源泉 (yuán quán) — water source, spring; (figurative) origin, foun… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal, often figurative 'source / fountainhead,' typically for abstract things like knowledge or happiness. Among curriculum siblings, 来源 is the everyday choice; 源头 is close but leans literal/physical.

noun

water sourcespring(figurative) originfountainhead

Examples

源泉。
Zhè tiáo hé liú shì fù jìn nóng tián de guàn gài yuán quán.
This river is the irrigation water source for the nearby farmland.
源泉。
Shū jí shì zhī shi de yuán quán.
Books are the fountainhead of knowledge.
源泉。
Yǒu yì shì kuài lè de yuán quán.
Friendship is the wellspring of happiness.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

源 and 泉 both name water origins, so together they give a spring or figurative source.

Characters in this word

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.

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

白水泉

白白báispring mouth
水水shuǐwater

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

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Geography & Landforms

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