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来不及
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 4 (2021)Old HSK 4

来不及 (láibují) · too late

来不及 (láibují) means “too late; not enough time”. It is written with 3 characters: 来 (to come) + 不 (not) + 及 (to extend). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).

How 来不及 is built

The characters

来 lái · to come

What 来 is made of

Origin hint: A wheat plant that has not yet borne fruit; compare 來 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

不 bù · not

What 不 is made of

Origin hint: A bird flying toward the sky 一 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

及 jí · to extend

What 及 is made of

Example sentences

快走,来不及了!Kuài zǒu, láibují le!Hurry up, we're running out of time!
我来不及吃早饭了。Wǒ láibují chī zǎofàn le.I don't have time to eat breakfast.

Questions about 来不及

What does 来不及 mean?

来不及 (láibují) means “too late; not enough time”.

How do you pronounce 来不及?

来不及 is pronounced láibují.

Which HSK level is 来不及?

来不及 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 4.

Related words

Learn 来不及 with its group

It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 56: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group