keine Zeit haben
To have no time
حرفيًا: no time have
Use this phrase to directly and honestly decline invitations or explain why you are rushing.
في 15 ثانية
- The standard way to say you are busy or unavailable.
- Uses the verb 'haben' and the negative 'keine'.
- Can be softened with 'leider' for better social results.
المعنى
This phrase is the standard, direct way to say you are busy or your schedule is full. It is the ultimate 'I can't do that right now' card that Germans use daily.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Texting a friend about a party
Ich habe heute leider keine Zeit.
I unfortunately have no time today.
In a professional meeting
Wir haben jetzt keine Zeit für eine Pause.
We have no time for a break right now.
Rushing to catch a train
Entschuldigung, ich habe keine Zeit!
Sorry, I have no time!
خلفية ثقافية
In German culture, punctuality and structured schedules are highly valued. Being 'busy' is often seen as a sign of being a productive member of society, so 'keine Zeit haben' is a socially acceptable and respected reason to decline an invitation.
The 'Leider' Trick
Always add 'leider' (unfortunately) if you don't want to sound like a robot. It changes the vibe from 'Go away' to 'I wish I could, but I can't.'
Don't say 'Ich bin beschäftigt'
While it means 'I am busy,' it sounds a bit like a textbook. 'Ich habe keine Zeit' is much more common in real life.
في 15 ثانية
- The standard way to say you are busy or unavailable.
- Uses the verb 'haben' and the negative 'keine'.
- Can be softened with 'leider' for better social results.
What It Means
This phrase is your ultimate 'get out of jail free' card. It simply means you are busy. Your schedule is packed. You cannot fit one more thing in. It is direct and honest. Germans love that clarity. It is not about being mean. It is about being clear with your boundaries. If you say this, people usually stop asking. It is a very powerful little sentence.
How To Use It
You just need the verb haben. It follows the normal conjugation rules. Ich habe keine Zeit. Wir haben keine Zeit. You can add a specific day easily. Say Ich habe am Montag keine Zeit. It is like building with Lego blocks. Very easy for beginners to master. You can also add leider (unfortunately) to make it softer. This is the secret to being polite while being firm.
When To Use It
Use it when your friend asks for coffee. Use it when your boss asks for a 'quick' chat. Use it when you are chasing a bus. It is perfect for texting. Just type Hab keine Zeit. Everyone will understand. It is a daily essential for survival in a busy city. You will hear it at train stations and in offices constantly.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if you want to be very soft. It can sound a bit cold. If you like the person, add a reason. Say Ich habe keine Zeit, weil ich arbeite. Without a reason, it might sound like a brush-off. Use it carefully with your grandma. She might think you are too busy for family. In very formal settings, try to be more descriptive.
Cultural Background
Time is sacred in Germany. People use calendars for everything. Spontaneity is sometimes a struggle for locals. Saying you have no time is a valid excuse. It shows you are a busy, active person. It is often respected more than a vague 'maybe.' Germans value their 'Feierabend' (evening rest). They protect their time fiercely. This phrase is a tool for that protection.
Common Variations
You will hear Ich hab' keine Zeit. The 'e' in habe often disappears. It sounds more natural. You might also hear Ich habe gerade keine Zeit. The word gerade means 'right now.' It makes it sound more temporary. If you are really stressed, just say Keine Zeit!. It is short, punchy, and very common when running for a train.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase is safe for almost any situation. In spoken German, the 'e' at the end of 'habe' is almost always dropped ('Ich hab keine Zeit').
The 'Leider' Trick
Always add 'leider' (unfortunately) if you don't want to sound like a robot. It changes the vibe from 'Go away' to 'I wish I could, but I can't.'
Don't say 'Ich bin beschäftigt'
While it means 'I am busy,' it sounds a bit like a textbook. 'Ich habe keine Zeit' is much more common in real life.
The German 'No'
Germans value honesty over 'polite lies.' If you have no time, just say it. They won't be offended; they will appreciate that you aren't wasting their time!
أمثلة
6Ich habe heute leider keine Zeit.
I unfortunately have no time today.
Adding 'leider' makes the refusal much friendlier.
Wir haben jetzt keine Zeit für eine Pause.
We have no time for a break right now.
Used here to keep the group focused on work.
Entschuldigung, ich habe keine Zeit!
Sorry, I have no time!
A quick way to brush past someone while moving fast.
Ich kann nicht helfen, ich habe keine Zeit.
I can't help, I have no time.
A classic humorous excuse used by kids everywhere.
Ich habe gerade keine Zeit, ich rufe später zurück.
I don't have time right now, I'll call back later.
A polite way to end a call quickly.
Es tut mir leid, ich hatte einfach keine Zeit.
I'm sorry, I simply had no time.
Using the past tense 'hatte' to explain a past absence.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the missing word to say 'I have no time.'
Ich ___ keine Zeit.
The phrase always uses the verb 'haben' (to have).
How do you say 'We have no time'?
Wir ___ keine Zeit.
For 'wir' (we), the verb 'haben' stays in its infinitive-like form.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of Declining
Short and blunt.
Keine Zeit!
Standard everyday use.
Ich habe keine Zeit.
Softer and more social.
Ich habe leider keine Zeit.
When to say 'Keine Zeit'
At the Office
Busy with a deadline.
On the Street
Rushing for the U-Bahn.
In a Text
Declining a last-minute invite.
At Home
Avoiding the dishes.
الأسئلة الشائعة
11 أسئلةIt means 'to have no time' or 'to be busy.' It is the most common way to say you are unavailable.
Use ich habe, du hast, er/sie/es hat, wir haben, ihr habt, and sie haben.
Yes, it is neutral. However, adding leider (unfortunately) or a reason is better, like Ich habe gerade leider keine Zeit, ich muss den Bericht fertigmachen.
It can be very blunt. Use it only when you are in a massive rush, like running for a train.
Keine Zeit means you are busy. Keine Lust means you don't feel like doing it. Be careful, keine Lust is much more informal and can be rude!
You say Ich habe dafür keine Zeit. The word dafür stands in for 'for that'.
Yes! Use hatte. For example: Ich hatte gestern keine Zeit (I had no time yesterday).
People often shorten it in speech to Hab' keine Zeit, dropping the 'e' in habe.
No, you use the negative article keine directly before the noun Zeit.
German culture values efficiency and planning. If something isn't in the schedule, they literally 'have no time' for it.
No, if you want to say you don't know what time it is, say Ich habe keine Uhr (I have no watch) or Ich weiß nicht, wie spät es ist.
عبارات ذات صلة
beschäftigt sein
im Stress sein
keine Lust haben
viel zu tun haben
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