ChiramiN4 kanji · 4 strokes
元 means origin, beginning
元
元Real origin
It began as a person with a big head: the head, the origin.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- beginning, former time, origin
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 4
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) もと moto
もと (moto) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) ゲン gen
ゲン (gen) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: ガン gan
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
地元 じもと · jimoto
home area, home town
Built from
- 二 two
- 儿 legs
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Used in 5 kanji
Quick check
What does 元 mean?
Right: 元 means origin, beginning.Not quite: 元 means origin, beginning.In 地元, which reading does 元 use?
Right. 地元 is read じもと (jimoto): 元 takes もと, its Japanese reading.Not quite. 地元 is read じもと (jimoto): 元 takes もと, its Japanese reading.