元

See also: 兀, 示, and 亓

元 U+5143, 元 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5143 ← 兂 [U+5142] CJK Unified Ideographs 兄 → [U+5144]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

元 (Kangxi radical 10, 儿+2, 4 strokes, cangjie input 一一山 (MMU), four-corner 1021₁, composition ⿱一兀 or ⿱二儿)

Derived characters

• 㐾 𠰂 坃 妧 岏 忨 抏 沅 远 阮 朊 杬 玩 䏓 盶 𦨞 蚖 𠒑 䛃 貦 䡇 酛 鈨 䬧 䯈 魭 翫
• 刓 𠠺 㝴 邧 㪴 㒬 兘 㒮 頑(顽) 䲮
• 坖 䲶 黿(鼋)
• 完 芫 笎 䦎 䨌 髨
• 园 衏
• 㓂 冦 宼 寇 窛 𢒎 𠖈 𠖝 𠖤 𠖨

References

• KangXi: page 123, character 6
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 1340
• Dae Jaweon: page 258, character 3
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 264, character 6
• Unihan data for U+5143

Further reading

• 元 on Wikidata.Wikidata

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Chinese

simp. and trad.		元

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 元
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts
Oracle bone script j00003 j00004 j00005 j00006 j00007 j00008 j00009 j00010 j00011 j00012 j00013 j00014 Bronze inscriptions b00016 b00017 b00018 b00019 b00020 b00021 b00022 b00023 b00024 b00025 b00026 b00027 b00028 b00029 b00030 b00031 b00032 b00033 b00034 b00035 b00036 b00037 b00038 b00039 b00040 b00041 b00042 b00043 b00044 b00045 b00046 b00047 b00048 b00049 b00050 b00051 b00052 Small seal script s00003 Transcribed ancient scripts L32110 L32111 L32112 L32113 L32114 L07440 L07442 L07443 L07444 L07445 L07446 L07447 L07448 L07449 L07450 L07451 L07452 L07453 L07454
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (元) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
冠	*kŋoːn, *kŋoːns
莞	*kŋoːn, *ɦŋoːn, *ɦŋroːnʔ
脘	*ŋkoːnʔ
筦	*ŋkoːnʔ
梡	*ŋ̊ʰoːnʔ, *ɦŋoːn, *ɦŋoːnʔ
岏	*ŋoːn
刓	*ŋoːn
园	*ŋoːn
忨	*ŋoːn, *ŋoːns
蚖	*ŋoːn, *ŋon
黿	*ŋoːn, *ŋon
抏	*ŋoːn
玩	*ŋoːns
貦	*ŋoːns
翫	*ŋoːns
妧	*ŋoːns
完	*ɦŋoːn
捖	*ɦŋoːn
垸	*ɦŋoːn, *ɦŋoːns
綄	*ɦŋoːn, *ɦŋoːnʔ
院	*ɦŋoːn, *ɦŋons
皖	*ɦŋoːnʔ, *ɦŋroːnʔ
晥	*ɦŋoːnʔ
浣	*ɦŋoːnʔ
頑	*ŋroːn, *ŋroːn
睆	*ɦŋroːnʔ
鯇	*ɦŋroːnʔ
元	*ŋon
沅	*ŋon
芫	*ŋon
杬	*ŋon
邧	*ŋon, *ŋonʔ
阮	*ŋon, *ŋonʔ
俒	*ɦŋuːn, *ɦŋuːns

Pictogram (象形) – a figure with two lines 二 for a head (one connected to body, one above it), emphasizing the head.

Etymology 1

Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m/s-gaw (“head”), with a noun-forming suffix *-n (Schuessler, 2003; STEDT). If so, cognate with 后 (OC *ɡoːʔ, “ruler; lord; queen”), Tibetan མགོ (mgo, “head; summit; beginning”), མགོན (mgon, “protector; master; lord”), Garo sko (“skull”), Northern Tujia kho⁵⁵ pa⁵⁵ (“head”) (Schuessler, 2007; STEDT). 原 (OC *ŋʷan, “source; origin; basic; primary”) and 黿 (OC *ŋoːn, *ŋon, “large turtle”) may be the same word (Schuessler, 2007). It may also be related to 君 (OC *klun, “lord; prince; ruler”), 尹 (OC *ɢʷlinʔ, “magistrate; governor”), 侯 (OC *ɡoː, “marquis”) (Mei, 1985).

The name of the dynasty comes from the I Ching:

大哉乾元，萬物資始，乃統天。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]

---

大哉干元，万物资始，乃统天。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: I Ching, 11^th – 8^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Dà zāi qián yuán, wànwù zī shǐ, nǎi tǒng tiān. [Pinyin]

Vast is the ‘great and originating (power)’ indicated by Qian! All things owe to it their beginning: - it contains all the meaning belonging to (the name) heaven.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): yuán (yuan²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄩㄢˊ

  (Chengdu, SP): yuan²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): йүан (yüan, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou, Jyutping): jyun⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): ngun³

• Gan (Wiktionary): nyyon⁴ / yon⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): ngièn / ngiàn

  (Meixian, Guangdong): ngian²

• Jin (Wiktionary): ye¹
• Min Bei (KCR): ngṳ̂ing
• Min Dong (BUC): nguòng
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): goân

  (Teochew, Peng'im): nguang⁵ / nguêng⁵ / ngang⁵

• Wu (Wiktionary): nyoe (T3); hhyoe (T3)
• Xiang (Wiktionary): yenn²

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: yuán
    • Zhuyin: ㄩㄢˊ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yuan
    • Tongyong Pinyin: yuán
    • Wade–Giles: yüan2
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɥɛn³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: yuan²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: uan
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /yan²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: йүан (yüan, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /yæ̃²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: jyun⁴
    • Yale: yùhn
    • Cantonese Pinyin: jyn⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: yun⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /jyːn²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: ngun³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵑɡun²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: nyyon⁴ / yon⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲyɵn³⁵/, /yɵn³⁵/

Note:

• nyyon4 - vernacular;
• yon4 - literary.

