起源
Meaning in Englishorigin, beginning, source
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
起源 means the origin or source of something—the point at which a thing began or where it comes from in time, space, or development. It is used to describe the starting point of phenomena, events, ideas, cultures, or objects, and is common in analytic, historical, and scientific contexts.
Main meanings
- Origin as the starting point in time, place, or process
- Metaphorical origin, such as the source of a tradition, idea, or phenomenon
- Used in scholarly contexts to trace lineage or development across generations or contexts
How to use it
Used in formal analysis and everyday speech to denote where something began; common phrases include 起源を問う, 起源を辿る, 起源を説明する; it appears in academic papers across history, science, and cultural studies, and in casual conversation to discuss the background of rumors, trends, or personal backgrounds.
Variants and close terms
- 発祥 (はっしょう, hasshō) — origin of traditions or brands
- 発端 (はつたん, hatsutan) — starting point or triggering cause
- 源流 (げんりゅう, genryū) — source or lineage
Composition
- 起 — to rise, begin
- 源 — source, origin
Etymology
Borrowed into Japanese via on'yomi from Chinese readings; the two characters provide ki-gen in Sino-Japanese pronunciation, with 起 contributing the initial syllable and 源 the final syllable.
Origin
The concept of 起源 as a notion of the beginning or source has long appeared in Japanese scholarly and literary discourse, drawing on Chinese philosophical and Buddhist ideas and becoming common in modern science, history, and philosophy.
Word class
noun (名詞)