How to Write 早 (zǎo)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 早
The character 早 (Traditional: 早) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Early / Morning". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 6-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.
Writing & Recognition
Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Time, Seasons & Places, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 早 is built on the radical Sun 72. Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
A phono-semantic compound showing the sun (日) above a person (甲), representing the sun rising at the beginning of the day.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 我早上习惯喝一杯咖啡。
Wǒ zǎoshang xíguàn hē yī bēi kāfēi.
Traditional: 我早上習慣喝一杯咖啡。
ngo5 zou2 soeng6 zaap6 gwaan3 hot3 jat1 bui1 gaa3 fe1.
"I am used to drinking a cup of coffee in the morning."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as zǎo. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is zou2. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.
Practice & Retention
To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.
Quick Self-Check
What is the meaning of '早'?
Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 7
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
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