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早晨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
早晨zǎochenearly morningHSK 4, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #2366, Medium
zǎochen(zao3chen5)zao chen T3
  1. 1early morning
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March 24, 2026

早晨zǎochen(zao3chen5)

早晨 (zǎo chén) means 'early morning' in Mandarin, referring specifically to the period shortly after dawn when the day begins. It is commonly used to greet someone during this time or to describe activities that take place in the morning hours.

Strokes17Frequency#2366DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, early mornings are often associated with the start of a new day, embodying themes of renewal and productivity. Many traditional practices, such as Tai Chi, are performed in the early morning hours.

Memory Tip

Think of 早 (zǎo) as a rising sun, symbolizing the early part of the day, and 晨 (chén) as a gentle morning breeze. Together, they paint the image of a peaceful morning scene, making it easier to remember the word '早晨'.

Meanings of 早晨

zǎochen(zao3chen5)
1early morning
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About 早晨

早晨Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 早晨

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AI Study Notes for 早晨

Quick Contrast

晨 (chén) vs 早上 (zǎoshang) — use 早晨 for the early morning period right after dawn, while 早上 refers more generally to the morning hours.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 早晨 (early morning) with 上午 (shàngwǔ), which means 'late morning' or 'before noon'. While 早晨 is informal, it's appropriate for most contexts. Common collocations include '早晨好' (Good morning) when greeting someone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 早晨 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at HSK 2 level. Students should focus on its use in greetings and daily routines, connecting it with related terms like 早 (zǎo, early) and 晚上 (wǎnshang, evening).

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 早晨 to refer to any morning time, but it is more specific to the early hours. For example, saying '我在早晨吃午饭' (I eat lunch in the early morning) is incorrect; it should be '我在早上吃午饭' (I eat lunch in the morning).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 早晨

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Component Characters

早zǎoearly
HSK 16 strokes日
View full entry
晨chénmorning
11 strokes日
View full entry

How to say early morning in Chinese

“early morning” in Chinese is早晨zǎochen

早晨 (zǎo chén) means 'early morning' in Mandarin, referring specifically to the period shortly after dawn when the day begins. It is commonly used to greet someone during this time or to describe activities that take place in the morning hours.

When to use 早晨

Be careful not to confuse 早晨 (early morning) with 上午 (shàngwǔ), which means 'late morning' or 'before noon'. While 早晨 is informal, it's appropriate for most contexts. Common collocations include '早晨好' (Good morning) when greeting someone.

早晨 or something close to it

晨 (chén) vs 早上 (zǎoshang) — use 早晨 for the early morning period right after dawn, while 早上 refers more generally to the morning hours.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 早晨 to refer to any morning time, but it is more specific to the early hours. For example, saying '我在早晨吃午饭' (I eat lunch in the early morning) is incorrect; it should be '我在早上吃午饭' (I eat lunch in the morning).

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早
晨

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Frequently Asked Questions about 早晨

You can say '早晨好' (zǎo chén hǎo) to wish someone a good morning.

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