early
early — 形容詞
1. happening in the first part of a day, season, or other time span, or arriving so
早的；初期的
在時間或過程開始階段的
happening in the first part of a day, season, or other time span, or arriving sooner than is normal for that context.
Devika takes the early train to Taipei every morning so she can avoid the traffic.
Devika 每天早上都搭早班火車去台北，這樣才能避開車潮。
early train — public transport before peak time
The early chapters of the novel describe the main character's childhood in Kenya.
這本小說的前幾章描述了主角在肯亞的童年。
In the early stages of the project, the team focused on interviewing local families.
在專案的初期階段，團隊把重點放在訪談當地家庭。
The early morning light filled the kitchen with a warm golden glow.
清晨的光芒灑進廚房，散發著溫暖的金色光輝。
- late
the direct opposite in both time and order
文法句型
early + noun (morning/stages/chapters)
be + early
用法筆記
Often placed before nouns naming parts of a time cycle (morning, afternoon, year) or steps in a process (stages, chapters, days).
常見錯誤
2. of plants or their products, ripening or becoming ready for use sooner than most
早熟的
比同類作物更早成熟的
of plants or their products, ripening or becoming ready for use sooner than most other varieties of the same type.
The gardener planted early potatoes that were ready to dig up by late spring.
園丁種植了早熟馬鈴薯，到了春末就可以挖來吃了。
early + [crop name] — a variety that ripens sooner
These early apples are smaller but much sweeter than the ones that appear later.
這些早熟蘋果雖然比較小，但比晚熟的品種甜多了。
Minh bought early peaches from the market that had a wonderful sweet smell.
Minh 在市場買了早熟水蜜桃，散發著美妙香甜的氣味。
Yael grew early tomatoes in her greenhouse and enjoyed them fresh in salads.
Yael 在溫室裡種了早熟番茄，新鮮現摘拌沙拉吃。
- first
used for the earliest produce of a season, but less specific to plant varieties
- late
used for varieties that mature later in the season
文法句型
early + noun (potatoes/apples/peaches)
用法筆記
Almost always appears before a noun naming a fruit, vegetable, or flower variety. The opposite is 'late' (late apples, late potatoes).
3. placed straight after a stated time to indicate that the event cannot happen any
最早
表示某事不會早於該時間發生
placed straight after a stated time to indicate that the event cannot happen any sooner and may take place afterwards.
The repairs on the bridge will finish by next summer at the very earliest.
橋樑的維修工作最快要到明年夏天才能完成。
at the very earliest — emphasising that this is the soonest possible time
Haruto said the package would arrive on Wednesday at the earliest.
Haruto 說包裹最快要星期三才會送達。
Valentina told me the report would be completed by Monday at the earliest.
Valentina 跟我說那份報告最快要星期一才能完成。
Reuben can move into the apartment by December at the earliest.
Reuben 最快也要到十二月才能搬進公寓。
文法句型
[time/date] at the earliest
用法筆記
Always uses the superlative form 'earliest'. Commonly appears with 'very' for emphasis ('at the very earliest'). The phrase sits after the time expression it modifies.
常見錯誤
4. expected or likely to happen soon, usually before the typical or expected time f
近期的
預期很快會發生的
expected or likely to happen soon, usually before the typical or expected time for something similar.
Doctors were optimistic about the patient's early release from the hospital.
醫生對病人早日出院感到樂觀。
early release — leaving hospital sooner than expected
The company announced an early launch date for their new electric vehicle.
該公司宣布了新款電動車的提早上市日期。
Rania hoped for an early end to the long negotiations with the union.
Rania 希望與工會漫長的談判能早日結束。
Yumi spotted the early signs of spring when the first buds appeared on the trees.
Yumi 察覺到春天的早期跡象——樹上冒出了第一批嫩芽。
- delayed
happening later than expected
文法句型
early + noun (release/recovery/warning/signs)
用法筆記
Typically appears before abstract nouns such as release, recovery, warning, signs, and end. Does not usually appear after a linking verb.
early — 副詞
1. at a point close to the start of a measured span such as a day, week, month, or
在時段之初
在時間的開始階段
at a point close to the start of a measured span such as a day, week, month, or year.
Eleni gets up early in the morning to walk her dog before breakfast.
Eleni 清晨就起床，在早餐前帶狗去散步。
early in the morning — at the start of the day
The museum opens early on Saturdays for school groups and visitors.
博物館週六很早就開門，接待學校團體和參觀者。
Early in the year the fields are covered with wildflowers and tall grass.
年初的時候，田野上開滿了野花和高高的草。
Owen likes to start his homework early in the evening so he can relax later.