Hakka

• (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
  • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngièn
  • Hakka Romanization System: ngienˇ
  • Hagfa Pinyim: ngian²
  • Sinological IPA: /ɲi̯en¹¹/
• (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
  • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngiàn
  • Hakka Romanization System: ngianˇ
  • Hagfa Pinyim: ngian²
  • Sinological IPA: /ɲi̯an¹¹/
• (Meixian)
  • Guangdong: ngian²
  • Sinological IPA: /ɲian¹¹/

Jin

• (Taiyuan)⁺
  • Wiktionary: ye¹
  • Sinological IPA (old-style): /ye¹¹/

Min Bei

• (Jian'ou)
  • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ngṳ̂ing
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋyiŋ³³/

Min Dong

• (Fuzhou)
  • Bàng-uâ-cê: nguòng
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋuoŋ⁵³/

Min Nan

• (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Zhangpu, General Taiwanese)
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: goân
  • Tâi-lô: guân
  • Phofsit Daibuun: goaan
  • IPA (Zhangpu): /ɡuan²¹³/
  • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /ɡuan²⁴/
  • IPA (Zhangzhou): /ɡuan¹³/
  • IPA (Kaohsiung): /ɡuan²³/
• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: nguang⁵ / nguêng⁵ / ngang⁵
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: nguâng / nguêng / ngâng
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋuaŋ⁵⁵/, /ŋueŋ⁵⁵/, /ŋaŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

• nguang5 - Shantou;
• nguêng5 - Chaozhou;
• ngang5 - used in 開元.

Wu

• (Shanghainese)
  • Wiktionary: nyoe (T3); hhyoe (T3)
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲø²³/, /ɦyø²³/

Note:

• 3nyoe - vernacular;
• 3hhyoe - literary.

Xiang

• (Changsha)
  • Wiktionary: yenn²
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /yẽ¹³/

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• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 元
Mandarin	Beijing	/yan³⁵/
	Harbin	/yan²⁴/
	Tianjin	/yan⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/yã⁴²/
	Qingdao	/yã⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/yan⁴²/
	Xi'an	/yã²⁴/
	Xining	/yã²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/yan⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/yɛ̃n⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/yan⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/yɛn²¹³/
	Chengdu	/yan³¹/
	Guiyang	/ian²¹/
	Kunming	/iɛ̃³¹/
	Nanjing	/yen²⁴/
	Hefei	/yĩ⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/ye¹¹/
	Pingyao	/ye̞¹³/
	Hohhot	/ye³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ȵyø²³/ /ɦyø²³/
	Suzhou	/ɦiø¹³/
	Hangzhou	/ɦyõ²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ȵy³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/ue⁴⁴/
	Tunxi	/ȵyɛ⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/yẽ¹³/
	Xiangtan	/yẽ¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/ȵyɵn⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/ŋian¹¹/
	Taoyuan	/ŋien¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/jyn²¹/
	Nanning	/yn²¹/
	Hong Kong	/jyn²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/guan³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/ŋuoŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/ŋyiŋ³³/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/ŋuaŋ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/zuaŋ³¹/

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• Middle Chinese: /ŋʉɐn/

Rime
Character	元
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	疑 (31)
Final (韻)	元 (66)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	愚袁切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ŋʉɐn/
Pan Wuyun	/ŋʷiɐn/
Shao Rongfen	/ŋiuɐn/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ŋuan/
Li Rong	/ŋiuɐn/
Wang Li	/ŋĭwɐn/
Bernard Karlgren	/ŋi̯wɐn/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yuán
Expected Cantonese Reflex	jyun4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[ŋ]o[r]/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ŋon/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	元
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	yuán
Middle Chinese	‹ ngjwon ›
Old Chinese	/*[ŋ]o[r]/ (< nasal + uvular)
English	head; first
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	元
Reading #	1/1
No.	16145
Phonetic component	元
Rime group	元
Rime subdivision	3
Corresponding MC rime	元
Old Chinese	/*ŋon/

Definitions

元

1. ^† head

   • 狄人歸元，三軍悽愴。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     狄人归元，三军凄怆。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 578, Yu Xin, The Lament for the South (《哀江南賦》)

     Dí rén guī yuán, sānjūn qīchuàng. [Pinyin]

     The barbaric enemy returned his decapitated head, and every soldier grieved in deep sorrow.

2. first; primary; head; chief
3. basic; fundamental
4. origin; source

   Synonym: 原 (yuán)

5. meta-
6. Classifier for yuan or dollars.
7. (mathematics) variable; unknown; element

   消元法  ―  xiāoyuánfǎ  ―  method of elimination (literally, “method of eliminating matrix elements”)

   立天元一 [Classical Chinese]  ―  lì tiānyuán yī [Pinyin]  ―  Let x be the unknown variable in the equation.

