meaningbeginning, former time, origin

On'yomi
ゲン、ガン
Kun'yomi
もと
Strokes
4
Taught in
Japanese grade 2
Frequency
#192 most common in newspapers

Where you have seen it

Everyday words with

  • 一元いちげんsingle element
  • 家元いえもとhead of a school (of music, dance)
  • 還元かんげんrestoration
  • 紀元きげんera
  • 元気げんきlively
  • 元号げんごうname of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa)
  • 元首げんしゅsovereign
  • 元帥げんすい(field) marshal