元

Meaning

元 centers on the starting point of something: the beginning, the origin, or a former time from which the present developed.

• 元もと
  N2

  origin; source; beginning

• 元気げんき
  N5

  lively; full of spirit; energetic; vigorous; vital; spirited

• 地元じもと
  N2

  home area; home town

• 次元じげん
  N1

  dimension

• 元々もともと
  N3

  originally; from the start; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature

• 還元かんげん
  N1

  restoration; return

• 足元あしもと
  N2

  at one's feet; underfoot; one's step (as in "watch your step")

• 手元てもと
  N1

  at hand; on hand; nearby; close at hand

• 復元ふくげん

  restoration (to the original state or location); reconstruction; restitution

• 元祖がんそ

  originator; pioneer; inventor; founder

• 身元みもと
  N1

  (one's) identity; background; upbringing; birth (and parentage)

• 元年がんねん
  N1

  first year (of an imperial era)

• 元号げんごう
  N1

  name of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa); Japanese era name

• 元帥げんすい

  (field) marshal; (fleet) admiral; general of the army

• 元老げんろう

  elder statesman; doyen; old-timer; authority

• 元素げんそ
  N1

  element; chemical element

• 紀元前きげんぜん

  pre-era; BC; BCE

• 中元ちゅうげん

  15th day of the 7th lunar month; (last day of) Bon lantern festival

• 元凶げんきょう

  ringleader; main culprit

• 元よりもとより
  N1

  from the beginning; from the first; all along; originally

• 耳元みみもと
  N1

  close to the ear

• 元来がんらい
  N1

  originally; essentially; naturally; by nature; really; actually

• 元旦がんたん
  N3

  New Year's Day; first day of the year

• 元首げんしゅ
  N1

  sovereign; ruler; head of state

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