速(はや)い／早(はや)い

はやい
adjective (i-adjective)
fast, early
1. fast, quick
Moving or happening at high speed. Written as 速(はや)い. Opposite of 遅(おそ)い (slow).
この電車(でんしゃ)は速(はや)いです。
This train is fast.
速(はや)く歩(ある)いてください。
Please walk fast.
Adverb form: 速(はや)く
この車(くるま)は速(はや)くて、気持(きも)ちがいいです。
This car is fast and feels good.
彼(かれ)は走(はし)るのが速(はや)いです。
He runs fast.
時間(じかん)が経(た)つのは早(はや)いですね。
Time passes quickly, doesn't it?
2. early
Happening before the expected or usual time. Written as 早(はや)い. Opposite of 遅(おそ)い (late).
朝(あさ)早(はや)く起(お)きました。
I woke up early in the morning.
もう帰(かえ)るの？早(はや)いね！
You're leaving already? That's early!
早(はや)く寝(ね)たほうがいいです。
You should go to bed early.
Adverb form: 早(はや)く
今日(きょう)は早(はや)く仕事(しごと)が終(お)わりました。
Work finished early today.
明日(あした)は早(はや)いから、もう寝(ね)ます。
Tomorrow is early, so I'm going to bed now.

Two different kanji share this reading, each with distinct meaning.

KANJI DISTINCTION:

  • 速(はや)い: fast, quick (relates to speed)
  • 早(はや)い: early (relates to time)

FORMS:

  • Adverb: 速(はや)く / 早(はや)く
  • Negative: 速(はや)くない / 早(はや)くない
  • Past: 速(はや)かった / 早(はや)かった

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 足(あし)が速(はや)い: to be fast (at running)
  • 仕事(しごと)が速(はや)い: to work quickly
  • 朝(あさ)早(はや)く: early in the morning
  • 〜するのが早(はや)い: to be quick to do ~

OPPOSITE:
遅(おそ)い covers both meanings: slow and late.

Related Words

See also: 遅(おそ)い
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:32 · Revised 2026.2.8 10:30
00500/00514_hayai