   主元  ―  zhǔyuán  ―  pivot

8. (mathematics) element (an infinitesimal interval of a quantity, a differential)

   線元 / 线元  ―  xiànyuán  ―  line element

9. (～朝) Yuan Dynasty

   元曲  ―  yuánqū  ―  Yuan dynasty theater

10. (～日) (telegraphy) the thirteenth day of a month
11. a surname

    元好問 / 元好问  ―  Yuán Hàowèn  ―  Yuan Haowen (Jin dynasty poet)

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 頭 (“head”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		首, 元, 頭, 元首
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		頭, 頭部, 頭顱, 頭腦
Mandarin	Beijing	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦袋瓜子, 腦殼兒, 腦殼, 腦瓜兒, 腦瓜子, 老屋子
	Taiwan	頭, 腦袋
	Tianjin	頭, 腦袋, 腦瓜子, 腦瓜兒, 腦袋瓜子, 腦袋瓜兒
	Chengde	頭, 腦袋瓜兒
	Tangshan	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦瓜兒
	Cangzhou	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦殼兒
	Baoding	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Shijiazhuang	頭, 腦袋
	Ulanhot	腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Tongliao	腦袋
	Chifeng	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Bayanhot	頭, 腦袋
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Heihe	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦瓜兒, 腦瓜子
	Qiqihar	頭, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦瓜兒
	Harbin	頭, 腦殼兒, 腦殼子, 腦子, 腦瓜兒, 腦瓜子, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦袋瓜子
	Jiamusi	頭, 腦瓜兒, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Baicheng	頭, 腦瓜兒, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Changchun	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Tonghua	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Shenyang	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Dandong	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Jinzhou	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Dalian	頭
	Yantai	頭
	Muping	頭, 腦袋瓜子 derogatory
	Qingdao	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Lijin	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Zhucheng	頭
	Jinan	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子, 腦瓜子, 腦瓜兒
	Jining	頭
	Luoyang	頭, 低腦
	Wanrong	得腦
	Shangqiu	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦瓜兒
	Yuanyang	頭, 腦袋, 腦瓜兒
	Zhengzhou	頭, 腦袋
	Kaifeng	腦袋
	Lingbao	頭
	Xinyang	頭
	Baihe	頭, 腦袋, 腦瓜兒
	Hanzhong	頭, 腦袋, 腦殼
	Xi'an	𦠿, 頭, 腦袋, 脊囊
	Baoji	頭, 多腦
	Yinchuan	頭
	Tianshui	頭, 多腦
	Lanzhou	頭, 頭蛋骨, 得勒 derogatory
	Dunhuang	頭, 腦瓜子, 腦勺, 腦勺殼子
	Xining	頭, 腦袋, 朵落
	Hami	頭, 腦袋
	Ürümqi	頭, 腦瓜子
	Ürümqi (Xigou)	頭
	Ürümqi (Changshanzi)	頭
	Wuhan	頭, 腦殼, 腦瓜子
	Yichang	腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Xiangyang	頭, 腦袋, 腦殼
	Tianmen	頭, 腦袋, 腦殼
	Hong'an	頭, 腦殼, 腦袋
	Chengdu	腦殼
	Nanchong	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Dazhou	腦殼
	Hanyuan	腦殼
	Xichang	腦殼, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒
	Zigong	頭, 腦殼
	Chongqing	腦殼, 沙罐兒
Guiyang	腦殼
Zunyi	腦袋, 腦殼兒
Bijie	腦殼
Liping	腦袋, 腦殼
Zhaotong	腦殼
Dali	腦殼
Kunming	頭, 腦殼, 腦袋
Mengzi	頭, 腦殼
Guilin	頭, 腦殼
Liuzhou	頭, 頭殼, 腦殼
Tianlin (Langping)	腦殼
Jishou	頭, 腦殼
Changde	腦殼
Anqing	頭, 腦袋瓜
Xuzhou	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子, 棗木 dated, humorous
Fuyang	頭, 腦袋
Wuhu	頭
Yangzhou	頭
Lianyungang	頭
Lianshui	頭, 腦袋瓜子
Xinghua	頭
Nanjing	頭, 頭兒
Hefei	頭
Nantong	頭
Singapore	頭
Mae Salong (Lancang)	頭, 腦袋
Mae Sai (Tengchong)	頭, 腦袋
Olginsky (Mikhaylovka)	腦袋
Cantonese	Guangzhou	頭, 頭殼
	Hong Kong	頭, 頭殼
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	頭殼
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	頭殼
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	頭
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	頭
	Macau	頭
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	頭, 頭殼
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	頭
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	頭
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	頭, 頭殼
	Foshan	頭, 頭殼
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	頭
	Foshan (Shunde)	頭
	Foshan (Sanshui)	頭殼
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	頭
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	頭
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	頭
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	頭
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	頭, 頭殼
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	頭
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	頭
	Taishan	頭
	Kaiping (Chikan)	頭
	Enping (Niujiang)	頭
	Heshan (Yayao)	頭
	Dongguan	腦殼, 頭
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	頭殼
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	頭
	Qingyuan	頭
	Fogang	頭
	Yingde (Hanguang)	頭殼
	Yangshan	頭
	Lianshan (Butian)	頭
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	頭
	Shaoguan	頭, 頭殼
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	頭
	Renhua	頭乸殼
	Lechang	頭
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	頭
	Sihui	頭
	Guangning	頭
	Deqing	頭
	Huaiji	頭, 羅殼
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	頭
	Yunfu	頭, 頭殼
	Xinxing	頭, 頭殼
	Luoding	頭
	Yunan (Pingtai)	頭
	Yangjiang	頭殼
	Xinyi	頭, 頭殼
	Maoming (Xinpo)	頭, 頭殼
	Lianjiang	頭, 頭殼
	Wuchuan (Wuyang)	頭
	Nanning	頭, 頭殼
	Wuzhou	頭
	Yulin	頭, 頭殼
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	頭殼
	Hepu (Shatian)	頭骨
	Guiping	頭
	Mengshan (Xihe)	頭
	Guigang (Nanjiang)	頭
	Baise	頭
	Bobai	頭
Lingshan	頭
Pubei	頭
Qinzhou	頭
Beihai	頭
Beihai (Nankang)	頭殼
Beihai (Yingpan)	頭殼
