---
title: "Laibuji Meaning: 来不及 (láibují) Means “not enough time”"
description: "来不及 (traditional 來不及, láibují) means “not enough time (to); too late to”. Hear its tones and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/laibuji"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

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

# What does 来不及 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

来不及 láibují

## not enough time (to); too late to

## It can also mean

- to not have enough time; too late

## In a sentence

曹操想追，已经**来不及**了。

From [草船借箭 · Borrowing arrows with straw boats](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/borrowing-arrows-with-straw-boats#library-word-707-710)

[More about 来不及](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9D%A5%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%8A)

## More words with 来 or 不 or 及

- [本来 běnlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benlai)
- [必不可少 bìbùkěshǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bibukeshao)
- [不安 bù’ān](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/buan)
- [不必 bùbì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bubi)
- [不便 bùbiàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bubian)
- [不曾 bùcéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/buceng)
- [不成 bùchéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bucheng)
- [不错 bùcuò](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bucuo)
- [不但 bùdàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/budan)
- [不当 bùdàng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/budang)

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