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来源 meaning in English

láiyuán

source (of information etc); origin

HSK 4nounTraditional 來源20 strokes

Meaning of 来源

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

láiyuán
  1. source (of information etc)
  2. origin

How to use 来源

来源 is a noun for the source or origin of something, such as information, income, news, or water. It often pairs with words like 收入 (income) or 信息 (information), and can also act as a verb in 来源于 (comes from). Example: 这条新闻的来源是什么？(Zhè tiáo xīnwén de láiyuán shì shénme?) What is the source of this news?

来 (lái) means to come, and 源 (yuán) means a spring or source of water, with the water radical 氵 on the left. Picture water that comes from a spring: where something comes from is its 来源.

Common mistake: Learners often write 原 (yuán, original) instead of 源 because they sound the same. 源 has the water radical 氵, which fits the idea of a spring where water comes from.

来源 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

这zhè件jiàn事shì是shì我wǒ透tòu过guò可kě靠kào的de消xiāo息xī来lái源yuán得dé知zhī的de。
I came to know this from some reliable sources.
我wǒ的de母mǔ亲qīn是shì一yī位wèi天tiān使shǐ，也yě是shì我wǒ的de灵líng感gǎn来lái源yuán。
My mother was an angel and an inspiration to me.
恐kǒng惧jù来lái源yuán于yú未wèi知zhī。
Fear comes from the unknown.
什shén么me是shì您nín最zuì大dà的de灵líng感gǎn来lái源yuán？
What is your greatest source of inspiration?
金jīn钱qián本běn身shēn并bìng不bú是shì幸xìng福fú的de来lái源yuán。
Money by itself isn't a source of happiness.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

来 lái · to come · 7 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

源 yuán · spring · 13 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13

Related words

Words that share a character with 来源.

回来huíláito return; to come back
起来qǐláito stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2]
出来chūláito come out; to appear
进来jìnláito come in
来到láidàoto arrive; to come
过来guòláito come over; to manage
带来dàiláito bring; (fig.) to bring about; to produce
来自láizìto come from (a place); From: (in email header)
原来yuánláioriginal; former; originally; formerly; at first
后来hòuláiafterwards; later; newly arrived
接下来jiē xiàláito accept; to take
越来越yuè lái yuèmore and more

Questions about 来源

What does 来源 mean?

来源 (láiyuán) means "source (of information etc); origin" and is used as a noun.

How do you write 来源?

来源 is made of 2 characters: 来 (7 strokes), 源 (13 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.

Is 来源 an HSK word?

Yes. 来源 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 来源 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 来源 is written 來源.

What is the difference between 来源 and 原因?

来源 (láiyuán) is where something comes from, like a source of money or information. 原因 (yuányīn) is the reason or cause of something happening. Use 原因 when answering why, and 来源 when answering from where.

How do I use 来源于 in a sentence?

来源于 means to come from or originate in, and it is followed by the source. For example, 这个词来源于英语 (Zhège cí láiyuán yú Yīngyǔ) means this word comes from English. It sounds a bit formal and is common in writing.

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