源
source · origin
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of water and field. Origin of water.
Symbolism
Source, headwater, origin. Represents beginning.
Component Breakdown
water + 原
Words & Expressions
Words written with 源
Four-Character Compounds
武陵桃源
ぶりょうとうげん
earthly paradise; Shangri-la
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
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
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
Anime & Manga
桃源暗鬼
TOUGEN ANKI
A well-known work with 源 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
源頼朝
Name contains 源
Minamoto no Yoritomo was a samurai, daimyo and the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, ruling from 1192 until 1199, also the…
Wikipedia源義経
Name contains 源
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a Japanese samurai commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods.
Wikipedia源実朝
Name contains 源
Minamoto no Sanetomo was a Japanese samurai, daimyo and the third shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate.
Wikipedia児玉源太郎
Name contains 源
Viscount Kodama Gentarō was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese Army and a government minister during the Meiji period.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
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?
源 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means source, origin. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:origin