Japanese word

早い

Pronunciation

Romajihayai

Meaning

  • i-adjectiveearly

Example

毎朝起きるのが早いです。mai asa o ki ru no ga haya i de su

I get up early every morning.

Illustration for 早い (early)

More examples

毎朝、起きる時間が早いです。mai asa o ki ru ji kan ga haya i de su

I wake up early every morning.

明日は早く来てください。asu wa haya ku ki te ku da sa i

Please come early tomorrow.

Core concept

Expresses that something happens before a reference time or that an action proceeds in little time.

Common phrases

  • 早く起きるhaya ku o ki ru

    get up early

  • 早く寝るhaya ku ne ru

    go to bed early

  • 早く来るhaya ku ku ru

    come early

  • 早く帰るhaya ku kae ru

    go home early

  • 予定より早いyo tei yo ri haya i

    earlier than scheduled

Similar words

速いhayai: Describes something that moves or happens at high speed.

Definition in Japanese

基準となる時刻や時期より前であるさま。また、動作や物事の進み方が速やかであるさま。ki jun to na ru ji koku ya ji ki yo ri mae de a ru sa ma ma ta dō sa ya mono goto no susu mi kata ga sumi ya ka de a ru sa ma

Word origin

The native adjective 早い (hayai) developed from Old Japanese はやし (hayashi), meaning early or quick, and retains both meanings today.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 早い (hayai) often describes getting up, arriving, or starting before the expected time, while 速い (hayai) describes high speed.

Other meanings

  • fasti-adjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word