大清早

dàqīngzǎo

noun #18,857

Meanings

1 early in the morning
2 first thing in the morning
3 at the crack of dawn

Characters

Literally 'big clear early' - emphasizing just how early in the morning.

Examples

HSK 1

大清早的，你跑来干什么？

Dàqīngzǎo de, nǐ pǎo lái gàn shénme?

So early in the morning, what did you come running here for?

HSK 2

他大清早就出门了。

Tā dàqīngzǎo jiù chūmén le.

He went out first thing in the morning.

Tips

register

大清早 is colloquial and often carries a tone of surprise or mild complaint about how early something is happening. More neutral alternatives include 一大早 or 清晨.

Stroke Order

大 dà

清 qīng

早 zǎo