源

yuán

原 + 氵

Definitions

yuán (noun) source; origin

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 原 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 原

About

源 is a phono-semantic compound: 氵 (water) represents the meaning, and 原 represents the sound. 原 originally depicted a spring flowing from beneath a cliff, a meaning that naturally aligns with the character's sense. The water radical was added later to specify a river's headwaters, distinguishing it from 原 as that component took on more abstract meanings. The character primarily denotes the source of a stream or river, and by extension the origin or root of anything.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

水的来源是雨水。

Shuǐ de láiyuán shì yǔshuǐ.

The source of water is rainwater.

我们需要节约水资源。

Wǒmen xūyào jiéyuē shuǐ zīyuán.

We need to conserve water resources.

能源问题越来越严重。

Néngyuán wèntí yuè lái yuè yánzhòng.

The energy problem is becoming more and more serious.

找到问题的源头是关键。

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源。

Zhè jiā gōngsī yǒu fēngfù de kèhù zīyuán.

This company has abundant customer resources.

探索宇宙的起源很有趣。

Tànsuǒ yǔzhòu de qǐyuán hěn yǒuqù.

Exploring the origin of the universe is very interesting.

污染源必须被严格控制。

Wūrǎn yuán bìxū bèi yángé kòngzhì.

Pollution sources must be strictly controlled.

可再生能源的发展是解决能源危机的根本途径。

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.

Related Characters

Component: 原

Component: 氵

源