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源泉 (gensen) Japanese meaning: source of a spring | Kotomora

源げん泉せん

げ

ん

せ

ん

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

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

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.

Usage patterns

源げん泉せんが枯かれるfor a spring/source to dry up
この温おん泉せんの源げん泉せんが枯かれてしまった。
The source of this hot spring has dried up.
〈事こと〉の源げん泉せんとなるto become the source/wellspring of something (abstract)
彼かの女じょの努ど力りょくは多おおくの人ひとにとって勇ゆう気きの源げん泉せんとなった。
Her efforts became a source of courage for many people.

Kanji

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

Related words· 6

源みなもとN1sense 2
源 is the common, everyday word for 'source' or 'origin', while 源泉 is more formal and often used in technical, business, or natural-spring contexts.
起き源げんN1sense 2
起源 refers to the historical or evolutionary origin of something, whereas 源泉 suggests a continuous, ongoing wellspring.
由ゆ来らいN2sense 2
由来 emphasizes the historical background or derivation of a thing, while 源泉 focuses on it being an active, sustaining source.
宝ほう庫こ
源泉 means a 'wellspring' or origin of something abstract like emotion or information, while 宝庫 figuratively describes a place, person, or thing overflowing with valuable things.

Show 2 more

水すい源げんN1
源泉 typically refers to the source of a hot spring or to an abstract wellspring (e.g. of inspiration), whereas 水源 is used for ordinary rivers and water supplies.
供きょう給きゅう源げんN1
源泉 emphasizes the fundamental or original wellspring of something (often abstract, like income or tradition), while 供給源 focuses on the practical origin of a supply chain or resource.

Don't confuse with

源げん流りゅう
源泉 refers to a spring or fount (e.g. a hot spring source) rather than the upper course of a river, which is what 源流 describes.

Word family

源げん泉せん税ぜい
withholding tax; tax withheld at source
源げん泉せん徴ちょう収しゅう
tax withholding at source
源げん泉せん課か税ぜい
tax withholding at source
源げん泉せん所しょ得

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%

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.

とく

税ぜい

withholding income tax; income tax withheld at source

国こく内ない源げん泉せん所しょ得とく

domestic source income

源げん泉せんかけ流ながし

free-flowing hot spring water from the source