早い

• Reading: はやい
• Romaji: hayai
• Kanji breakdown: 早 (haya/sou) — early, fast, quick
• Pronunciation: /ha.ja.i/

Meaning

Fast; quick; early. Describes speed or an early point in time.

An i-adjective with two core meanings: speed (fast, quick) and time (early). The kanji 早い emphasises 'early' while 速い emphasises 'fast,' but at the N5 level both meanings are covered by 早い. Conjugates regularly: 早くない, 早かった, 早くなかった. The adverb form 早く (quickly, early) is extremely common.

Examples

1. 父は歩くのが早いです。 My father walks fast.
2. 早い電車に乗りました。 I took an early train.
3. もう少し早く来てください。 Please come a little earlier.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, time, transport

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 早 depicts the sun (日) rising above a horizon, representing the early morning.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal