能源 (néng yuán) — energy (as a resource), power source

Definition

能源 means energy as a resource or fuel (oil, wind, solar) that powers a country or industry. Compare 能量 (physics 'energy' / abstract vitality) and 精力 (a person's vigor).

noun
energy (as a resource)power source
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Kāi fā xīn néng yuán shì wèi lái fā zhǎn de guān jiàn.
    Developing new energy sources is key to future development.
  • 能源
    Zhè ge guó jiā quē fá néng yuán, xū yào jìn kǒu.
    This country lacks energy resources and needs to import them.
  • 能源
    Fēng néng yuán shì yì zhǒng kě zài shēng néng yuán.
    Wind energy is a renewable energy source.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

néngenergy
yuánsource

Energy 能 with a source 源 means a place or thing that supplies energy.

Characters in this word

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

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →

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
shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
yuányuán
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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