起源 (qǐ yuán) — (noun) origin, beginning; (verb) to originate,… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

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.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

起qǐbeginning

起 (beginning) and 源 (source) stand side by side, giving the sense of where something begins.

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.

走巳起

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

巳

巳sì起qǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

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