶不上
Quick Contrast
迟到 (chídào, to be late) — use 赶不上 when emphasizing inability to keep pace, while 迟到 focuses on arrival time.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a runner who is trying to catch up with others in a race but keeps falling behind. The character 赶 (gǎn) looks like a person running, and 上 (shàng) indicates going up, suggesting the effort to reach the same level or position.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Cultural Note
In Chinese education and work culture, the concept of competition is prevalent, and 赶不上 can reflect the pressure individuals feel to keep up with peers, especially in high-stakes environments like exams or career advancement.
Common Mistakes
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.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 赶不上
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Cultural Notes for 赶不上
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese education and work culture, the concept of competition is prevalent, and 赶不上 can reflect the pressure individuals feel to keep up with peers, especially in high-stakes environments like exams or career advancement.
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.
No, it can also refer to intellectual or emotional situations, such as understanding concepts or coping with stress.
While both indicate falling behind, 跟不上 often refers to not being able to follow along with discussions or trends.
