Definitions

yuán (noun) source; origin

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "源", signifying source or origin, integrates the water radical with the phonetic and semantic component "原", which denotes a plain or foundational expanse, thus pictorially representing the notion of a spring as the point where a river begins. Etymologically, its early usage was confined to literal water sources, but its semantic field gradually extended to abstract origins, encompassing the root or cause of any entity or idea. This conceptual expansion from a specific geographical feature to a broader metaphorical sense occurred while the character's structure remained stable, with no distinct simplified variant emerging, thereby preserving its direct compositional logic.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

水的来是雨水。

Shuǐ de láiyuán shì yǔshuǐ.

The source of water is rainwater.

我们需要节约水资

Wǒmen xūyào jiéyuē shuǐ zīyuán.

We need to conserve water resources.

问题越来越严重。

Néngyuán wèntí yuè lái yuè yánzhòng.

The energy problem is becoming more and more serious.

找到问题的头是关键。

Zhǎo dào wèntí de yuántóu shì guānjiàn.

Finding the source of the problem is key.

这家公司有丰富的客户资

Zhè jiā gōngsī yǒu fēngfù de kèhù zīyuán.

This company has abundant customer resources.

探索宇宙的起很有趣。

Tànsuǒ yǔzhòu de qǐyuán hěn yǒuqù.

Exploring the origin of the universe is very interesting.

污染必须被严格控制。

Wūrǎn yuán bìxū bèi yángé kòngzhì.

Pollution sources must be strictly controlled.

可再生能的发展是解决能危机的根本途径。

Kě zàishēng néngyuán de fāzhǎn shì jiějué néngyuán wēijī de gēnběn tújìng.

The development of renewable energy is the fundamental way to solve the energy crisis.