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	頭
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	頭
Ningming	頭
Hengxian	頭
Hezhou (Pumen)	頭
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	頭
Sanya (Yanglan Maihua)	頭
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	頭
Singapore (Guangfu)	頭
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	頭
Móng Cái	頭
Gan	Nanchang	頭, 腦蓋
	Lichuan	頭, 腦
	Pingxiang	腦殼
Hakka	Meixian	頭那
	Xingning	頭那
	Dabu (Xihe)	頭那
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	頭, 頭那, 頭殼
	Huizhou (Shuikou Bendihua)	頭那, 頭
	Huizhou (Hengli Bendihua)	頭那, 頭
	Huiyang	頭那
	Huidong (Pingshan Bendihua)	頭那, 頭
	Huidong (Daling)	頭那
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	頭那
	Longmen (Pingling Bendihua)	頭那
	Longmen (Luxi Bendihua)	頭那, 頭
	Boluo (Bendihua)	頭, 那殼
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	頭那
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	頭
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	頭那
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	頭那, 頭
	Wuhua (Changbu)	頭那
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	頭那
	Wuhua (Meilin)	頭那
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	頭, 頭那
	Zijin (Guzhu Bendihua)	頭那
	Longchuan (Tuocheng Bendihua)	頭, 頭那
	Longchuan (Sidu Bendihua)	頭那
	Heping (Linzhai Bendihua)	頭那
	Lianping (Zhongxin Bendihua)	頭那
	Lianping (Longjie Bendihua)	頭, 頭那
	Wengyuan	頭那
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	頭那
	Xinfeng (Matou Bendihua)	頭, 頭那
	Xinfeng (Daxi Bendihua)	頭那, 頭
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	頭那
	Liannan	頭
	Conghua (Lütian)	頭
	Jiexi	頭那
	Luhe	頭那
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	頭那
	Changting	頭那
	Wuping	頭那
	Wuping (Yanqian)	頭那
	Wuping (Pingyu)	頭那
	Liancheng	頭那
	Ninghua	腦殼
	Yudu	頭, 腦蓋, 腦殼
	Ningdu	腦蓋
	Ruijin	腦蓋, 頭那殼
	Shicheng	腦蓋, 腦殼
	Shangyou (Shexi)	腦蓋
	Tonggu (Sandu)	頭那
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	腦蓋
	Dayu	腦骨窠
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	頭那
	Pingtung (Neipu, S. Sixian)	頭那
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong, Hailu)	頭那
	Taichung (Dongshi, Dabu)	頭那
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin, Raoping)	頭那
	Yunlin (Lunbei, Zhao'an)	頭那
	Hong Kong	頭那
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	頭
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	頭殼
	Xinyi (Sihe)	頭
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	頭
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	頭, 頭殼
	Dianbai (Shalang)	頭殼
Huazhou (Xin'an)	頭殼
Lianjiang (Shijiao)	頭殼
Lianjiang (Qingping)	頭殼
Mengshan (Xihe)	頭腦
Luchuan	頭殼
Luchuan (Daqiao)	頭
Bobai (Shahe)	頭, 頭殼
Beiliu (Tang'an)	頭那
Mashan (Pianlian)	頭那
Sabah (Longchuan)	頭那
Kuala Lumpur (Dabu)	頭那
Senai (Huiyang)	頭那
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)	頭
Singkawang	頭那
Singapore (Meixian)	頭那
Singapore (Dabu)	頭那
Huizhou	Jixi	頭, 腦殼
	Shexian	頭, 頭腦殼
Jin	Taiyuan	得腦, 頭, 腦袋, 乾骷髏 derogatory, 骷髏 derogatory
	Pingyao	得腦
	Yangyuan	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦瓜兒
	Datong	頭, 腦袋
	Xinzhou	得腦, 頭, 腦袋
	Lishi	腦袋, 腦袋瓜兒, 腦
	Linfen	得腦
	Changzhi	頭, 腦袋, 得腦
	Taibus (Baochang)	頭
	Linhe	頭, 腦袋, 得腦
	Jining	頭, 腦袋
	Hohhot	頭, 腦袋, 得腦
	Baotou	腦袋
	Dongsheng	頭
	Haibowan	腦袋
	Erenhot	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Pingshan	頭, 腦袋瓜兒
	Zhangjiakou	頭, 腦袋
	Handan	頭, 腦袋, 腦袋瓜子
	Linzhou	頭, 得腦哦
	Suide	頭, 腦
Min Bei	Jian'ou	頭
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	頭
	Songxi	頭
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	頭
	Jianyang	頭
	Wuyishan	腦殼
	Pucheng (Shibei)	頭
Min Dong	Fuzhou	頭, 頭腦, 頭首
	Lianjiang	頭
	Fuqing	頭
	Gutian	頭
	Pingnan	頭
	Fu'an	頭
	Ningde	頭子
	Xiapu	頭
	Shouning	頭
	Zhouning	頭
	Fuding	頭
	Matsu	頭, 頭首
Min Nan	Xiamen	頭, 頭殼
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	頭殼
	Quanzhou	頭, 頭殼
	Jinjiang	頭殼
	Hui'an	頭殼
	Anxi	頭殼
	Yongchun	頭殼
	Dehua	頭殼
	Zhangzhou	頭, 頭殼
	Zhangzhou (Longhai)	頭殼
	Hua'an	頭殼
	Pinghe	頭殼
	Zhangpu	頭殼
	Yunxiao	頭碗
	Zhao'an	頭殼
	Dongshan	頭
	Taipei	頭, 頭殼
	Taipei (Wanhua)	頭殼
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	頭, 頭殼
	Kaohsiung	頭, 頭殼
	Yilan	頭, 頭殼
	Changhua (Lukang)	頭, 頭殼
	Taichung	頭殼
	Taichung (Wuqi)	頭殼
	Tainan	頭, 頭殼
	Taitung	頭殼
	Hsinchu	頭殼
	Kinmen	頭殼
	Penghu (Magong)	頭殼
	Penang (Hokkien)	頭, 頭殼
	Singapore (Hokkien)	頭, 頭殼
	Manila (Hokkien)	頭, 頭殼
	Longyan	頭殼
	Datian	頭殼
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	頭
	Chaozhou	頭殼
	Shantou	頭殼, 頭, 腦殼
	Shantou (Chenghai)	頭殼
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	頭, 頭殼
	Jieyang	頭, 頭殼
	Lufeng	頭殼
	Haifeng	頭, 頭殼, 頭殼顱
	Bangkok (Teochew)	頭
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	頭
	Singapore (Teochew)	頭
	Leizhou	頭, 頭顱, 殼升
	Wenchang	頭
	Haikou	頭顱, 頭殼
	Qionghai	頭, 頭顱
Puxian Min	Putian	頭
	Xianyou	頭
	Fuding (Aoyao)	頭殼
Min Zhong	Yong'an	頭殼, 頭
	Sanyuan	頭殼
	Shaxian	頭殼
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	頭殼
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	頭, 頭殼
	Nanning (Xinxu)	頭
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	頭
Wu	Shanghai	頭, 腦袋, 頭骷顱, 骷顱頭 often derogatory, 骷郎頭 often derogatory
	Shanghai (Chongming)	頭爿
	Suzhou	頭, 骷郎頭, 六斤四兩
	Danyang	頭, 腦袋瓜, 頭骷郎
	Hangzhou	頭, 腦頭瓜
	Ningbo	骷顱頭, 骷郎頭, 頭, 骷顱頭甏 derogatory, 骷顱頭瓶 derogatory, 六斤四兩 humorous
	Wenzhou	頭, 六斤四 secret
	Jinhua	頭, 葫粒頭 humorous
Xiang	Changsha	腦殼
	Xiangxiang	腦殼
	Loudi	腦殼
	Shuangfeng	腦殼
	Jiangyong	腦牯
	Quanzhou	腦殼

