beginning, former time, origin

On'yomi
ゲン、ガン
Kun'yomi
もと
Parts
二儿元similar kanji →
JLPT N44 strokesGrade 2#192 most commonU+5143

Stroke order

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

4 strokes · red arrow marks where each stroke ends

Words using 元

  • 一元いちげんsingle element; unitaryN5
  • 一元化いちげんかunification; centralization; centralisationN5
  • 家元いえもとhead of a school (of music, dance); head family of a schoolN5
  • 還元かんげんrestoration; returnN5
  • 紀元きげんeraN5
  • 紀元前きげんぜんpre-era; BC; BCEN5
  • 襟元えりもと(around the) neck; napeN5
  • 元もとorigin; source; beginningN5
  • 元よりもとよりfrom the beginning; from the first; all along; originallyN5
  • 元気げんきlively; full of spirit; energetic; vigorous; vital; spiritedN5
  • 元号げんごうname of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa); Japanese era nameN5
  • 元首げんしゅsovereign; ruler; head of stateN5
  • 元帥げんすい(field) marshal; (fleet) admiral; general of the armyN5
  • 元祖がんそoriginator; pioneer; inventor; founderN5
  • 元旦がんたんNew Year's Day; first day of the yearN5
  • 元日がんじつNew Year's DayN5
  • 元年がんねんfirst year (of an imperial era)N5
  • 元本がんぽんprincipal; capitalN5
  • 元来がんらいoriginally; essentially; naturally; by nature; really; actuallyN5
  • 元老げんろうelder statesman; doyen; old-timer; authorityN5