早い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 早い | 早くない |
| Polite | 早いです | 早くないですalso 早くありません |
| Past polite | 早かったです | 早くなかったですalso 早くありませんでした |
| Past | 早かった | 早くなかった |
| Te-form | 早くて | 早くなくて |
| Adverbial | 早く | |
| Conditional | 早ければ | 早くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 早かったら | 早くなかったら |
Describes high speed of movement, action, or change. 速い is the typical kanji for physical speed, but 早い is also used.
He runs fast.
このパソコンは処理が速い。
This computer processes quickly.
premature; too soon; too early
Only when written 早い
Indicates that something happens before it is appropriate or desirable. Often used in negative contexts. Written with 早い.
まだ10時だ。帰るには早すぎる。
It's only 10 o'clock. It's too early to go home.
彼の死は早すぎた。
His death was premature.
Used when a task can be completed quickly because it is not difficult. Often in the pattern ～するのが早い. Typically written with 早い.
この問題は解くのが早い。
This problem is quick to solve.
彼は決断が早い。
He is quick to make decisions.
as soon as; the moment; the instant
Used in the grammatical patterns ～するが早いか and ～するより早く to mean 'no sooner than' or 'the moment something happens'. Literary and somewhat formal.
彼は家に着くが早いか、また出かけた。
The moment he arrived home, he went out again.
言うより早く、彼は走り出した。
No sooner said than done, he started running.
I arrived earlier than planned.
It's still too early to watch this drama (spoiler-wise).
He's quick to learn things.
He dashed out the instant he opened the door.
The sooner you book, the better.
How time flies—a whole year has already gone by.
速い is the native Japanese word for physical speed, while スピーディー is a loanword that stresses efficient, prompt handling of tasks or services.
速い is the everyday Japanese adjective for 'fast', while クイック is a loanword used mainly as a prefix in compound terms or product names.
速い is a native Japanese adjective meaning 'fast' that can stand alone as a predicate, while ファースト is an English loanword used only before a noun in set compounds like ファーストフード.
早い is a general word for 'fast' or 'early' in everyday speech, while 速やか is a formal word emphasizing prompt, proper action without delay.
速い is a general, everyday word for 'fast', while 迅速 is a formal term stressing prompt efficiency, often in business or official contexts.
速い describes physical speed (a fast car, a fast runner), while 早 as a prefix/adverb emphasizes doing something earlier or sooner in time (early rising, quick speech).
速い is the everyday adjective for something being fast, whereas 快速 is a noun/の-adjective that sounds more written or descriptive.
速い is the plain, everyday adjective for 'fast', while 高速 is more technical and typically used in compounds describing systems or vehicles.
速い is a general i-adjective for anything fast, whereas 足早 specifically describes a quick walking pace or the swift passing of time.
早い is the plain adjective meaning 'early', while 早め is a noun/adjectival noun meaning 'a bit earlier than usual', often used as 早めに.
速い shares the kanji 速 with 速やか and both relate to speed, but 速い describes physical quickness of motion while 速やか describes the promptness of an action or response, often in formal contexts.
already; now · no longer; not anymore
early; a little earlier than usual · a little faster than usual; slightly quicker
quick; swift; nimble; agile · quick-witted; alert; prompt
already; now; by this time · quick; early; fast; rapid
early; quickly; promptly
getting up early; early rising · early riser; early bird
promptly; quickly; without delay · before others; first; ahead of others
quick-reference chart; table
Rare literary kanji for swiftness; not used in modern everyday writing.
Rare literary kanji for agility or quickness; not used in modern everyday writing.
Search-only kanji form; not used in modern writing.
fast-talking; rapid speech
be moved up; be advanced; be brought forward · be hasty; be rash; jump the gun · speed up; quicken; gather speed
thin white ceremonial haori worn by miko
quick; prompt; without delay · simple; easy; effortless
premature death; dying young
nimble; quick; agile
fast forward
going to bed early; early bedtime
bring forward; advance; hasten; expedite · speed up; quicken; accelerate
jumping to a wrong conclusion; hasty misjudgment
early shift; morning shift
swift current; rapids
quick pace; brisk walking · trot (horse gait)
quick change of costume · quick transformation; sudden metamorphosis
leaving early for work; early departure · early shift; taking the early shift
fast; quick; brisk · swift; rapid
jumping to a hasty conclusion; misunderstanding through assumption
rapid succession; in quick succession
born early in the school year; born between Jan 1 and Apr 1
fast typing · fast beating; fast drumming
early blooming; early flowering
quick understanding; catching on quickly · beginner's guide; easy guide; quick start guide