趁早
chèn zǎo · HSK 7
the sooner the better
⏰ 趁 (take advantage of) + 早 (early) = seize the early moment
趁 means to take advantage of a situation, and 早 means early or morning. Together they urge you to act while the window is open — grab the chance before it closes. Chèn sounds like 'chen' as in 'clench the moment.'
趁 — 走 'walk/run' + 㐱 phonetic
A semantic-phonetic compound: 走 (run, go) gives the meaning of moving or pursuing, while 㐱 (chěn) supplies the sound. The original sense was 'to chase after' or 'pursue,' which extended to 'take advantage of (a moment),' as in 趁机 'seize the chance.'
早 — sun 日 + ten 十 (originally 甲, a helmet/sprout)
Originally depicted the sun 日 rising above a sprouting plant or a person's head, suggesting the early morning when the sun first appears. The lower component was simplified over time into 十. The core meaning 'morning, early' has remained stable since oracle bone script.