我约了事 就不过去了
“I have an appointment, so I won't be going.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
“Zhao asked me to go to her shop after work. What about you?”
我 约了事 就 不过去 了
“I have an appointment, so I won't be going.”
我先走了
“I'm leaving.”
Direct spoken expression in this communicative setting.
Chinese workplaces often involve informal after-work socializing (ju hui); using a polite, general excuse like 'having prior plans' allows one to decline without causing offense or losing face.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
having prior plans / booked an appointment
A common colloquial way to state that you already have an engagement without detailing private specifics.
so I won't go over
A neat, casual formula to opt out of going to a specific gathering or venue.
Indicates completion of an action or change of state, here marking the established fact of having made plans.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“You asked me out here? I can't stay in Jinghai anymore.”
“I already made plans with someone. Give me the tickets...”
“You have an appointment with her? Can't I do that?”
“No meetings without an appointment and no way to make an appointment.”
“those last two patients.”
“I have another appointment. I have to go.”