(Not) in time: (không) kịp

Kịp means "in time": before it's too late, or fast enough to keep up.

Before a verb, kịp says whether you had time to do it, most often with không: Sáng nay em không kịp ăn sáng. I didn't have time for breakfast this morning.

After a verb, it says you did it in time: May quá, em tới kịp. Luckily I got there in time. With không, it says you couldn't keep up: Anh nói nhanh quá, em nghe không kịp. You're talking too fast, I can't keep up. In Saigon không often sits right after the verb here, as in ngủ không được; không nghe kịp is also fine.

On its own, kịp asks or answers whether you'll make it: Có kịp không anh? Will we make it? Chắc kịp. We should. Còn kịp means there's still time, and Không kịp rồi means it's too late now.

Kịp is only about timing. For "can" in general, use được: em nghe được is "I can hear", but em nghe không kịp is "I can't keep up".