adjective / adverb / interjection HSK 1
early · morning · long ago · good morning
Meaning
早 is one of the most fundamental words in Chinese, meaning 'early' or relating to morning time. It describes things that happen at the beginning of a time period or ahead of schedule. As a standalone greeting, it's the informal way to say 'good morning.'
Usage
Used both as an adjective (early morning, early arrival) and as an adverb (to arrive early, to get up early). As a greeting, 早 or 早上好 is common in casual contexts. Native speakers frequently use 早 in expressions about punctuality and time management.
Examples
- 01我每天早上六点起床。.I get up at six o'clock every morning.
- 02你来得真早！!You came really early!
Common collocations
- 早上morning, in the morning
- 早饭breakfast
- 早就long ago, already
- 起早to get up early
Antonyms
Origin
The character 早 shows the sun (日) above a marking (十), representing the sun rising early in the morning. This pictographic origin directly reflects its meaning of early morning time.