Definition
来源 (lái yuán) is a general word for 'source' or 'origin', used as both a noun and a verb. Unlike 来自 (lái zì, verb only, 'to come from a place') or 起源 (qǐ yuán, noun/verb, 'origin/beginning of something abstract'), 来源 can refer concretely to the source of a river, information, or a tradition.
noun
sourceorigin
verb
to originate fromto come from
Examples
- 来源。Zhè tiáo hé de lái yuán zài shān shàng.The source of this river is in the mountains.
- 来源？Nǐ zhīdào zhège xìnxī de lái yuán ma?Do you know the source of this information?
- 。Zhège chuántǒng lái yuán yú gǔdài.This tradition originates from ancient times.
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