元

source; former; beginning; former time; origin

4 strokes. Taught in grade 2. Newspaper frequency rank 192.

Readings

• もと (kun reading): 元 (もと) origin; 元々 (もともと) originally
• ゲン (on reading): 元気 (げんき) healthy; 紀元前 (きげんぜん) pre-era
• ガン (on reading): 元年 (がんねん) first year (of an imperial era); 元来 (がんらい) originally

Components

• 二
• 儿
• 二 radical two
• 儿 radical legs
• 元 radical origin

Kanji containing 元

• 完 perfect
• 頑 stubborn
• 冠 crown
• 翫 take pleasure in
• 玩 play
• 芫 type of vetch
• 阮 place name
• 冦 foe
• 寇 bandits

Words using 元

• 元 (もと) origin
• 元々 (もともと) originally
• 地元 (じもと) home area
• 元ネタ (もとネタ) original (that was parodied or acted as an inspiration for something else, etc.)
• 足元 (あしもと) at one's feet
• 元気 (げんき) healthy
• 紀元前 (きげんぜん) pre-era
• 次元 (じげん) dimension
• 復元 (ふくげん) restoration (to the original state or location)
• 元和 (げんな) Genna era (1615.7.13-1624.2.30)
• 元年 (がんねん) first year (of an imperial era)
• 元来 (がんらい) originally
• 元祖 (がんそ) originator
• 元慶 (がんぎょう) Gangyō era (877.4.16-885.2.21)
• 元旦 (がんたん) New Year's Day

444 words in all.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists