How common it is
早 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zǎo slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
早表示早上，也可以表示很早、比平常早。
zǎo biǎo shì zǎo shàng， yě kě yǐ biǎo shì hěn zǎo 、 bǐ píng cháng zǎo。
早 means morning, and it can also mean early or earlier than usual.
Context note
早常出现在早上、早安和早点这些词里。
zǎo cháng chū xiàn zài zǎo shàng 、 zǎo ān hé zǎo diǎn zhè xiē cí lǐ。
早 often appears in words like morning, good morning, and eat earlier.
5 examples
早上好。
zǎo shàng hǎo。
Good morning.
今天我起得很早。
jīn tiān wǒ qǐ dé hěn zǎo。
I got up very early today.
早点睡，明天早起。
zǎo diǎn shuì， míng tiān zǎo qǐ。
Sleep early and get up early tomorrow.
我早饭吃面包。
wǒ zǎo fàn chī miàn bāo。
I eat bread for breakfast.
老师来得很早。
lǎo shī lái de hěn zǎo。
The teacher comes very early.
5 mini stories
今天早上我起得很早。天还没有完全亮。
jīn tiān zǎo shàng wǒ qǐ dé hěn zǎo。 tiān hái méi yǒu wán quán liàng。
I got up very early this morning. It was not fully light yet.
早安，老师。我们一起开始新的一天。
zǎo ān， lǎo shī。 wǒ men yì qǐ kāi shǐ xīn de yì tiān。
Good morning, teacher. We start a new day together.
妈妈说早点做完作业，就能早一点休息。
mā ma shuō zǎo diǎn zuò wán zuò yè， jiù néng zǎo yì diǎn xiū xi。
Mom said if homework is finished earlier, I can rest earlier.
我喜欢早上读书。那时候脑子很清楚。
wǒ xǐ huan zǎo shàng dú shū。 nà shí hòu nǎo zǐ hěn qīng chǔ。
I like reading in the morning. My mind is clearest then.
这位同学每天都来得很早。
zhè wèi tóng xué měi tiān dōu lái de hěn zǎo。
This classmate comes very early every day.