早期(そうき)

そうき
noun
early stage; early period
1. early stage; early period
The initial or early phase of a process, condition, or time period.
病気(びょうき)を早期(そうき)に発見(はっけん)する。
To detect the illness early.
早期(そうき)退職(たいしょく)を選(えら)んだ。
I chose early retirement.
問題(もんだい)の早期(そうき)解決(かいけつ)を目指(めざ)す。
We aim for an early resolution of the problem.

早期(そうき) means "early stage" or "early period" — it refers to the beginning phase of a process, condition, or timeline. Almost always used as a modifier before another noun.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 早期(そうき)発見(はっけん): early detection
  • 早期(そうき)治療(ちりょう): early treatment
  • 早期(そうき)退職(たいしょく): early retirement
  • 早期(そうき)解決(かいけつ): early resolution
  • 早期(そうき)教育(きょういく): early education

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 早期(そうき)に発見(はっけん)する: to detect at an early stage
  • 早期(そうき)の段階(だんかい)で: at an early stage

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 初期(しょき): initial stage (the very beginning; also used for "early" in diseases)
  • 早急(さっきゅう): urgent, prompt (emphasizes speed rather than timing)
general
Added 2026.2.3 9:29 · Revised 2026.3.29 18:23
09500/09568_souki