How to say 'Early' or 'Fast' in Japanese | 早い

word

Meaning

Early, Fast

Reading

Kanji

早Early, Fast

Explanation

The Japanese adjective '早い (はやい)' has two distinct meanings: 'early' and 'fast'. When used to mean 'early', it refers to something happening before the expected or usual time, such as arriving early or waking up early. For example: I woke up early「早く起きた」(はやくおきた). When used to mean 'fast', it describes something moving or happening quickly, such as a fast runner or a quick response. For example: This train is fast「この電車は早い」(このでんしゃははやい). The context usually clarifies which meaning is intended, but both are common and important to recognize.

Part Of Speech

adjective

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

365

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting