---
title: "Ganshang Meaning: 赶上 (gǎnshàng) Means “to catch up with”"
description: "赶上 (traditional 趕上, gǎnshàng) means “to catch up with; to keep up with”. Hear its tones, see what 赶 and 上 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ganshang"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 赶上 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

赶上 gǎnshàng

## to catch up with; to keep up with

## It can also mean

- to happen to run into (an event)
- to be in time for

## Its characters

1. 赶 gǎn to catch up with
2. 上 shàng up

## In a sentence

他跑得很快，很快就赶上了前面的人。 He ran fast and soon caught up with the people ahead.

今天，如果你丢了钱包、没有考上大学、没**赶上**火车，中国朋友还是会拍拍你的肩膀，说一句：“塞翁失马，焉知非福。

From [塞翁失马 · The old man who lost his horse](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/sai-weng-shi-ma-old-man-who-lost-his-horse#library-word-648-650)

[More about 赶上](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%B6%E4%B8%8A)

## More words with 赶 or 上

- [赶紧 gǎnjǐn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ganjin)
- [赶快 gǎnkuài](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/gankuai)
- [皇上 huángshang](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/huangshang)
- [加上 jiāshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiashang)
- [基本上 jīběnshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jibenshang)
- [看不上 kànbushàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kanbushang)
- [看得上 kàndeshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kandeshang)
- [路上 lùshang](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/lushang)
- [马上 mǎshàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mashang)
- [上班 shàngbān](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shangban)

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