源 yuán spring
spring; source
How to remember 源: 氵 water + 原 original = spring. The hikers follow the water uphill to find its original start, and there between two mossy rocks bubbles a tiny spring.
Component breakdown
源 = 氵 water + 原 original
- 氵 water
- 原 original
- 厂 factory
- 白 white
- 小 small
The hikers follow the water uphill to find its original start, and there between two mossy rocks bubbles a tiny spring.
How it is used
- A bound noun meaning source or origin, extremely productive in compounds: 来源 láiyuán (source/origin of information), 资源 zīyuán (resources), 能源 néngyuán (energy), 起源 qǐyuán (the origin of something, e.g. a custom or species).
- 源于 yuányú is a common written verb pattern: X 源于 Y - "X originates from Y," used in explaining the history of a word, custom, or problem.
- Rarely stands completely alone; learners should treat it as a building block rather than a standalone word.
Words with 源
- 来源láiyuánsource (of information etc)HSK 5
- 资源zīyuánnatural resource (such as water or minerals)HSK 5
- 新能源xīnnéngyuánnew energyHSK 6
- 源于yuányúhas its origins inHSK 6
- 电源diànyuánelectric power sourceHSK 6
- 能源néngyuánenergy sourcesHSK 6
- 起源qǐyuánoriginHSK 6
- 发源fāyuánto riseHSK 8
- 发源地fāyuándìplace of originHSK 8
- 根源gēnyuánoriginHSK 9
- 水源shuǐyuánwater sourceHSK 9
- 渊源yuānyuánoriginHSK 9
- 源头yuántóusourceHSK 9
- 源泉yuánquánfountainheadHSK 9
- 源源不断yuányuán-búduànin an unending streamHSK 9
- 源远流长yuányuǎn-liúchángliterally source is distant and the flow is longHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我们要保护自然资源。 Wǒmen yào bǎohù zìrán zīyuán.We must protect our natural resources.
- 节约能源关系到全人类的福祉。 Jiéyuē néngyuán guānxidào quán rénlèi de fúzhǐ.Energy conservation touches on the welfare of all mankind.