原 (yuán) - Original, primary, fundamental & source, origin

原Tone 2

yuán ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

原 · yuán

Original, primary, fundamental;

source, origin;

plain, unadorned;

formerly;

open country.

Original, primary, fundamentalsource, originplain, unadorned

Usage highlights

Original intentionOriginal textOriginal workOriginal priceOriginal versionOriginal material

Synonyms

  • 本— root, foundation, original
  • 初— beginning, initial
  • 始— start, commencement

Antonyms

  • 末— end, final
  • 终— conclusion, termination
  • 变— changed, altered

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The original plan(原计划)
  • Return to one's hometown(回原籍)
  • The origin of the universe(宇宙的起源)
  • Original ecology(原生态)
  • Original flavor(原味)

Collocations

  • Original intention(原意)
  • Original text(原文)
  • Original work(原作)
  • Original price(原价)
  • Original version(原版)
  • Original material(原料)

Idioms

  • Return to one's original simplicity(返璞归真)
  • Original form completely revealed(原形毕露)
  • Trace something to its source(追本溯源)
  • The original remains the same(原封不动)
  • The truth comes out(真相大白)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, '原' represents the fundamental, unadorned state of things, valued in Daoist thought.
  • The character appears in many place names, indicating plains or original settlements.
  • Used in academic contexts to denote primary sources or original research.

FAQ