Chinese word

过早

Pronunciation

Pinyinguò zǎo

Meaning

  • adverbtoo early

Example

现在告诉他还过早。xiàn zài gào sù tā hái guò zǎo

It's still too early to tell him.

Illustration for 过早 (too early)

More examples

在信息不完整时过早做决定会有风险。zài xìn xī bù wán zhěng shí guò zǎo zuò jué dìng huì yǒu fēng xiǎn

It can be risky to make a decision too early when the information is incomplete.

Core concept

A move or judgment made before the situation is ready for it.

Common phrases

  • 过早做决定guò zǎo zuò jué dìng

    too early to decide

  • 过早采取措施guò zǎo cái qǔ cuò shī

    too early to take action

  • 过早透露guò zǎo tòu lù

    too early to reveal

Similar words

太早tài zǎo: Indicates that not enough time has passed for an action or decision.
还早hái zǎo: Indicates that the right time has not arrived and waiting is still fine.
为时过早wéi shí guò zǎo: Uses a fixed expression to say that something should not be done yet.
尚早shàng zǎo: Expresses in written language that the time is not yet suitable for action or judgment.

Definition in Chinese

表示在时间上比应该的时刻提前，常用于指出现在采取行动或发表意见为时尚早。biǎo shì zài shí jiān shàng bǐ yīng gāi de shí kè tí qián cháng yòng yú zhǐ chū xiàn zài cái qǔ xíng dòng huò fā biǎo yì jiàn wéi shí shàng zǎo

Word origin

过早 (guòzǎo, "too early") combines 过 (guò, "exceed") and 早 (zǎo, "early"), with 过 marking that the earliness goes beyond what is suitable.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this adverb often evaluates a decision, conclusion, or announcement rather than the hour on a clock, giving the comment a measured tone.

Other meanings

  • prematurelyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word