原
meadow, original, primitive, field, plain, prairie, tundra, wilderness
Readings
On'yomi
- ゲン
Kun'yomi
- はら
Nanori
- た
- ばる
- ら
- わた
- わら
Meaning
原 centers on an open, flat expanse of land: a meadow, field, plain, prairie, or tundra. The abstract sense of 'original' or 'primitive' extends naturally from the idea of untouched, wild ground.
Most common words using 原
24 of 632- 原因げんいんN4
cause; origin; source
- 原作げんさくN1
original work
- 原はらN3
field; plain; prairie; tundra; moor; wilderness
- 原発げんぱつ
nuclear power plant; nuclear power generation
- 原則げんそくN1
principle; general rule
- 原子力げんしりょくN1
atomic energy; nuclear power
- 原理げんりN2
principle; theory; fundamental truth
- 原稿げんこうN2
manuscript; copy; draft; notes; contribution
- 原子げんしN1
atom
- 原爆げんばくN1
atomic bomb; A-bomb
- 原料げんりょうN3
raw materials; ingredient
- 原点げんてんN1
starting point; origin; beginning
- 原画げんが
original picture
- 原始げんしN2
origin; beginning; genesis
- 原型げんけい
model; prototype; archetype
- 原告げんこくN1
plaintiff; accuser; prosecutor
- 高原こうげんN1
tableland; plateau
- 原油げんゆN1
crude oil
- 草原そうげんN1
grassy field; grassland; meadow
- 中原ちゅうげん
middle of a field; middle of a country; field of contest
- 桑原くわばら
mulberry field
- 野原のはらN1
field; plain; prairie; moor
- 原文げんぶんN1
original text
- 原価げんか
cost price
Study
Etymology
原 combines 厂 (cliff) with 泉 (spring), suggesting a spring emerging at the base of a cliff, which came to mean an open plain or source. The modern form simplifies the inner 泉 to 白 and 小.
Meaning mnemonic
Under a cliff (厂), a small white (白) spring (小) bubbles up, feeding a wide, untouched meadow. That pristine field is the original, primitive landscape.
Reading mnemonic
For ゲン, imagine a genie rising from the spring in the meadow: genie -> ゲン, and the genie's magic keeps the field wild and original.