起源 (qǐ yuán) — (noun) origin, beginning; (verb) to originate, to come from
Definition
起源 (qǐyuán) names the origin of something (often abstract: a custom, a story, life itself), as a noun or verb. More formal than 来源; 来自 only points to a place or source, while 起源 asks how or when something began.
noun
originbeginning
verb
to originateto come from
Examples
- 起源。Zhè ge gù shi de qǐ yuán kě yǐ zhuī sù dào gǔ dài.The origin of this story can be traced back to ancient times.
- 起源。Zhè zhǒng xí sú qǐ yuán yú táng dài.This custom originated in the Tang Dynasty.
- 起源。Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū shēng mìng de qǐ yuán.Scientists are studying the origin of life.
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.