Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
趁早 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
趁早chènzǎoas soon as possibleHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #19659, Very Hard
趁早chènzǎoat the first opportunityHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #19659, Very Hard
趁早chènzǎothe sooner the betterHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #19659, Very Hard
趁早chènzǎobefore it's too lateHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #19659, Very Hard
chènzǎo(chen4zao3)chen zao T4
  1. 1as soon as possible
  2. 2at the first opportunity
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

趁早chènzǎo(chen4zao3)

趁早 means 'as soon as possible' or 'the sooner, the better.' It suggests taking action promptly and can imply that there is a time-sensitive nature to the situation, encouraging someone to act before circumstances worsen or opportunities are lost.

Strokes18Frequency#19659DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, taking action '趁早' reflects a pragmatic approach to life and emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities, which is a common theme in proverbs and sayings.

Memory tip

Think of 趁早 (chen4 zao3) as 'catching the early train.' The character 趁 (chen4) resembles a person running towards a train, and 早 (zao3) means 'early.' Together, they remind you to act swiftly like catching a train before it leaves.

Meanings of 趁早

chènzǎo(chen4zao3)
1as soon as possible
2at the first opportunity
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 趁早 means.

About 趁早

趁早Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 趁早

JasonAmy

Podcast: 趁早

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 趁早

Quick Contrast

及时 (jíshí, in time) — use 趁早 when emphasizing the urgency of acting sooner rather than later.

Usage Notes

This phrase is typically used in informal contexts and can express urgency. A common mistake is to use it in overly formal situations where a simple 'now' might suffice. Be mindful of the tone; using it too lightly can downplay serious situations.

HSK Study Tips

While 趁早 is not specifically categorized in HSK levels, it connects well to HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary that discusses time and urgency. Focus on practicing it with verbs related to action and decision-making.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 趁早 by placing it in a sentence where urgency is not required, such as '我趁早吃午饭' (which translates awkwardly to 'I eat lunch as soon as possible'). Instead, use it in contexts where timing is critical, like '你应该趁早告诉我.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 趁早

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 趁早, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 趁早 to you

Let me explain 趁早 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 趁早 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 趁早?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 趁早 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

趁chènto avail oneself of
HSK 612 strokes走
View full entry
早zǎoearly
HSK 16 strokes日
View full entry

How to say as soon as possible in Chinese

“as soon as possible” in Chinese is趁早chènzǎo

趁早 means 'as soon as possible' or 'the sooner, the better.' It suggests taking action promptly and can imply that there is a time-sensitive nature to the situation, encouraging someone to act before circumstances worsen or opportunities are lost.

When to use 趁早

This phrase is typically used in informal contexts and can express urgency. A common mistake is to use it in overly formal situations where a simple 'now' might suffice. Be mindful of the tone; using it too lightly can downplay serious situations.

趁早 or something close to it

及时 (jíshí, in time) — use 趁早 when emphasizing the urgency of acting sooner rather than later.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 趁早 by placing it in a sentence where urgency is not required, such as '我趁早吃午饭' (which translates awkwardly to 'I eat lunch as soon as possible'). Instead, use it in contexts where timing is critical, like '你应该趁早告诉我.'

Write 趁早

趁
早

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 趁早?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 趁早

It is better to avoid using 趁早 in formal writing; opt for more neutral expressions instead.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 趁早?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab