synonym Comparative
早い
VS
夙に
Differences Between "早い" and "夙に"
Option A
早い
Meaning
fast; early
Reading
はやい (hayai)
Syllabus Level
N4
Practical Example
彼は走るのが早いです。
He runs fast.
Option B
夙に
Meaning
long ago; already; from an early stage; notoriously; well-known
Reading
つとに (tsutoni)
Syllabus Level
N1
Practical Example
彼の才能は、その分野では夙に知られている。
His talent has been well-known in that field for a long time.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(fast; early)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 早い: An い-adjective. Can describe speed (fast) or timing (early). The opposite of 遅い (osoi). Note: 速い also means fast (speed), but 早い focuses on timing or initial stages.
- 夙に: This is an adverb, often used in more formal or literary contexts. It signifies something has been the case for a considerable amount of time, or is widely recognized. It implies "already" or "from an early stage" regarding knowledge or status. Colloquial use is rare. (文学的・フォーマルな文脈で用いられる副詞。何かが以前からそうであったり、広く知られている状態を表す。口語ではあまり使われない。)
- 早い: An い-adjective. Can describe speed (fast) or timing (early). The opposite of 遅い (osoi). Note: 速い also means fast (speed), but 早い focuses on timing or initial stages.
- 夙に: This is an adverb, often used in more formal or literary contexts. It signifies something has been the case for a considerable amount of time, or is widely recognized. It implies "already" or "from an early stage" regarding knowledge or status. Colloquial use is rare. (文学的・フォーマルな文脈で用いられる副詞。何かが以前からそうであったり、広く知られている状態を表す。口語ではあまり使われない。)
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