早 — how to write the kanji for “early”

早 (“early” and “fast”) is a JLPT N4 kanji taught in first grade in Japan. In newspapers it is the 402nd most used kanji. KANJIDIC2 gives it 2 on readings and 6 kun readings, so the word decides how you say it. Its parts sit stacked: 日 (“day”, its radical), strokes 1–4; 十 (“ten”), strokes 5–6, each finished before the next. On its own it is the word haya, “already; now”. Its native reading haya-i leads in its common words, as in 早める (“to bring forward”) and 素早い (“quick”); read sou it forms 早期 (“early stage”). Chinese reads it zǎo, “early”, at HSK 1.

Strokes

6

JLPT

N4

Radical

日 (“day”)

On

ソウ, サッ

Kun

はや·める, さ-, はや·い