"We must catch up sometime"
Informal Polite
What it really means
Phrases like "We must do this again", "You should come round sometime" or "Let's get coffee at some point" are often friendly noises, not firm invitations. A real invitation comes with a date: "Are you free Saturday?" Don't be hurt if a vague plan never happens — and don't turn up based on one.
Chinese explanation
"我们改天再聚"、"有空来我家坐坐"、"哪天一起喝咖啡"这类话往往是友好的客套，不是正式邀请。真正的邀请会带具体日期："你周六有空吗？"模糊的约定没了下文不必伤心——也别真的据此登门。
Example conversation
A: We must catch up sometime!
B: Definitely, that'd be lovely.
A: (Both know this may never happen.)
A：我们改天一定要聚聚！
B：一定一定，那太好了。
A：（两人都明白这可能永远不会发生。）
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake