also: そくほ
quick pace; brisk walking
Refers to walking at a fast pace, often used in contexts like walking quickly, marching, or a hurried gait.
He headed to the station at a quick pace.
Walking briskly is good for your health.
Only when written 速歩 · Only with reading そくほ
Equestrian term for a horse's trot; typically read そくほ and written 速歩.
The horse is trotting.
早足 is a quick walking pace (as in marching), whereas 駆け足 specifically means moving at a running pace.
速歩 describes a brisk, fast pace (like a trot), the direct opposite of the crawling slowness implied by 牛歩.
早足 (reversed kanji order) is a noun meaning 'quick pace/trot', while 足早 is an adjectival noun mainly used adverbially as 足早に; learners often mix up the character order.
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading はやあし; high frequency in news sources.
Alternate kanji spelling; 早 emphasizes speed, while 速 is more common.
Specialized spelling for the horse gait sense, read そくほ.
Compound of 速 (fast) and 足 (foot/step). The reading はやあし is a native Japanese reading, while そくほ is a Sino-Japanese reading used in specialized contexts.