5 Useful Chinese Phrases to Say When You’re Running Late

In Practical Chinese Phrases by Angel Huang

Picture this:

Your alarm didn’t go off, and now you’re stuck in traffic.

People are waiting for you to arrive...

Which of the Chinese phrases from this video would you use to tell them that you’ll “be right there”?

5 Ways to Say "I'll Be Right There" in Chinese
(A Summary of the Phrases from the video)

我快到了。wǒ kuài dào le. 

I’m almost there!

Example:

A:

嘿,你在哪里啊?我已经等十五分钟了。

hēi, nǐ zài nǎ lǐ a? wǒ yǐ jīng děng shí wǔ fēn zhōng le.

Hey, where are you? I’ve been waiting for fifteen minutes already.

B:

抱歉抱歉!我刚刚遇到塞车。我快到了。

bào qiàn bào qiàn! wǒ gāng gāng yù dào sāi chē. wǒ kuài dào le.

I'm so sorry! I got held up in a traffic jam. I’m almost there!

我们再过两个路口就到了。                 

wǒ men zài guò liǎng gè lù kǒu jiù dào le.             

We’re only two blocks away.

Example:

A:

老妈,我第一节课快迟到了。

lǎo mā, wǒ dì yī jié kè kuài chí dào le.

Mom, I’m going to be late for the first lesson.

B:

亲爱的,别担心!我们再过两个路口就到了。

qīn ài de, bié dān xīn! wǒ men zài guò liǎng gè lù kǒu jiù dào le.

Don’t worry, honey. We’re only two blocks away.

马上就到了。mǎ shàng jiù dào le.         

I’ll be there any minute.

Example:

A:

Angel, 你别跟我说你现在才起床。

Angel, nǐ bié gēn wǒ shuō nǐ xiàn zài cái qǐ chuáng.

Angel, please don’t tell me you just woke up.

B:

没有了,我已经在路上了。马上就到了。

méi yǒu le, wǒ yǐ jīng zài lù shàng le. mǎ shàng jiù dào le.

No, I’m already on my way. I’ll be there any minute.

我等一下就到了。wǒ děng yī xià jiù dào le.           

I’ll be there in a bit.

Example:

A:

Angel, 老板在办公室找你。

Angel, lǎo bǎn zài bàn gōng shì zhǎo nǐ.

Angel, our boss is looking for you in the office.

B:

知道了!我等一下就到了。

zhī dào le! wǒ děng yī xià jiù dào le.

Got it! I’ll be there in a bit.

我一分钟就到了。wǒ yī fēn zhōng jiù dào le.      

I’ll be just a minute.

Example:

A:

抱歉抱歉!让你久等了。我一分钟就到了。

bào qiàn bào qiàn! ràng nǐ jiǔ děng le. wǒ yī fēn zhōng jiù dào le.

I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. I’ll be just a minute.

B:

你已经被开除了!

nǐ yǐ jīng bèi kāi chú le!

You’re already fired.