源
源·source, origin
- On-yomi
- ゲン
- Kun-yomi
- みなもと
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 資源 | しげん | resources |
| 電源 | でんげん | power source, power switch |
| 起源 | きげん | origin, beginning |
| 源 | みなもと | source, headwaters |
Example sentences
日本は資源が少ない国です。
にほんはしげんがすくないくにです。
Japan is a country with few natural resources.
パソコンの電源を切ってください。
パソコンのでんげんをきってください。
Please switch off the computer.
この祭りの起源は江戸時代にさかのぼる。
このまつりのきげんはえどじだいにさかのぼる。
The origin of this festival goes back to the Edo period.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Mixing 起源 (きげん, origin) with 紀元 (きげん, era) and 期限 (きげん, deadline)
- Reading 資源 as しげん but writing 資原 — the water radical is essential
Memory aid
Picture it
氵 (water) plus 原 (the plain and its cliff spring): the place the water first comes out of the ground — the source.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 電源でんげんpower supply, power source
- 起源きげんorigin
- 財源ざいげんsource of revenue, funding source
- 根源こんげんroot, origin, source
- 源みなもとsource; origin; headwaters (of a river)
- 水源すいげんsource of a river; headwaters; water supply source
- 語源ごげんetymology; word origin; derivation of a word
- 資源しげんresources
- 情報源じょうほうげんsource of information
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 源 mean?