Dialectal synonyms of 元 (“yuan; dollar”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		圓, 元
Mandarin	Beijing	塊
	Taiwan	塊
	Harbin	塊
	Muping	塊
	Jinan	塊
	Luoyang	塊
	Wanrong	塊
	Xi'an	塊
	Yinchuan	塊
	Lanzhou	塊
	Xining	塊
	Ürümqi	塊
	Wuhan	塊
	Chengdu	塊
	Guiyang	塊
	Guilin	塊
	Liuzhou	塊
	Nanning (Wuming)	塊
	Shanglin (Sanli)	塊
	Xuzhou	塊
	Yangzhou	塊
	Nanjing	塊
	Hefei	塊
	Malaysia	塊
	Singapore	塊
Cantonese	Guangzhou	蚊, 蚊雞, 雞士, 個, 銀
	Hong Kong	蚊, 蚊雞, 雞士, 個, 銀
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	蚊
	Macau	蚊
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	蚊
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	蚊
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	蚊
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	蚊
	Foshan	蚊
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	文
	Foshan (Shunde)	蚊
	Foshan (Sanshui)	蚊雞
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	蚊雞
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	蚊
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	蚊
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	蚊
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	蚊
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	蚊
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	蚊
	Taishan	蚊
	Kaiping (Chikan)	蚊
	Enping (Niujiang)	蚊
	Heshan (Yayao)	蚊
	Dongguan	蚊, 蚊雞
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	蚊
	Qingyuan	蚊
	Fogang	蚊
	Yingde (Hanguang)	蚊
	Yangshan	蚊
	Lianshan (Butian)	蚊
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	蚊
	Shaoguan	蚊
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	蚊
	Renhua	蚊雞
	Lechang	蚊
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	蚊
	Sihui	蚊雞
	Deqing	蚊
	Huaiji	蚊
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	蚊
	Yunfu	蚊
	Xinxing	蚊
	Luoding	蚊
	Yunan (Pingtai)	蚊
	Yangjiang	蚊, 個
	Lianjiang	蚊
	Nanning	蚊
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	蚊
	Qinzhou	蚊
	Beihai	蚊
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	蚊
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	蚊
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	蚊
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	箍, 蚊
	Penang (Guangfu)	蚊
	Singapore (Guangfu)	蚊, 箍
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	蚊
	Móng Cái	蚊
Gan	Nanchang	塊
	Lichuan	塊
	Pingxiang	塊
Hakka	Meixian	塊
	Yudu	塊
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	個
	Pingtung (Neipu, S. Sixian)	個
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong, Hailu)	個
	Taichung (Dongshi, Dabu)	個
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin, Raoping)	個
	Yunlin (Lunbei, Zhao'an)	銀, 箍
	Hong Kong	塊, 蚊
	Sabah (Longchuan)	箍
	Senai (Huiyang)	箍
	Kuching (Hepo)	箍
	Singkawang	盾
Huizhou	Jixi	塊
Jin	Taiyuan	塊
	Xinzhou	塊
Min Bei	Jian'ou	塊
	Pucheng (Shibei)	塊
Min Dong	Fuzhou	塊
	Fuqing	塊
	Matsu	塊
Min Nan	Xiamen	箍
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	箍
	Quanzhou	箍
	Shishi	箍
	Zhangzhou	箍
	Zhao'an	箍
	Dongshan	箍
	Taipei	箍
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	箍
	Kaohsiung	箍
	Yilan	箍
	Changhua (Lukang)	箍
	Taichung	箍
	Tainan	箍
	Hsinchu	箍
	Kinmen	箍
	Penghu (Magong)	箍
	Penang (Hokkien)	箍
	Singapore (Hokkien)	箍
	Manila (Hokkien)	箍
	Chaozhou	銀, 箍, 個, 個銀
	Shantou	銀, 個, 箍 dated, 個銀
	Shantou (Chenghai)	銀
	Jieyang	個, 個銀
	Haifeng	個銀
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	箍
	Singapore (Teochew)	箍, 個銀
	Leizhou	個
	Wenchang	銀, 個
	Haikou	個銀, 銀
	Qionghai	銀
	Singapore (Hainanese)	箍
Puxian Min	Putian	個
	Xianyou	個
Zhongshan Min	Sanxiang	蚊
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	蚊, 蚊雞
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	塊
Wu	Shanghai	塊
	Shanghai (Chongming)	塊
	Suzhou	塊
	Danyang	塊
	Hangzhou	塊
	Wenzhou	個
	Jinhua	塊
Xiang	Changsha	塊
	Loudi	塊
	Shuangfeng	塊
	Quanzhou	塊

