溯源 (sù yuán) — to investigate the origin of something; to trace (a river) upstream to its source

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to trace back to the origin or source' — used for both ideas (cultural roots, historical origins) and rivers. Implies a deliberate scholarly or investigative effort, stronger than the everyday 查 chá.

verb
to investigate the origin of somethingto trace (a river) upstream to its source

Examples

  • 溯源。
    Wǒ men xū yào sù yuán zhè ge wèn tí de gēn yuán.
    We need to trace the root of this problem.
  • 溯源，。
    Kē xué jiā yán hé sù yuán, zhǎo dào le yuán tóu.
    The scientists traced the river upstream and found the source.
  • 溯源。
    Zhè běn shū sù yuán le zhōng guó gǔ dài wén huà de qǐ yuán.
    This book traces the origin of ancient Chinese culture.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

溯sùtrace upstream
源yuánsource

"溯" means to go back upstream and "源" is the source, giving the idea of tracing back to the origin.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
朔
朔shuò溯
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

溯 has 氵 (water) on the left and 朔 on the right; 朔 gives the sound.

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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