跟上 (gēn shàng) — to keep pace with, to catch up with (a person, trend, or standard)

Definition

跟上 means 'to keep up / catch up with' — staying at the same pace as a person, trend, or standard, or closing a gap. 赶上 focuses on reaching or being in time for something; 跟上 is about matching ongoing speed or level.

verb
to keep pace withto catch up with (a person, trend, or standard)

Examples

  • ，跟上。
    Tā zǒu dé tài kuài le, wǒ yǒu diǎn r gēn shàng bu shàng.
    He walks too fast; I can't quite keep up with him.
  • 跟上。
    Xīn yuán gōng xū yào jǐn kuài gēn shàng gōng sī de jié zòu.
    New employees need to quickly catch up with the company's pace.
  • ，。
    Zhè zhǒng jì shù fā zhǎn tài kuài, bù xué xí jiù gēn bú shàng le.
    This kind of technology develops so fast; if you don't study, you'll fall behind.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

跟gēnfollow
上shàngup/onto

跟 (follow) plus 上 (up/onto) means keeping pace or catching up.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn跟gēn
Same sound today

跟 is built from 足 (foot) plus 艮. The 足 part ties the character to foot-related senses, while 艮 gives the sound.

Open 跟 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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