早

zǎo

adjective HSK 1 #292

Meanings

Top part is 日 (sun) — the sun just appeared, so it's early

Zǎo! Nǐ hǎo!

Morning! Hello!

Nǐ lái de tài zǎo le.

You came too early.

Wǒ měitiān zǎo qǐ.

I get up early every day.

history

早 combines 日 (sun) and 十 (ten, originally a marker). It represents the sun rising — the early part of the day.

usage

Just saying 早 (zǎo) or 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) is a common way to greet people in the morning. 早 alone is more casual.

早 zǎo