What does 早 mean in Japanese?
早 means “early, fast” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 早い (early; fast), 早朝 (early morning), and 早口 (fast talking).
For learners, the key is to study 早 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ソウ (sou), サッ (satsu)
Kun’yomi: はや-い (haya-i), はや-める (haya-meru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 早 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | early, fast, quick |
| Stroke Count | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
早 is not limited to one English translation. In 早い (はやい), it means early; fast; in 早朝 (そうちょう), it points to early morning; and in 早口 (はやくち), it is used for fast talking. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 早い（はやい / hayai） — early; fast
- 早朝（そうちょう / sōchō） — early morning
- 早口（はやくち / hayakuchi） — fast talking
- 早起き（はやおき / hayaoki） — getting up early
- 早め（はやめ / hayame） — early; ahead of time
- 早春（そうしゅん / sōshun） — early spring
Example Sentences
-
今日は早く起きました。
きょうははやくおきました。 / Kyō wa hayaku okimashita.
I got up early today.
-
早朝の空気は気持ちがいいです。
そうちょうのくうきはきもちがいいです。 / Sōchō no kūki wa kimochi ga ii desu.
The early morning air feels good.
-
彼は早口で話します。
かれははやくちではなします。 / Kare wa hayakuchi de hanashimasu.
He speaks quickly.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 早い (はやい / hayai) because it keeps the core meaning of 早 clear. Then add 早朝 and 早口 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 早 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
早 means “early, fast” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 早い, 早朝, and 早口.