早い

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 朝が早い。▶ —
   Mornings are early.
2. 新幹線は速い。▶ —
   The Shinkansen is fast.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Hayai (はやい) is a Japanese i-adjective where two kanji share the same pronunciation but split meanings — 早い (early in time) vs 速い (fast in speed). Same sound, different sense — a first-class learner pitfall. Examples: (1) "asa ga hayai" (the morning is early — time, written 早い) vs "kuruma ga hayai" (the car is fast — speed, written 速い); (2) "hayaku okiru" (get up early — time) vs "hayaku hashiru" (run fast — speed). In casual writing, hiragana はやい dodges the split; formal documents and news distinguish the kanji clearly. Japan-specific cluster: shinkansen (bullet train, opened 1964 just before the Tokyo Olympics — the worlds first high-speed rail) and teikoku unten (on-time operation, average delay under 30 seconds — world-leading punctuality). "Fast and precise" is a Japanese cultural code. East Asian high-speed comparison: Korean KTX at 305 km/h, Chinese gao-tie at 350 km/h, Japans N700S at 300 km/h with the next-generation ALFA-X piloting at 360 km/h. JLPT N5 hayai must come with the 早·速 kanji split.

Quick check

1. Kanji used after "kuruma ga" for "fast"?

   • 速い (speed sense — "kuruma ga hayai")
   • 早い (early in time)
   • 高い (high)
   • 長い (long)