过早

• Pinyin: guò zǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 过 = excessive, beyond due timing; 早 = 日 (sun) + 十 (ten) — early morning, early in time

Meaning

Prematurely; too early; before the appropriate or optimal time.

Used as an adverb to modify verbs, indicating that an action occurs sooner than it should. Common in medical, scientific, and advisory contexts (e.g. premature conclusions, early retirement, premature birth). Carries a cautionary or regretful tone.

Examples

1. 在证据不足的情况下，我们不应过早下结论，以免误判。 When the evidence is insufficient, we shouldn’t draw conclusions too early, so we don’t misjudge the situation.
2. 医生建议他不要过早恢复高强度训练，以免旧伤复发。 The doctor advised him not to return to high-intensity training too soon, in case the old injury flares up again.
3. 许多有潜力的年轻人因为过早放弃而与成功失之交臂。 Many talented young people miss out on success because they give up too early.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, research, advice, decision-making

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 目前项目尚处于初期阶段，现在评估成效还为时过早。(The project is still in its early stages — it is premature to evaluate results now.)
• 孩子不宜过早接触竞争过于激烈的学习环境，应当循序渐进。(Children should not be exposed too early to an excessively competitive learning environment — progress should be gradual.)

Don't Say

• 他过早地起床了 — 过早 implies premature timing relative to an optimal moment, not simply getting up earlier than usual; say 他起得太早了 instead

Origin & History

过 (excessively, beyond what is appropriate) + 早 (early)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal