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On'yomi
ゲン
GEN
Kun'yomi
みなもと
minamoto

source · origin

Details

Strokes13
Frequency#738
Radicalwater(4)

Stroke Order

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Strokes13

Component Breakdown

=

water + 原

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of water and field. Origin of water.

Symbolism

Source, headwater, origin. Represents beginning.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

武陵桃源

ぶりょうとうげん

earthly paradise; Shangri-la; earthly paradise

医食同源

いしょくどうげん

a balanced diet leads to a healthy body; healthy food both prevents and cures sickness; a balanced diet leads to a healthy body

抜本塞源

ばっぽんそくげん

eradication of (sources of) evil; laying the ax to the root of evil; eradication of (sources of) evil

Proverbs & Idioms

源を尋ねる

みなもとをたずねる

To seek the source

To investigate the origin of things

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 源 mean in Japanese?

源 means source, origin.

How do you read 源?

On'yomi: ゲン (GEN). Kun'yomi: みなもと (minamoto).

How many strokes does 源 have?

源 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 水 (water).

Is 源 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 源 (source, origin) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

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