See also

Dynasties (朝代) in Chinese history
Name	Time period	Divisions
Xia 夏 (～朝, ～代)	2070 – 1600 B.C.E.
Shang 商 (～朝, ～代) 殷 (～朝, ～代)	1600 – 1046 B.C.E.
Zhou 周 (～朝, ～代)	1046 – 256 B.C.E.	Western Zhou 西周
		Eastern Zhou 東周／东周	Spring and Autumn period 春秋
			Warring States period 戰國／战国
Qin 秦 (～朝, ～代)	221 – 206 B.C.E.
Han 漢／汉 (～朝, ～代)	206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.	Western Han 西漢／西汉
		Xin 新 (～朝)
		Eastern Han 東漢／东汉
Three Kingdoms 三國／三国	220 – 280 C.E.	Wei 魏
		Shu 蜀
		Wu 吳／吴
Jin 晉／晋 (～朝, ～代)	265 – 420 C.E.	Western Jin 西晉／西晋
		Eastern Jin 東晉／东晋
Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝	420 – 589 C.E.	Northern dynasties 北朝	Northern Wei 北魏
			Western Wei 西魏
			Eastern Wei 東魏／东魏
			Northern Zhou 北周
			Northern Qi 北齊／北齐
		Southern dynasties 南朝	Liu Song 劉宋／刘宋
			Southern Qi 南齊／南齐
			Liang 梁 (～朝, ～代)
			Chen 陳／陈 (～朝, ～代)
Sui 隋 (～朝, ～代)	581 – 618 C.E.
Tang 唐 (～朝, ～代)	618 – 907 C.E.
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 五代十國／五代十国	907 – 960 C.E.
Liao 遼／辽 (～朝, ～代)	907 – 1125 C.E.
Song 宋 (～朝, ～代)	960 – 1279 C.E.	Northern Song 北宋
		Southern Song 南宋
Western Xia 西夏	1038 – 1227 C.E.
Jin 金 (～朝, ～代)	1115 – 1234 C.E.
Western Liao 西遼／西辽	1124 – 1218 C.E.
Yuan 元 (～朝, ～代)	1271 – 1368 C.E.
Ming 明 (～朝, ～代)	1368 – 1644 C.E.
Qing 清 (～朝, ～代)	1636 – 1912 C.E.

Compounds

Derived terms from 元

• 一元 (yīyuán)
• 一元化 (yīyuánhuà)
• 一元大武
• 一元酸 (yīyuánsuān)
• 七元
• 三元 (sānyuán)
• 三元及第
• 三元合金
• 三朝元老 (sāncháoyuánlǎo)
• 上元 (Shàngyuán)
• 下元
• 中元 (zhōngyuán)
• 中元普渡
• 主元音
• 二元酸
• 位元 (wèiyuán)
• 低元音
• 元件 (yuánjiàn)
• 元元
• 元元本本
• 元功
• 元化
• 元史
• 元君
• 元命
• 元和
• 元四大家
• 元因
• 元士
• 元夜
• 元妃 (yuánfēi)
• 元始
• 元始天尊
• 元子
• 元宰
• 元宵 (yuánxiāo)
• 元尚篇
• 元年 (yuánnián)
• 元戎
• 元日 (yuánrì)
• 元旦 (yuándàn)
• 元曲 (yuánqǔ)
• 元月 (Yuányuè)
• 元服
• 元朝 (Yuáncháo)
• 元本 (yuánběn)
• 元生代
• 元白
• 元神
• 元稹
• 元精
• 元素 (yuánsù)
• 元老 (yuánlǎo)
• 元老院 (yuánlǎoyuàn)
• 元色 (yuánsè)
• 元辰
• 元配
• 元音 (yuányīn)
• 元首 (yuánshǒu)
• 八元
• 公元 (gōngyuán)
• 前元音
• 半低元音
• 半元音 (bànyuányīn)
• 半合元音
• 半高元音
• 南元
• 合口元音
• 合金元素
• 坤元
• 多元化 (duōyuánhuà)
• 多元性
• 大三元 (dàsānyuán)
• 大春元
• 大秋元
• 天元 (Tiānyuán)
• 太元 (Tàiyuán)
• 央元音 (yāngyuányīn)

