huyilin on July 25, 2014 | reply

I have a question regarding 赶上 as well:

我们跟在他们后面转悠，像苍蝇似的赶也赶不开。

What does 赶不开 mean here?

Grace Qi on July 25, 2014 | reply

Hi wjnaish,

I have to sort through the achieve and see...But it's quite easy to master this 赶上:)

It means happen to; find oneself in(a situation); avail oneself of (an opportunity)

i.e.

回家的时候赶上下雨了 when I was walking home, it happened to rain.

出去吃饭赶上有人在拍电影 Out having a meal, someone happens to film there.

Let me know if you have further questions:)

Grace Qi on July 25, 2014 | reply

Hi huyilin,

赶不开.

赶 means"to drive away; expel; whisk something off."

开 means"to disperse; separate."

So like the flies, it's hard to drive them away.

In this context, people also say "赶不走"

Also you will hear 甩不开 quite often (shuai3 means to leave someone behind, to throw away) cannot leave someone/ something behind.

wjnaish on July 26, 2014 | reply

Thank you Grace! an Thank you Huyilin for teaching me something new as well :)