元
beginning · former time · origin
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape emphasizing person's head. Beginning, origin.
Symbolism
Origin, vitality, New Year's Day. Represents beginning and foundation.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Flow of time
Component Breakdown
one + 兀
Words & Expressions
Words written with 元
Four-Character Compounds
一新紀元
いっしんきげん
new era; new age
本家本元
ほんけほんもと
original home; birthplace; originator
鼻元思案
はなもとじあん
superficial (shortsighted) way of thinking; half-baked (foolish, ill-advised) idea
元気溌剌
げんきはつらつ
full of energy; full of liveliness; full of pep
一世一元
いっせいいちげん
the practice of assigning one era name to one emperor
喉元思案
のどもとじあん
superficial way of thinking; shortsighted thinking; shallow idea
Proverbs & Idioms
元の木阿弥
もとのもくあみ
Back to square one
All efforts were in vain; returned to the original state
Anime & Manga
天元突破グレンラガン
Gurren Lagann
A well-known work with 元 in its Japanese title.
継母の連れ子が元カノだった
My Stepmom's Daughter is My Ex
A well-known work with 元 in its Japanese title.
Lv2からチートだった元勇者候補のまったり異世界ライフ
Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers
A well-known work with 元 in its Japanese title.
ループ7回目の悪役令嬢は、元敵国で自由気ままな花嫁生活を満喫する
7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!
A well-known work with 元 in its Japanese title.
昭和元禄落語心中
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
A well-known work with 元 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
道元
Name contains 元
Dōgen Zenji was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan.
Wikipedia元明天皇
Name contains 元
Empress Genmei , also known as Empress Genmyō, was the 43rd monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia今川義元
Name contains 元
Imagawa Yoshimoto was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the Sengoku period.
Wikipedia毛利元就
Name contains 元
Mōri Motonari was a prominent daimyō in the western Chūgoku region of Japan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 元 mean in Japanese?
元 means beginning, former time, origin.
How do you read 元?
On'yomi: ゲン、ガン (GEN, GAN). Kun'yomi: もと (moto).
How many strokes does 元 have?
元 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 儿 (legs).
Is 元 a good kanji for a tattoo?
元 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means beginning, former time, origin. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.