loi4 dak1 kap6來得及来得及
Jyutpingloi4 dak1 kap6
Yalelòih dāk kahp
Definition
To have enough time to do something; to be able to make it in time.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 趕得切 in spoken Cantonese instead of the Mandarin-influenced 來得及. It functions as a potential complement, where 趕 is the verb meaning to rush or hurry, and 得切 indicates the successful completion of the action within the time limit. Using the negative form 趕唔切 is extremely common when expressing that one is running late.
Related words
Common phrases
to be in time to catch the transport
to be in time for work
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 來得及 because it is standard in written Chinese, but it sounds unnatural or overly formal in daily conversation. Always opt for 趕得切 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
