没空 (méi kòng) — to have no time (to do something)

Definition

A casual way to say 'be busy, have no time'. Use it to politely decline or explain why you can't do something.

verb

to have no time (to do something)

，。
Tā měi tiān dōu hěn máng, gēn běn méi kòng xiū xi.
He is very busy every day and has no time at all to rest.
，。
Wǒ zuì jìn zài xiě lùn wén, méi kòng chū qù wán.
I've been writing a thesis recently and have no time to go out and have fun.
，。
Tā zǒng shì shuō méi kòng, qí shí shì bù xiǎng jiàn wǒ men.
She always says she has no time, but actually she doesn't want to see us.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

没méinot have

空kōngfree time

“没” conveys not having something, and “空” refers to free time; together they mean lacking free time.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠬛

𠬛𠬛沒mò

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Appears in