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早

early
Stroke count: 6

Readings

On readingソウ、サッ
Kun readingはや.い、はや、はや-、はや.まる、はや.める、さ-
JLPT level: N4JōyōGrade 1

Meanings

  1. earlyRtK
  2. fast
    俺、早食いなんだ。I'm a fast eater.tatoeba
  1. already
  2. now
  3. by this time
  4. quick

Popular Usage

早い早速お早う

Radicals and components

Radical日sun
Components
How it's built
早
  • →
  • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

sunflower · sun (日) · day (日) · ten (十) · needle (丨)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 26

Compound words

早いはやい
fast; quick; rapid; swift; speedy
早速さっそく
at once; immediately; without delay; promptly
最早もはや
already; now; no longer; not any more
早くはやく
early; soon; quickly; swiftly; rapidly
早期そうき
early stage
早口はやくち
fast-talking; rapid talking
早熟そうじゅく
precocity; early ripening; premature development
早瀬はやせ
swift current; rapids
早退そうたい
leaving early
早朝そうちょう
early morning
足早あしばや
fast (walking); quick; brisk; quick (passing of time); rapid
早急そうきゅう
immediate; prompt; quick; rapid; urgent
早々そうそう
as soon as ...; just after ...; immediately after ...; hurriedly; in haste
早春そうしゅん
early spring
早寝はやね
go to bed early
手早いてばやい
nimble; quick; agile
素早いすばやい
quick; swift; nimble; agile; quick (understanding, judgement, etc.)
早まるはやまる
to be brought forward (e.g. by three hours); to be moved up; to be advanced; to be hasty; to be rash
早引けはやびけ
leaving work (office, school) early
早起きはやおき
getting up early; early rising; early riser; early bird
早めるはやめる
to bring forward (e.g. by 3 hours); to advance; to hasten (e.g. one's death); to expedite; to precipitate
早乙女さおとめ
young female rice planter; young girl
いち早くいちはやく
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first
時期尚早じきしょうそう
premature

On Reading Examples

私は角を曲がって、開店早々の食堂を見つけた。そうそう
I turned the corner and caught sight of a newly opened restaurant.tatoeba

Kun Reading Examples

彼は戦争が早々と終わるとあてこんでいた。はやばや
He gambled on the war coming to an early end.tatoeba
早熟れの早腐り。はや
Soon ripe, soon rotten.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は疲れていたので普通より早くとこについた。
Since he was tired, he turned in earlier than usual.tatoeba
彼は疲れていたので、早く寝た。
Tired as he was, he went to bed early.tatoeba
暖炉には薪が足りず、早くも火勢が衰え始めている。
Without enough wood on the fire, the flames are already beginning to die down.tatoeba
彼は頭の働きが早い。
He has a nimble mind.tatoeba
光源氏の最も早い恋人の一人。
She was one of Hikaru Genji's first lovers.wiki
もっとも成立が早いとされる。
It is considered to be the oldest manuscript.wiki
公慶は早速現地に検分に訪れた。
Kokei, on receiving that information, went to Shiratori Shrine to see whether those trees would meet the conditions.wiki
法要が済んだら早速に拝見する。
I will read the letter as soon as the Buddhist memorial service is complete.wiki

Stroke Order

6 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 早

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step