源 (yuán) - Source, origin, springhead & refers to the beginning or root of something,

源Tone 2

yuán ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

源 · yuán

Source, origin, springhead;

refers to the beginning or root of something, such as a river's source, the origin of a problem, or the foundation of knowledge.

Source, origin, springheadrefers to the beginning or root of something,

Usage highlights

Source of a riverOrigin and developmentRoot causeEnergy sourceFunding sourceInformation source

Synonyms

  • 本— root, foundation, origin
  • 根— root, base, origin
  • 始— beginning, start, origin

Antonyms

  • 末— end, tip, final part
  • 终— end, conclusion, finish
  • 流— flow, stream (as opposed to source)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The source of the Yellow River (黄河源头) is in Qinghai province.
  • We need to find the root cause of the problem (问题的根源).
  • He has a wide range of knowledge sources (知识来源).
  • This funding comes from multiple sources (资金来源).

Collocations

  • Source of a river(水源)
  • Origin and development(源流)
  • Root cause(根源)
  • Energy source(能源)
  • Funding source(财源)
  • Information source(信息来源)

Idioms

  • Trace to the very source(追本溯源)
  • Wide source and long stream — of long standing and well established(源远流长)
  • The source is clear and the flow is pure — of noble ancestry(源清流洁)
  • Drink water and think of its source — gratitude for favors received(饮水思源)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, 源 represents the fundamental origin or root of things, emphasizing the importance of understanding beginnings.
  • The character appears in many philosophical texts discussing the origins of knowledge, virtue, and natural phenomena.
  • Water source imagery is commonly used metaphorically to represent the foundation of family lineages, cultural traditions, and moral principles.

FAQ