About
The character "原" structurally combines the component "厂", representing a cliff, with "泉", meaning a spring, to depict a water source emerging from a cliff face, which established its earliest meaning of "spring" or "source". From this concrete meaning, it developed the abstract sense of "origin" or "beginning" for various concepts. Later, through associative usage, the character also came to denote a "plain" or flat expanse of land, as seen in geographical terms. While its graphical form has consistently incorporated these elements, the semantic range shifted from a specific physical feature to broader abstract and topographic applications.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢草原。
他原来很高。
这是什么原因？
请原谅我的错误。
我们必须坚持原则。
原始社会的人类生活很艰苦。
他原本计划去旅行，但取消了。
这部电影是根据原著小说改编的。