速い（はやい、hayai）
- fast / early

The Japanese word 速い (はやい) means "fast," "quick," or "rapid." It describes something that moves or happens at a high speed or in a short amount of time. It can be used to describe various things, including speed of movement, the rate at which something happens, or even the quickness of a person's thinking. ⚫︎ It is an adjective. ⚫︎ The word's meaning can change slightly depending on context, but the core idea of speed remains consistent. ⚫︎ The meaning is related to time or velocity. ⚫︎ This adjective is used to describe a certain quality. ⚫︎ The adjective has different conjugations.

⚫︎ 電車は速い Translation: The train is fast. ⚫︎ 彼は速い車を持っている Translation: He has a fast car. ⚫︎ 速く食べてください Translation: Please eat quickly.

⚫︎ Use 速い to describe something's speed or swiftness. ⚫︎ It can be used to describe the movement of objects, the progress of events, or even the pace of someone's actions. ⚫︎ Often used to compare things. ⚫︎ When using 速い, think of the situation. ⚫︎ 速い is used with particles such as "は" or "が" to describe a noun. ⚫︎ To describe an action, use the adverb form 速く. ⚫︎ To give instructions, use 速く.

⚫︎ This word is primarily written in kanji as 速い. ⚫︎ The reading is はやい, written in hiragana. ⚫︎ The adjective suffix is "い." ⚫︎ The adverbial form, which is "速く," is made by changing "い" to "く."

⚫︎ 早い (はやい) - This can also mean "early" or "soon," depending on the context. ⚫︎ 迅速な (じんそくな) - Swift; rapid; prompt; quick; agile ⚫︎ 快速の (かいそくの) - High speed; express (train) ⚫︎ 敏速な (びんそくな) - Swift; prompt; agile; quick

⚫︎ 遅い (おそい) - Slow, late

その車は速い ・Translation: That car is fast. ・Explanation: This sentence simply describes the car's speed using the adjective 速い.

速く走ってください ・Translation: Please run fast. ・Explanation: This sentence uses the adverb form, 速く, to describe how someone should run.

The kanji 速 combines the components for "walk" (辶) and "束" which is often translated as bundle. The origin can be seen to imply something moving quickly, like a bundle being carried at speed. While the exact etymology is complex, the kanji's structure gives a sense of speed or swiftness. The reading はやい is a native Japanese word that was associated with the kanji 速 over time.