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Words Kanji Guides About

源泉 (げんせん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

源げん泉せん

げ

ん

せ

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

source of a spring; springhead

Literal source of water, such as a spring or fountainhead. Often used in geographical or natural contexts.

この川かわの源げん泉せんは山やまの中なかにある。
The source of this river is in the mountains.

2

noun

source; origin; wellspring

Figurative source of something abstract, such as knowledge, energy, income, or inspiration. Common in formal and business contexts.

読どく書しょは知ち識しきの源げん泉せんだ。
Reading is a source of knowledge.
彼かれの収しゅう入にゅうの源げん泉せんは投とう資しだ。
His source of income is investments.

Written forms

源げん泉せんUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news word.
原げん泉せんUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
ゲンセンUsage<1%

Kanji

源source, origin
泉spring, fountain
原meadow, original, primitive

Similar words

源みなもと
源 is a more common, everyday word for 'source' or 'origin', while 源泉 is more formal and often used in technical or abstract contexts.
起き源げん
起源 refers specifically to the historical or evolutionary origin of something, whereas 源泉 can be a continuous source or wellspring.

Etymology

Compound of 源 (gen, 'source') and 泉 (sen, 'spring'). The kanji combination directly conveys the idea of a water source, extended metaphorically to any origin or wellspring.