源自 (yuán zì) — to originate from, to stem from | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal written verb meaning 'to originate from / stem from', used for abstract or historical sources (traditions, ideas, cultural phenomena). More literary than 来自, which is the everyday choice for concrete origins like a place or person.

verb

to originate fromto stem from

Examples

源自。
Zhè tiáo hé yuán zì xuě shān.
This river originates from the snowy mountains.
源自。
Zhè ge chuán tǒng yuán zì gǔ dài.
This tradition originates from ancient times.
源自。
Zhè ge xiǎng fǎ yuán zì tā de lǎo shī.
This idea originated from his teacher.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

'源' source + '自' from gives originating from a source.

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Appears in

Cause, Effect & Logic

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