源 meaning and stroke order
Spring; source, root, head; surname
How to write 源, stroke by stroke
13 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
Meaning of 源
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- root
- source
- origin
How 源 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 原 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 源
源 is pictophonetic: the water radical 氵 gives the meaning, and 原 (yuán) gives the sound. Picture water 氵 bubbling up at its original place 原, the spring where a river begins.
源 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in words about where something comes from, like 来源 (láiyuán), 资源 (zīyuán), and 能源 (néngyuán). Example: 这条河的源头在山里。(Zhè tiáo hé de yuántóu zài shān lǐ.) The source of this river is in the mountains.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 源 and 原 because they share the sound yuán. Use 原 for "original" or "originally", as in 原来 (yuánlái), and use 源 for a source or origin, as in 来源 (láiyuán).
Common words with 源
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 来源 | láiyuán | source (of information etc); origin | HSK 4 |
| 资源 | zīyuán | natural resource (such as water or minerals); resource (such as manpower or tourism) | HSK 4 |
| 电源 | diànyuán | electric power source | HSK 4 |
| 能源 | néngyuán | energy sources; energy | HSK 7-9 |
| 起源 | qǐyuán | origin; to originate | HSK 7-9 |
| 水源 | shuǐyuán | water source; water supply | HSK 7-9 |
| 源头 | yuántóu | source; origin; fountainhead | HSK 7-9 |
| 源于 | yuányú | has its origins in | HSK 7-9 |
| 根源 | gēnyuán | origin; root (cause) | HSK 7-9 |
| 来源于 | láiyuán yú | to originate in | HSK 7-9 |
| 源泉 | yuánquán | fountainhead; well-spring | HSK 7-9 |
| 源源不断 | yuányuán-bùduàn | (idiom) in an unending stream; continuous | HSK 7-9 |
| 发源地 | fāyuándì | place of origin; birthplace | HSK 7-9 |
| 渊源 | yuānyuán | origin; source | HSK 7-9 |
源 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 源
How many strokes are in 源?
源 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 源 mean?
源 (yuán) means spring; source, root, head; surname. A common word with it is 来源 (láiyuán), meaning "source (of information etc); origin".
How do you pronounce 源?
源 is pronounced yuán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 源?
The radical of 源 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 源 under this radical.
Is 源 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 源 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 起源 and 来源?
起源 (qǐyuán) means the origin of something, such as a custom, species, or civilization, and it can also be a verb meaning "to originate". 来源 (láiyuán) is the source something comes from, such as information, income, or materials.
How do I use 源于?
源于 (yuányú) means "to come from" or "to have its origins in". Put the thing first and the origin after it, as in 这个节日源于古代 (zhège jiérì yuányú gǔdài), "this festival has its origins in ancient times." It sounds somewhat formal.