• 字元 (zìyuán)
• 尖元音
• 微量元素 (wēiliàng yuánsù)
• 戴表元
• 改元 (gǎiyuán)
• 新元史
• 易元吉
• 未知元
• 案元
• 殿元
• 汪元量
• 油元
• 泰元
• 混元
• 省元
• 真元
• 稀土元素 (xītǔ yuánsù)
• 美元 (měiyuán)
• 舌尖元音
• 舌面元音
• 茶元 (Cháyuán)
• 蒙元 (Méngyuán)
• 西元 (xīyuán)
• 解元 (jièyuán)
• 重元素
• 阮元
• 降元音
• 高元音
• 黎元 (líyuán)
• 黎元洪
• 鼎元
• 鼎元之分
• 鼻化元音 (bíhuà yuányīn)
• 元凶 (yuánxiōng)
• 元后
• 一元復始／一元复始 (yīyuánfùshǐ)
• 一元論／一元论 (yīyuánlùn)
• 上元節／上元节 (Shàngyuánjié)
• 下元節／下元节
• 中元節／中元节 (zhōngyuánjié)
• 中狀元／中状元
• 乾元／干元
• 二元論／二元论 (èryuánlùn)
• 二元運算／二元运算
• 五燈會元／五灯会元
• 亞元／亚元
• 位元組／位元组 (wèiyuánzǔ)
• 住宅單元／住宅单元
• 傷元氣／伤元气
• 元勛／元勋 (yuánxūn)
• 元勳／元勋
• 元和腳／元和脚
• 元和體／元和体
• 元宵節／元宵节 (yuánxiāojié)
• 元寶／元宝 (yuánbǎo)
• 元寶楓／元宝枫
• 元帥／元帅 (yuánshuài)
• 元惡／元恶 (yuán'è)
• 元惡大奸／元恶大奸
• 元惡大憝／元恶大憝
• 元智大學／元智大学
• 元書紙／元书纸
• 元會／元会
• 元氣／元气 (yuánqì)
• 元燈／元灯
• 元祕史／元秘史
• 元素符號／元素符号
• 元結／元结
• 元緒／元绪
• 元聖／元圣
• 元謀／元谋 (Yuánmóu)
• 元謀猿人／元谋猿人
• 元陽／元阳 (Yuányáng)
• 元雜劇／元杂剧
• 元魚／元鱼
• 元麥／元麦
• 元龍高臥／元龙高卧
• 光電元件／光电元件

• 冊府元龜／册府元龟
• 分渾元／分浑元
• 包元兒／包元儿
• 化學元素／化学元素 (huàxué yuánsù)
• 半閉元音／半闭元音
• 半開元音／半开元音
• 協元／协元 (Xiéyuán)
• 喪元／丧元
• 單元／单元 (dānyuán)
• 單元劇／单元剧
• 單元音／单元音 (dānyuányīn)
• 圓脣元音／圆唇元音
• 壓倒元白／压倒元白
• 壽元／寿元
• 多元論／多元论 (duōyuánlùn)
• 大元帥／大元帅 (dàyuánshuài)
• 大經元／大经元
• 宋元學案／宋元学案
• 展脣元音／展唇元音
• 後元音／后元音 (hòuyuányīn)
• 復元／复元
• 捲舌元音／卷舌元音
• 掄元／抡元
• 控制單元／控制单元
• 搖元宵／摇元宵
• 數元／数元
• 新紀元／新纪元 (xīnjìyuán)
• 春元演習／春元演习
• 晉元帝／晋元帝
• 曆元／历元 (lìyuán)
• 會元／会元 (huìyuán)
• 標準元音／标准元音
• 歐元／欧元 (ōuyuán)
• 歐洲美元／欧洲美元
• 歸元／归元
• 渾元／浑元
• 狀元／状元 (zhuàngyuan)
• 狀元及第／状元及第
• 狀元籌／状元筹
• 狀元紅／状元红
• 狀元餅／状元饼
• 當元／当元
• 禮元／礼元 (Lǐyuán)
• 糕元寶／糕元宝
• 紀元／纪元 (jìyuán)
• 經元／经元
• 腎元／肾元 (shènyuán)
• 膠元蛋白／胶元蛋白
• 華元／华元
• 萬元戶／万元户
• 虎體元斑／虎体元斑
• 補元氣／补元气
• 複元音／复元音 (fùyuányīn)
• 複合元音／复合元音
• 西曆紀元／西历纪元
• 記憶單元／记忆单元
• 謝晉元／谢晋元
• 貢元／贡元
• 連中三元／连中三元
• 還元返本／还元返本
• 鄭元和／郑元和
• 酈道元／郦道元
• 金屬元素／金属元素
• 鉤元提要／钩元提要
• 銀元／银元 (yínyuán)
• 開元／开元 (kāiyuán)
• 開元禮／开元礼
• 開元通寶／开元通宝
• 開元錄／开元录
• 開元雜報／开元杂报
• 開口元音／开口元音
• 開國元勛／开国元勋
• 關元／关元
• 隱生元／隐生元
• 顏元／颜元
• 顯生元／显生元
• 養元／养元

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (元):

• → Korean: 원 (元, won)
• → Vietnamese: nguyên (元)

→ English: yuan

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 元 – see 圓 (“circle; circular; round; etc.”). (This character, 元, is the draft (1955) first-round simplified and second-round simplified form of 圓.)

