早期

zǎoqī

noun HSK 5 #6,707

Meanings

1 early period; early stage
2 early phase

Characters

The early period — the beginning phase of something.

Examples

这是公司发展的早期。

Zhè shì gōngsī fāzhǎn de zǎoqī.

This was the early stage of the company's development.

癌症早期发现很重要。

Áizhèng zǎoqī fāxiàn hěn zhòngyào.

Early detection of cancer is very important.

早期的电脑非常大。

Zǎoqī de diànnǎo fēicháng dà.

Early computers were very large.

Tips

usage

Time period progression: 早期 (early period) → 中期 (zhōngqī, middle period) → 后期/晚期 (hòuqī/wǎnqī, later period). 晚期 is also used medically for 'late-stage' disease.

Stroke Order

早 zǎo

期 qī