早い
hayai
Even 'too soon' is 早い — standing ahead of the line
The picture A dot marked ahead of the agreed line. 早い puts the dot ahead of the line; 遅い puts it behind.
Where the picture shows up in 早い
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a time ahead of the line
今日は出勤が早いですね。
kyō wa shukkin ga hayai desu ne
You're in early today.
The first person sitting down in an office where the lights aren't on yet
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arrival ahead of the line
予約より早く着いてしまいました。
yoyaku yori hayaku tsuite shimaimashita
I arrived earlier than my booking.
Waiting outside a shop whose shutters are still down
早く plus a verb = to do it early.
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not yet at the line
まだ決めるのは早いと思います。
mada kimeru no wa hayai to omoimasu
I think it's too early to decide.
The decision stamp held in mid-air, stopped short of the line
決めるのは早い = it isn't time yet.
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a reply ahead of the line
お返事が早くて助かりました。
o-henji ga hayakute tasukarimashita
Thank you for the quick reply.
A reply landing almost right beside the mail you just sent
For speed as such, 速い is often written instead.
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the day starting ahead of the line
この仕事は朝が早いです。
kono shigoto wa asa ga hayai desu
This job has early mornings.
Pulling on work clothes while it is still dark outside the window
All of it in one picture
早い is one picture: the dot falls ahead of the line that was set. The clock-in dot lands ahead of your usual line, so you are in early; the arrival dot lands ahead of the booking, so you got there too soon. The decision dot hasn't even reached the line yet, so it is too early to decide; the reply dot lands ahead of the line you were braced to wait for, so thank you for the quick answer. Pull the start of the day ahead of the line and it is a job with early mornings.