急ぐ (Isogu — Hurry) vs. 早い/速い (Hayai — Early/Fast): Time & Speed Kanji Guide
In spoken Japanese, both 'early in the morning' (早い) and 'a fast bullet train' (速い) are pronounced はやい (hayai) — while rushing in a panic is 急ぐ (isogu, 急行 kyūkō express train). Here is how to pick the right kanji every time.
'Should I write 早い or 速い for hayai?' is one of the top JLPT N4 test questions. Better yet, the radicals inside the characters tell you the answer immediately!
Quick Comparison: 急 (Hurry) vs. 早 (Early) vs. 進 (Advance) vs. 運 (Carry, Luck)
Compare the four time, speed, and motion kanjis in the breakdown table below:
| Kanji & Meaning | Primary Readings (Bold = Primary) | Shibashi Visual Mnemonic Hook | Common Compound Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 急 — Hurry | On: きゅう Kun: いそ |
ク+ヨ (A hand grabbing urgently) over 心 (anxious Heart) = URGENT / HURRY / EXPRESS (isogu / kyū). | 急 (きゅう) — urgent, steep |
| 早 — Early | On: そう Kun: はや, さ |
日 (Sun) rising above 十 (dawn horizon) = EARLY in time / quick (hayai / sō). | 早い (はやい) — early |
| 進 — Advance | On: しん Kun: すす |
辶 (Road scooter) + 隹 (Bird flying forward) = ADVANCE / PROCEED (susumu / shin). | 進む (すすむ) — to make progress |
| 運 — Carry, Luck | On: うん Kun: はこ |
辶 (Road scooter) + 軍 (Chariot/Army) = CARRY / TRANSPORT / LUCK (hakobu / un). | 運ぶ (はこぶ) — to transport |
Side-by-Side Illustrated Kanji Flashcards (Tap Readings for Audio)
Compare the custom Shibashi artwork for 急 (Hurry) and 早 (Early) below. Notice how each illustration embeds both the English meaning and the primary Japanese reading directly into the scene, and tap any reading to hear native pronunciation:
Step-by-Step Visual Breakdown & Radical Rules
Look at the main radical in each character: 日 (Sun/Time) vs. 辶 (Road/Speed) vs. 心 (Heart/Urgency):
1. 急 (Hurry) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: きゅう | Kun'yomi: いそ
Shibashi Visual Story: “Enjoy life, eat good miso (いそ) and don't hurry, because in no time we are old and not so cute (きゅう)...” Key visual distinction: ク+ヨ (A hand grabbing urgently) over 心 (anxious Heart) = URGENT / HURRY / EXPRESS (isogu / kyū).
- 急 (きゅう): urgent, steep
- 特急 (とっきゅう): limited express train (faster than an express train)
- 急ぐ (いそぐ): to hurry
2. 早 (Early) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: そう | Kun'yomi: はや, さ
Shibashi Visual Story: “Peculiar Mr. Sun (日), the Happy Yankee (はや), loves to rise early, wash with soap (そう) and eat salsa (さ)...” Key visual distinction: 日 (Sun) rising above 十 (dawn horizon) = EARLY in time / quick (hayai / sō).
- 早い (はやい): early
3. 進 (Advance) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: しん | Kun'yomi: すす
Shibashi Visual Story: “If birds get shin (しん) guards they will be able to ride scooters to the soup supermarket (すす) and advance in the world...” Key visual distinction: 辶 (Road scooter) + 隹 (Bird flying forward) = ADVANCE / PROCEED (susumu / shin).
- 進む (すすむ): to make progress
- 前進 (ぜんしん): advance, drive, progress
- 進める (すすめる): to advance, to promote, to hasten
4. 運 (Carry, Luck) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: うん | Kun'yomi: はこ
Shibashi Visual Story: “On the full moon (うん), a hard-core (はこ) doner robot carries luck-y... free kebabs.” Key visual distinction: 辶 (Road scooter) + 軍 (Chariot/Army) = CARRY / TRANSPORT / LUCK (hakobu / un).
- 運ぶ (はこぶ): to transport
- 運動 (うんどう): to exercise
- 運転手 (うんてんしゅ): driver
Essential Japanese Vocabulary Words Using 急 / 早 / 進 / 運
Once you can recognize 急 (Hurry) and 早 (Early) and 進 (Advance) individually, lock them into your active reading vocabulary with these high-frequency Japanese words from the Shibashi app:
| Japanese Word | Hiragana Reading | English Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 急 | きゅう | urgent, steep | JLPT |
| 特急 | とっきゅう | limited express train (faster than an express train) | JLPT |
| 急ぐ | いそぐ | to hurry | JLPT |
| 早い | はやい | early | JLPT |
| 進む | すすむ | to make progress | JLPT |
| 前進 | ぜんしん | advance, drive, progress | JLPT |
| 進める | すすめる | to advance, to promote, to hasten | JLPT |
| 運ぶ | はこぶ | to transport | JLPT |
5-Second Memory Summary: How to Never Mix Up 急 & 早 & 進 Again
早い (hayai) has the Sun (日), so it means Early in time (or quick duration). 速い (hayai) has the Road (辶) (just like 進 Advance and 運 Carry), so it means Fast physical speed! And when your Heart (心) is racing at the bottom, it's 急 (Hurry / Urgent — 急ぐ isogu, 急行 kyūkō)!
