早朝
sōchō
The English phrase 'early morning' is translated into Japanese as 早朝 (sōchō).
早朝 refers specifically to the period of time shortly after sunrise or just before it.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 早 (early) and 朝 (morning).
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle に is often added after 早朝 to indicate the specific time when an action occurs, as seen in the form 早朝に.
How do you pronounce it?
sōchō
Did you know?
- The proverb 早起きは三文の徳 (hayaoki wa sanmon no toku) suggests that waking up early brings a profit of 'three mon', an ancient and nearly worthless unit of currency. It is the Japanese equivalent of 'the early bird catches the worm'.
- The word 暁 (akatsuki), used for the earliest light of dawn, is a favorite in anime and song lyrics to symbolize a turning point or a hopeful new era, making it far more emotional than 早朝.
- In Japanese, the concept of 'dawn' can be expressed by 明け方 (akekata), which literally comes from the verb 'to open' or 'to brighten', describing the moment the light 'opens' the sky.
Examples in context
- トムは早朝にビーチに座って過ごすのが好きだ。Tom likes sitting on the beach in the early morning.Tatoeba #8936138 by bunbuku, translation #1093289 by CK
- 早朝の受付でクジを引いて順番を決めた。We drew lots to decide who would go first at the early morning reception desk.Tatoeba #74934 by fcbond, translation #328785 by fcbond
- ライフルの発射音が早朝の静けさを破った。A rifle shot broke the peace of the early morning.Tatoeba #192658 by mookeee, translation #29822 by CM
- 今朝、早朝の散歩は気持ちがいいですね。This morning, the early morning walk feels refreshing.
- 昨日の夜は、明け方まで話し込んだ。Last night, we talked until early morning.
Example conversation
Two coworkers discussing their morning routines at the office.
- 結衣 Yui早朝からトレーニングをしているんですか？souchou kara toreeningu o shite iru n desu ka?Are you training from the early morning?
- 蓮 Renはい、早朝のジョギングが習慣です。hai, souchou no jogingu ga shuukan desu.Yes, early morning jogging is my habit.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さんは本当に朝が早いですね。Ren-san wa hontou ni asa ga hayai desu ne.Ren, you really are an early bird.
- 蓮 Ren体が慣れてしまって、早起きが楽ですよ。Karada ga narete shimatte, hayaoki ga raku desu yo.My body is used to it, so waking up early is easy.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
