泉源 (quán yuán) — fountainhead; source

Definition

Literary word for the 'source' or 'fountainhead' of a river, or metaphorically of knowledge, inspiration, or strength. More formal and written than 起源 or 来源, which are the everyday equivalents.

noun
fountainheadsource
Easily confused

Examples

  • 泉源。
    Zhè tiáo hé de quán yuán zài shān lǐ.
    The fountainhead of this river is in the mountains.
  • 泉源。
    Zhī shi shì lì liàng de quán yuán.
    Knowledge is the source of power.
  • 泉源。
    Tā shì wǒ men líng gǎn de quán yuán.
    He is the source of our inspiration.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

泉quánspring
源yuánsource

泉 is a spring and 源 is a source, together fountainhead or source.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

泉 pairs 白 (spring mouth) with 水 (water) to show water flowing from the source of a spring.

Open 泉 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
原
原yuán源yuán
Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.

Open 源 →

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