Meaning and Usage
"速い" (はやい) means "fast" or "quick" and is used to describe speed in various contexts, such as movement, response time, or processing speed. It is a common adjective at the N5 level.
Common Collocations
- 速い車 (はやいくるま): fast car — used to describe vehicles with high speed.
- 速く走る (はやくはしる): run fast — a common phrase to talk about quick movement.
- 速い返事 (はやいへんじ): quick reply — often used in requests or business communication.
Usage Notes
"速い" is often contrasted with "遅い" (おそい), meaning "slow." When using "速い," the speaker implies efficiency or high speed. It can describe physical speed or abstract speed like response or progress.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "速い" with "早い," which is also read "はやい" but means "early." Remember: "速い" relates to speed, while "早い" relates to time or earliness.