Translation guide
Expressing the time period shortly after waking or before the day's activities begin. Japanese offers several common words and phrases, with nuances of formality, exact timing, and context.
To say 'early in the morning' in a neutral, everyday sense.
A common adverbial phrase meaning 'early in the morning'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
明日は朝早く起きなければならない。
I have to get up early in the morning tomorrow.
To emphasize the very early hours, around dawn or before sunrise.
To use 'early in the morning' as a time reference in a sentence, often with verbs like 'leave', 'arrive', or 'start'.
Means 'while it's still early in the morning'. Implies doing something before it gets late.
朝早いうちに出かけよう。
Let's head out early in the morning.
朝早く (あさはやく) is an adverbial phrase used in everyday conversation. 早朝 (そうちょう) is a noun often used in formal or written contexts, such as news reports or schedules. For casual speech, 朝早く is more natural.
朝早くジョギングに行く。
I go jogging early in the morning.
早朝のジョギングは気持ちがいい。
Early morning jogging feels good.
The phrase '早い朝に' (はやい あさに) is not natural Japanese. Use 朝早く or other established expressions instead.
私は朝早く勉強するのが好きです。
I like to study early in the morning.
その店は朝早く開店します。
The store opens early in the morning.
I like taking a walk early in the morning.
A slightly more formal noun meaning 'early morning'. Often used in written contexts or announcements.
早朝の便に乗ります。
I'll take an early morning flight.
Literally 'the early hours of the morning'. A descriptive phrase that can be used in various contexts.
朝の早い時間に電話が鳴った。
The phone rang early in the morning.
Refers to the time around dawn, when the sky begins to lighten. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
明け方に目が覚めた。
I woke up at dawn.
Dawn, daybreak. Similar to 明け方 but can also refer to the moment the sun rises.
夜明け前に出発しよう。
Let's leave before dawn.
A literary or formal term for early morning, often used in religious or poetic contexts.
早天の祈りを捧げる。
Offer an early morning prayer.
Similar to 朝早いうちに, but can be used even if it's not extremely early, just during the morning.
朝のうちに宿題を終わらせよう。
Let's finish the homework early in the morning.