本源 (běn yuán) — origin, source

Definition

本源 is a formal, abstract noun for the ultimate origin or source of something — more literary than 原因 (the immediate cause) and broader than 起源 (the starting point of a process or event).

noun
originsource

Examples

  • 本源？
    Zhè ge wèn tí de běn yuán shì shén me?
    What is the origin of this problem?
  • 本源。
    Rén lèi yì zhí zài tàn suǒ shēng mìng de běn yuán.
    Humans have always been exploring the origin of life.
  • 本源。
    Wén huà de běn yuán kě yǐ zhuī sù dào jǐ qiān nián qián.
    The origin of culture can be traced back thousands of years.

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.

本běnroot
源yuánsource

本 means root or origin, and 源 means source; together they point to the starting point.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.