刚坐下来 还没来得及吃呢
“We had just sat down. Hadn't even started eating yet.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
“you were already having dinner with Lawyer Bei?”
刚坐下来 还没来得及 吃 呢
“We had just sat down. Hadn't even started eating yet.”
“Ms. Mei, weren't you supposed to have dinner with Lawyer Bei tomorrow?”
Direct spoken expression in this communicative setting.
Asking whether someone has started eating is a standard way of checking progress and coordinating schedules in Chinese social life.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
just sat down
Common everyday expression indicating one has only just arrived at a venue or table.
haven't had the chance/time yet
Essential pattern used to explain why an expected action has not yet occurred due to lack of time.
Indicates the ongoing state of affairs and softens the informational update.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“stop resisting, and go sit outside to wait for dinner.”
“Have a seat.”
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Come. Have a seat inside.”
“Hang on, you've hardly eaten anything. Have some more.”
“Have you eaten?”
“(Finally, you lose patience, huh?)”