noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to the very first beginning or origin of something, often in a formal or abstract context. Can be used as a noun or with の to modify another noun.
I am researching the origin of the universe.
We need to investigate the beginnings of this problem.
initial cell; primordial cell
Sino-Japanese compound of 始 (beginning) and 原 (origin, source). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys the idea of the very first origin.