Onyomi: ガン, ゲン · Kunyomi: もと · Meanings: beginning, former time, origin
Kanji for beginning, former time, origin
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The kanji 元 combines a simple base with a line above, symbolizing the origin or beginning of something. In ancient times, it represented the start, source, or primary element. 元 came to mean origin, beginning, or fundamental, capturing the idea of root, base, and source.
A base with a line above — 元 means origin, beginning, or fundamental.
Imagine the very start of something, the source of all — that’s 元, the kanji for origin and beginning.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 元 | もと | origin, source, beginning | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 元 | もと | former, ex-, past, one-time | JLPT-N3 Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', Noun, used as a prefix |
| 元 | げん | unknown (e.g. in an equation) | Noun |
| 元 | ユアン | yuan (monetary unit of China) | Noun |
| 元気 | げんき | lively, full of spirit, energetic, vigorous, vital, spirited | common JLPT-N5 Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 元素 | げんそ | element, chemical element | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 元々 | もともと | originally, from the start, from the beginning, from the outset, by nature | common JLPT-N2 Adverb (fukushi), Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 元来 | がんらい | originally, essentially, naturally, by nature, really, actually | common JLPT-N1 Adverb (fukushi) |
| 元日 | がんじつ | New Year's Day | common Noun |
| 原価 | げんか | cost price | common Noun |