早い・速い・疾い・捷い|はやいhayai[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
早い早い is the most common spelling for this sense and the form beginners should use by default. It is the safest choice when choosing a spelling yourself.
速い速い is less common than 早い but more common than 疾い, 捷い, and 迅い. It can be encountered as an alternative spelling, but beginners should use 早い by default.
疾い疾い is a rarely used spelling, so learners will seldom encounter it. Recognize it if it appears, but use 早い when choosing a form yourself.
捷い捷い is a rarely used spelling, so learners will seldom encounter it. Recognize it if it appears, but use 早い when choosing a form yourself.
Definitions
- i-adjectivefast; quick; rapid; swift; speedy; brisk; promptesp. 速い
- i-adjectiveearly; soon; earlier than usual
- i-adjectivepremature; too soon; too early
- i-adjectiveeasy; simple; quick; fastesp. 早い
- i-adjectiveas soon as ...; the moment ...; the instant ...as ...するが早いか or ...するより早く
Conjugation
| Plain form | 早い（はやい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 早いです（はやいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 早くない（はやくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 早くありません（はやくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 早かった（はやかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 早くなかった（はやくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 早くて（はやくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 早く（はやく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 早ければ（はやければ） |
| kattara | 早かったら（はやかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym素早いすばやいNeutralFor nimble movements or reactions, as in 「素早く逃げる」; stresses split-second response. Unlike 「早い」, it does not mean early in time.
- Synonym速やかすみやかWrittenWritten word for handling things promptly, as in 「速やかに対応する」; common in announcements and instructions.
- Synonym迅速じんそくWrittenFor swift handling or action, as in 「迅速な対応」; more formal than 「早い」.
- Synonym手っ取り早いてっとりばやいCasualColloquial: getting results quickly with little effort, as in 「手っ取り早い方法」; stresses ease and convenience.
- Synonym手早いてばやいNeutralWorking quickly and deftly, as in 「手早く片付ける」; focuses on brisk, skillful hands at a task.
- SynonymスピーディーNeutralLoanword for speed and efficiency; common in service and business promotion.
- Synonym急速きゅうそくNeutralFor rapid change or development, as in 「急速に成長する」; describes processes.
- Synonym敏速びんそくWrittenWritten word for quick, agile movement; rare in everyday speech.
- Synonym快速かいそくNeutralHigh speed; also rapid trains in Japan, as in 「快速電車」.
- Synonym敏捷びんしょうWrittenWritten word for agile, nimble movement, as in 「敏捷な動き」.
- Related機敏きびんNeutralAlert and quick to adapt, as in 「機敏に動く」; stresses fast judgement.
- Related早急そうきゅうWrittenFor matters needing urgent action, as in 「早急に対処する」; common in official writing and more solemn than 「早い」.
- Related高速こうそくNeutralHigh speed; also the highway, as in 「高速道路」. Mostly used before nouns.
- Related大急ぎおおいそぎNeutralIn a great rush, as in 「大急ぎで準備する」; describes the state of hurrying.
- Related早めはやめNeutralA little earlier than planned, as in 「早めに出る」; stresses being slightly ahead of schedule.
- Related手ばしこいてばしこいCasualColloquial for quick, deft hands and feet; not much used.
- RelatedはしっこいCasualColloquial for sharp, nimble movement; usually read 「はしっこい」 and slightly dialectal.
- Related神速しんそくWrittenWritten word for godlike speed; very rare.
- RelatedすばしっこいCasualColloquial for nimble, quick movement; often said of children and small animals.
- Related簡捷かんしょうWrittenWritten word for quick and simple; very rare.
- Antonym遅いおそいNeutralThe antonym of 「早い」: slow in speed or late in time.
「早い」 covers both fast and early; for speed, the spelling 「速い」 is more common. For nimble movement use 「素早い」; for prompt handling 「迅速」 or 「速やかに」; for slightly ahead of schedule 「早め」; for urgency 「早急」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
