Chinese Grammar Reference logo

    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to an early stage with 早期 (zǎoqī)

    Sequence & Order
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    早期 + Noun / 在 + 早期

    Explanation

    早期 (zǎoqī) means "early stage" or "early period" and is used to describe the initial phase of a process, era, or development. It functions as both a noun and an adjective. For example, 早期宇宙 means "the early universe" and 在早期 means "in the early stage."

    Examples

    • 这座城市在早期只是一个小渔村。

      Zhè zuò chéngshì zài zǎoqī zhǐ shì yí ge xiǎo yúcūn.

      In its early days, this city was just a small fishing village.

    • 早期的研究结果并不理想。

      Zǎoqī de yánjiū jiéguǒ bìng bù lǐxiǎng.

      The early research results were not ideal.

    • 这种疾病在早期很难被发现。

      Zhè zhǒng jíbìng zài zǎoqī hěn nán bèi fāxiàn.

      This disease is hard to detect in its early stages.

    Referring to an early stage with 早期 (zǎoqī) | Chinese Grammar