Owen 喜歡傍晚就開始做功課，這樣他稍後才能放鬆。
- at the start
more literal; less common in everyday speech
- at the beginning
used for processes rather than clock time
- late
the opposite in any time context
文法句型
early + in + [time period]
verb + early
用法筆記
Often paired with 'in' to specify the time period (early in the morning, early in the week). As an adverb, it follows the main verb (arrive early, start early).
常見錯誤
2. fairly soon after the start of a process, event, series, or other unfolding sequ
在過程之初
在過程或事件的開始階段
fairly soon after the start of a process, event, series, or other unfolding sequence.
Early in the game the home team scored two goals in quick succession.
比賽剛開始不久，主隊就連續踢進了兩球。
early in the game — soon after the start of an event
Heather decided early in her studies that she wanted to become a nurse.
Heather 在求學初期就決定將來要當護理師。
The problem was spotted early in the testing phase and fixed right away.
問題在測試階段初期就被發現，並且立刻修復了。
Early in the concert the pianist played a piece by Chopin that moved everyone in the hall.
音樂會一開始，鋼琴家就演奏了一首蕭邦的作品，感動了全場。
- immediately
stronger emphasis on quick action rather than position in a sequence
- later on
at a more advanced point in the process
文法句型
early + in + [process/sequence]
early in the + [noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense applies to processes and events (game, career, film, project), not to clock or calendar time.
3. sooner than the usual, expected, or planned time.
提早
比預期時間更早
sooner than the usual, expected, or planned time.
The bus arrived five minutes early, so Jabari had to hurry to the stop.
公車提早五分鐘到站，Jabari 只好趕快跑向站牌。
arrived early — happening before the expected time
The cherry blossoms bloomed early this year because of the warm winter.
今年櫻花開得早，因為冬天比較溫暖。
Tamás finished his exam early and checked his answers twice before leaving.
Tamás 提早交卷，在離開前又把答案檢查了兩次。
The baby was born two weeks early and stayed in the hospital for five days.
寶寶提早了兩週出生，在醫院裡住了五天。
- ahead of schedule
more formal; often used in work or project contexts
- beforehand
emphasises preparation before an event
- late
after the expected time
文法句型
verb + early (arrive/finish/bloom/leave)
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs like arrive, finish, leave, start, come, bloom, and ripen. The opposite is 'late'.
常見錯誤
4. in the near future; before long, especially when referring to an expected or pla
不久
在不久的將來
in the near future; before long, especially when referring to an expected or planned event.
The new shopping centre is expected to open as early as next spring.
這家新購物中心預計最快明年春天就會開幕。
as early as — emphasising the soonness of a future event
We will announce the winner early next week after the judges finish voting.
我們將在下週初公布得獎者，屆時評審已完成投票。
Christopher hopes to hear back from the university early in the new year.
Christopher 希望在新年之初就能收到大學的回音。
The doctor said I should receive the test results early next week at the latest.
醫生說我最晚下週初就能收到檢查結果。
- soon
the closest synonym; 'soon' is more general and does not need a reference timeframe
- before long
slightly more literary; emphasises short duration until the event
- later
after a longer period of time
文法句型
as early as [time]
early + [time period]
用法筆記
Often appears in the patterns 'as early as [time]' and 'early [time period]' (early next week, early next year). The emphasis is on the nearness of a future point, not on being ahead of schedule.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I will finish the work early.' could mean either 'before the deadline' (sense 3) or 'soon' (sense 4) — context determines the meaning. To avoid confusion, use 'soon' for the 'in the near future' meaning.
5. at a time before a particular reference point or event; used in the comparative
更早
比參照時間點更早發生
at a time before a particular reference point or event; used in the comparative form 'earlier' to show that something happens sooner than something else.
We arrived at the station ten minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.
我們比預定出發時間提早十分鐘抵達了車站。
earlier than — comparing timing against a reference point
The earlier report suggested a different cause for the power failure.
先前的報告對停電原因提出了不同的解釋。
Élise left the meeting earlier than everyone else because she had a train to catch.
Élise 比其他人更早離開會議，因為她要趕火車。
Eitan had visited the museum earlier in the month and noticed the statue was gone.
Eitan 當月稍早去過博物館，發現那座雕像不見了。
- sooner
more common in informal speech; can imply 'more willingly' as well as 'earlier in time'
- later
at a time after a reference point
文法句型
earlier + than + [reference point]
用法筆記
This is the comparative form of the adverb early, used with 'than' to compare two points or events. When used without 'than' before a noun (the earlier report, an earlier version), it functions adjectivally.