源

• 読み: みなもと
• ローマ字: minamoto
• 漢字の分解: 源 (minamoto/gen) — source, origin, fountainhead
• 発音: /mi.na.mo.to/

意味

Source; origin; fountainhead. The point where a river begins or where something originates.

A noun with both literal and figurative uses. Literally refers to the source of a river or stream. Figuratively means the origin or root cause of something — similar to English 'source of.' Also a famous Japanese surname (Minamoto clan). Forms compounds like 源流 (genryuu, headwaters) and 語源 (gogen, etymology). The reading みなもと is the native Japanese (kun) reading, while げん (gen) is the Sino-Japanese (on) reading used in compounds.

例文

1. この川の源は山の奥にある。
2. 創造力は芸術の源だと思う。
3. 問題の源をたどると、最初の設計ミスに行き着く。

使い方ガイド

場面: geography, philosophy, literature

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Native Japanese word (wago). Originally み (water) + な (of, possessive) + もと (origin/base). The kanji 源 was later applied, combining 氵(water radical) and 原 (original/plain).

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal