来得及

• Pinyin: lái de jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 来 = 木 (tree radical, original pictograph); 得 = potential complement marker; 及 = 人 + 又 (hand catching up) — able to catch up in time

Meaning

To have enough time; there's still time to do something. Expresses that there is sufficient time to complete an action.

来得及 is the affirmative counterpart of 来不及. It is used to reassure that an action can still be done within the available time. Often used to encourage someone not to panic, or to confirm that a window of opportunity has not yet closed.

Examples

1. 现在才六点，还来得及赶上最后一班公交车。 It's only six o'clock — there's still time to catch the last bus.
2. 别担心，离截止日期还有三天，来得及的。 Don't worry — the deadline is still three days away; there's plenty of time.
3. 你现在开始准备考试还来得及，不算太晚。 You still have time to start preparing for the exam now — it's not too late.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, reassurance, time management

Tone: reassuring

Do Say

• 放心，现在去还来得及，路上不堵车。(Don't worry — there's still time to go now; the roads aren't busy.)
• 来得及，你先把最重要的部分做完就行。(There's time — just finish the most important part first.)

Don't Say

• 考试已经结束了，还来得及 (Don't use 来得及 when time has clearly passed — it sounds contradictory; acknowledge the deadline is missed with 来不及 or 已经晚了)

Origin & History

来 (to come) + 得 (can, potential marker) + 及 (to reach, to catch up with). Together the phrase means one is still able to reach or manage in time — the time is sufficient to 'arrive' at completing the task.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal