make up time (vehicles); hit the right moment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
(of trains, buses, ships, etc.) to speed up in order to arrive on time after a delay
Commonly used in the context of public transportation and logistics.
Huǒ火
chē车
wǎn晚
diǎn点
le了
，
sī司
jī机
zhèng正
zài在
pīn拼
mìng命
gǎn赶
diǎn点
儿
。
The train was delayed, and the driver is now desperately trying to make up time.
Wèi为
le了
gǎn赶
diǎn点
lún儿
，
chuán轮
tí船
gāo提
le高
háng了
sù航
速
。
In order to arrive on schedule, the ship increased its sailing speed.
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Zhè这
tàng趟
gōng公
jiāo交
chē车
yī一
zhí直
zài在
gǎn赶
diǎn点
kāi儿
，
de开
tè得
bié特
kuài别
快
。
This bus has been trying to make up for lost time the whole way, driving especially fast.
verb
to seize the opportunity; to happen to arrive at the perfect moment
informalOften used with the -r suffix (赶点儿儿的). Implies being lucky with timing. Colloquial.
Nǐ你
zhēn真
gǎn赶
shàng上
diǎn点
r儿
la啦
，
wǒ我
men们
zhèng正
quē缺
nǐ你
ne呢
。
You really came at the perfect moment; we were just short of one person—you.
Tā他
lái来
de得
zhēn真
gǎn赶
diǎn点
r儿
，
zhèng正
hǎo好
gǎn赶
shàng上
mò末
bān班
chē车
。
He arrived at just the right time, catching the last bus by a hair.
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Zhè这
cì次
tóu投
zī资
gǎn赶
diǎn点
r儿
le了
，
zhèng正
hǎo好
gǎn赶
shàng上
niú牛
shì市
。
This investment was perfectly timed, catching the bull market right at its start.