源源 (yuán yuán) — (adverb) in a steady stream; continuously (formal)

Definition

Formal adverb meaning 'in a steady stream' — used almost only in set phrases like 源源不断 and 源源不绝. Not used on its own in ordinary speech.

adverb
in a steady streamcontinuously (formal)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Yóu kè yuán yuán bú duàn dì lái dào zhè ge chéng shì.
    Tourists keep arriving in this city in a steady stream.
  • 源源。
    Jiù zāi wù zī zhèng yuán yuán yùn wǎng zāi qū.
    Relief supplies are being continuously transported to the disaster area.
  • 。
    Zhè tiáo hé de shuǐ yuán yuán bù jué dì liú le shàng qiān nián.
    The water of this river has flowed continuously for over a thousand years.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

源yuánsource
源yuánsource

源 'source' is repeated, suggesting a steady, continuous flow.

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.

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 →

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 →

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