早
早·early
- On-yomi
- ソウ
- Kun-yomi
- はや(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 早い | はやい | early |
| 早朝 | そうちょう | early morning |
| 早く | はやく | early, quickly |
| 早起き | はやおき | getting up early |
Example sentences
今日は早く帰ります。
きょうははやくかえります。
I'm going home early today.
早朝の電車はすいています。
そうちょうのでんしゃはすいています。
Early-morning trains are empty.
もう少し早く来てください。
もうすこしはやくきてください。
Please come a little earlier.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 早い is 'early in time'; 速い is 'fast in speed' — both are read はやい.
Memory aid
Picture it
The sun (日) already risen above the first mark of the day (十) — early.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 早いはやいearly
- 早退するそうたいするto leave early (school/work)
- 早めにはやめにa little early
- 早速さっそくright away
- 耳が早いみみがはやいquick to hear news
- 早口はやくちfast talking, rapid speech
- 早急にさっきゅうにpromptly, urgently
- 早急そうきゅうurgently; as soon as possible
- 素早いすばやいquick, swift, nimble (movement, reaction)
- 早めるはやめるto move up (a time or date); to hasten; to expedite; to bring forward
- 最早もはやalready; by now; no longer (with a negative)
- お早うおはようgood morning
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 早 mean?