Chinese word

跟不上

Pronunciation

Pinyingēn bù shàng

Meaning

  • verbcan't keep up

Example

如果你走得太快，我就跟不上了。rú guǒ nǐ zǒu de tài kuài wǒ jiù gēn bú shàng le

If you walk too fast, I can't keep up.

Illustration for 跟不上 (can't keep up)

More examples

由于技术更新太快，老员工有时跟不上新的要求。yóu yú jì shù gēng xīn tài kuài lǎo yuán gōng yǒu shí gēn bú shàng xīn de yāo qiú

Technology changes so quickly that experienced employees sometimes can't keep up with the new requirements.

Core concept

A widening gap separates a person from the pace, progress, or level of understanding they are trying to stay with.

Common phrases

  • 跟不上生活节奏gēn bú shàng shēng huó jié zòu

    can't keep up with life's pace

  • 跟不上学习进度gēn bú shàng xué xí jìn dù

    can't keep up with the pace of learning

  • 跟不上步伐gēn bú shàng bù fá

    can't keep up with the pace

Similar words

赶不上gǎn bú shàng: Fail to catch a scheduled departure or reach the required progress in time.
落后luò hòu: Remain behind the current standard or stage of development.
追不上zhuī bú shàng: Fail to reach a person or moving object despite pursuing it physically.

Definition in Chinese

因为速度、理解力或条件不足，不能赶上别人或跟不上某个节奏或进度。yīn wèi sù dù lí jiě lì huò tiáo jiàn bù zú bù néng gǎn shàng bié rén huò gēn bú shàng mǒu gè jié zòu huò jìn dù

Word origin

In 跟不上 (gēnbùshàng, "cannot follow"), 跟 (gēn, "follow") sets the direction, 不 (bù, "not") negates it, and 上 (shàng, "reach or join") marks failure to arrive at the same pace or stage.

Usage tips

  • The subject is normally the person or group that fails to match the pace, while the activity or speaker supplies the reference point; this framing helps form natural sentences.

Other meanings

  • can't catch upverb
  • fall behindverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word