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及早 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
及早jízǎoat the earliest possible timeHSK 7, d, 9 strokes, rank #27641, Very Hard
及早jízǎoas soon as possibleHSK 7, d, 9 strokes, rank #27641, Very Hard
jízǎo(ji2zao3)ji zao T2
  1. 1at the earliest possible time
  2. 2as soon as possible
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March 24, 2026

及早jízǎo(ji2zao3)

及早 (ji2 zao3) means 'at the earliest possible time' or 'as soon as possible.' It is commonly used to emphasize the importance of acting promptly in various situations, such as in business or personal matters. This phrase conveys a sense of urgency and proactive behavior.

Strokes9Frequency#27641DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, acting '及早' is often valued in both personal and professional relationships, reflecting a proactive approach to responsibilities and commitments. This is particularly important in business, where timely responses can significantly impact success.

Memory Tip

Imagine a race where the winner is the first to arrive '早' (early). The character '及' suggests reaching or getting to that early point. Visualize yourself running toward a finish line, determined to '及早' get there before anyone else.

Meanings of 及早

jízǎo(ji2zao3)
1at the earliest possible time
2as soon as possible
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 及早

及早Simplified
9Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#27641Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 及早

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AI Study Notes for 及早

Quick Contrast

及时 (jíshí) — use 及早 when emphasizing the earliest possible time, while 及时 focuses on acting in a timely manner.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 及早 with similar phrases like 及时 (ji2 shi2), which means 'in time' rather than 'as soon as possible.' This phrase is more suitable for formal contexts, such as emails or reports, rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include '通知及早' (notify as soon as possible).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 及早 links well with other terms related to urgency and timing, such as 及时 (in time) and 赶紧 (hurry). Focus on using it in contexts that require prompt action to enhance your fluency at this level.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 及早 in informal settings, where a simpler phrase like '赶快' (hurry) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我会及早去' (I will go as soon as possible) can sound overly formal; '我会赶快去' is more natural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 及早

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Component Characters

及jíand
HSK 53 strokes又
View full entry
早zǎoearly
HSK 16 strokes日
View full entry

How to say at the earliest possible time in Chinese

“at the earliest possible time” in Chinese is及早jízǎo

及早 (ji2 zao3) means 'at the earliest possible time' or 'as soon as possible.' It is commonly used to emphasize the importance of acting promptly in various situations, such as in business or personal matters. This phrase conveys a sense of urgency and proactive behavior.

When to use 及早

Be careful not to confuse 及早 with similar phrases like 及时 (ji2 shi2), which means 'in time' rather than 'as soon as possible.' This phrase is more suitable for formal contexts, such as emails or reports, rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include '通知及早' (notify as soon as possible).

及早 or something close to it

及时 (jíshí) — use 及早 when emphasizing the earliest possible time, while 及时 focuses on acting in a timely manner.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 及早 in informal settings, where a simpler phrase like '赶快' (hurry) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我会及早去' (I will go as soon as possible) can sound overly formal; '我会赶快去' is more natural.

Write 及早

及
早

Practice writing 及早 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 及早

及早 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

如果____治疗,多数的皮肤癌是可治好的。

Most skin cancers are curable if treated early.

Example Sentences for 及早 (1)

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1
如果及早治疗,多数的皮肤癌是可治好的。

rú guǒ jí zǎo zhì liáo, , duō shù de pí fū ái shì kě zhì hǎo。

Most skin cancers are curable if treated early.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 及早

You can say, '请您及早回复我的邮件' (Please reply to my email as soon as possible).

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