Definition
原 (yuán) as an adjective means 'original, former' (e.g. 原单位 'former workplace') or 'raw, unprocessed' (e.g. 原材料 'raw materials'). It contrasts with 原始 (yuánshǐ), which emphasizes 'primitive, undeveloped' or 'first in time', and with 生 (shēng), which means 'raw, uncooked' for food. 原 is not a synonym for 主要 (zhǔyào 'main, primary') or 首要 (shǒuyào 'foremost').
adjective
originalformerrawunprocessed
Easily confused
- 愿yuànlook-aliketo wish, to hope (often used in blessings and formal expressions)
- 员yuánsound-alike(suffix) person; employee; member
- 远yuǎnsound-alikefar, distant (in space or time)
- 元yuánsound-alike(classifier) yuan, the basic unit of Chinese currency
- 圆yuánsound-alike(noun) circle
- 怨yuànsound-aliketo blame, to complain (with a sense of grievance)
- 园yuánsound-alikegarden; park; (in compounds) a place for a specific purpose (e.g., kindergarten, botanical garden)
- 冤yuānsound-alike(noun) injustice; grievance
Examples
- 原，。Tā líkāi le yuán dānwèi, qù le xīn gōngsī.He left his former workplace and went to a new company.
- 。Zhèxiē yuán cáiliào shì cóng guówài jìnkǒu de.These raw materials were imported from abroad.
- 。Qǐng bǎ dōngxi jì dào yuán dìzhǐ.Please send the stuff to the original address.
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