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早
早 (readings: そう, さっ, はや; Japanese kanji) means “early / fast”. It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 早起き (early rising).
What does 早 mean?
| Kanji | 早 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | early / fast |
| Readings | そう, さっ, はや |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 早
早 is read そう or さっ or はや depending on the word.
Example words with 早
| Example | 早起き (early rising) |
|---|
Practice writing 早 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14