一足早い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 一足早い | 一足早くない |
| Polite | 一足早いです | 一足早くないですalso 一足早くありません |
| Past polite | 一足早かったです | 一足早くなかったですalso 一足早くありませんでした |
| Past | 一足早かった | 一足早くなかった |
| Te-form | 一足早くて | 一足早くなくて |
| Adverbial | 一足早く | |
| Conditional | 一足早ければ | 一足早くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 一足早かったら | 一足早くなかったら |
slightly early; a step ahead
Describes something happening a little earlier than expected or ahead of others. Often used for seasonal events, departures, or actions taken before the usual time.
This year, I feel the arrival of spring a little earlier than usual.
He left the venue a step ahead of everyone else.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in everyday writing.
Compound of 一足 (one step) and 早い (early/fast), literally 'one step early.' The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is conventionally associated with the idea of being slightly ahead in time.