Jesus used this rhetorical question to cause the people to think about a situation that they already know. It can also be translated as "No one tells the wedding attendants of the bridegroom to fast while he is still with them." (See [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
## wedding attendants ##
"guests" or "friends." These are friends who celebrate with a man who is getting married.
## But the days will come when ##
"But some day" (UDB) or "But soon"
## the bridegroom will be taken away from them ##
This is a metaphor. Jesus was speaking about himself. This can be made explicit by adding "In the same way, my disciples cannot fast while I am with them." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])