How to Write 早 (early, fast) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 6-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 早 (“early, fast”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 早 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 早い (はやい (hayai) — early), 早 (はや (haya) — early).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (早)
Primary Radical (部首): 日 — ひ / にち (sun/day)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Sun, daylight, time, brightness, and warmth
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ, サッ) when 早 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はや.い, はや, はや-, はや.まる, はや.める, さ-) when 早 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (6画): Written with 6 strokes, 早 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 日 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 6 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 早
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 早 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 早 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 早 ("early, fast") is written with 6 strokes (6画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Written with 6 strokes, 早 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 日 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 早?
For 早 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is ソウ, サッ and the Kunyomi is はや.い, はや, はや-, はや.まる, はや.める, さ-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ, サッ) when 早 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はや.い, はや, はや-, はや.まる, はや.める, さ-) when 早 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 早 includes 早い (はやい (hayai) — early), 早 (はや (haya) — early).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 早 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 6 strokes of 早 (early, fast), start with the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 早 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N4 Characters to Practice Next
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