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

References

• “元”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

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Japanese

Kanji

元

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: ごん (gon)
• Kan-on: げん (gen, Jōyō)^{←げん (gen, historical)←ぐゑん (gwen, ancient)}
• Tō-on: がん (gan, Jōyō)^{←ぐわん (gwan, historical)}
• Kun: もと (moto, 元, Jōyō); こうべ (kōbe, 元)
• Nanori: はじめ (hajime)

Compounds

• 元(げん)気(き) (genki)
• 元(げん)凶(きょう) (genkyō)
• 元(がん)金(きん) (gankin)
• 元(げん)号(ごう) (gengō)
• 元(がん)日(じつ) (ganjitsu)
• 元(げん)首(しゅ) (genshu), 元(もと)首(くび) (motokubi)
• 元(げん)帥(すい) (gensui)
• 元(がん)祖(そ) (ganso)
• 元(げん)素(そ) (genso)
• 元(がん)旦(たん) (gantan)
• 元(がん)朝(ちょう) (ganchō), 元(げん)朝(ちょう) (genchō)
• 元(げん)服(ぷく) (genpuku)
• 元(がん)本(ぽん) (ganpon)
• 元(がん)来(らい) (ganrai)
• 元(げん)悪(あく) (gen'aku)
• 元(げん)価(か) (genka)
• 元(げん)兇(きょう) (genkyō)
• 元(げん)勲(くん) (genkun)
• 元(げん)軍(ぐん) (gengun)
• 元(もと)元(もと) (motomoto), 元々(もともと) (motomoto)
• 元(もと)高(だか) (motodaka)
• 元三(もとみ) (Motomi)
• 元(げん)始(し) (genshi)
• 元(もと)手(で) (motode)
• 元(もと)鞘(さや) (motosaya)
• 元(げん)職(しょく) (genshoku)
• 元(もと)栓(せん) (motosen)
• 元(もと)値(ね) (motone)
• 元(もと)帳(ちょう) (motochō)
• 元(もと)締(じ) (motoji)
• 元(もと)入(にゅう)金(きん) (motonyūkin)
• 元(がん)年(ねん) (gannen)
• 元(げん)標(ぴょう) (genpyō)
• 元(もと)方(かた) (motokata)
• 元(がん)利(り) (ganri)
• 元(げん)老(ろう) (genrō)
• 元(げん)禄(ろく) (genroku)
• 元(げん)寇(こう) (genkō)
• お手(て)元(もと) (otemoto), 御手(おて)元(もと) (otemoto)

 

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
元
もと Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alternative spellings
本 原 基 素

⟨mo₂to₂⟩ → /moto/

From Old Japanese. Cited to the Kojiki of 712 CE. From Proto-Japonic *mətə. Cognate with Okinawan 元 (mutu).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) もと​ [mòtóꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• (Tokyo) もと [mòtó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [mo̞to̞]

Noun

元(もと) • (moto) 

1. cause, origin
2. basis, foundation
3. cost

   元(もと)がとれる

   moto ga toreru

   to be able to cover the cost

4. (finance) capital

   2000円(にせんえん)の元(もと)を取(と)る

   nisen-en no moto o toru

   to get one's 2000 yen's worth

   (literally, “to take the 2000 yen principal”)

5. principal

Derived terms

Derived terms

• もとに (moto ni)
• 元(もと)は (moto wa)
• 元(もと)より (motoyori)

• 元(もと)売(う)り (motouri)
• 元(もと)結(ゆ)い (motoyui)
• 元(もと)通(どお)り (motodōri)

Prefix

元(もと) • (moto-) 

1. former, erstwhile

   元(もと)カレ、元(もと)カノ

   motokare, motokano

   former boyfriend, former girlfriend

   プロジェクトの元(もと)・担(たん)当(とう)者(しゃ)の田(た)中(なか)氏(し)

   purojekuto no moto tantōsha no Tanaka-shi

   former project manager Tanaka

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
元
げん Grade: 2
kan’on

From the Middle Chinese-derived reading of the kanji characters.

Proper noun

元(げん) • (Gen) 

1. the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)

Etymology 3

From 始(はじ)め (hajime, “beginning”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ha̠ʑime̞]

Proper noun

元(はじめ) • (Hajime) 

1. a male given name

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Korean

Hanja

元 (eumhun 으뜸 원 (eutteum won))

1. Hanja form^? of 원 (“chief”).

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Okinawan

Kanji

元

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• On: ぐゎん (gwan); じん (jin)
• Kun: むとぅ (mutu, 元); むーとぅ (mūtu, 元)

Compounds

• 元 (ぐゎん)日 (じち) (gwanjichi)
• 元 (ぐゎん)祖 (す) (gwansu)
• 元 (ぐゎん)旦 (たん) (gwantan)
• 元 (じん)服 (ぷく) (jinpuku)
• 火 (ふぃー)ぬ元 (むとぅ) (fīnumutu)
• 火 (ふぃー)元 (むとぅ) (fīmutu)
• 根 (に)本 (むとぅ) (nimutu), 根 (にー)本 (むとぅ) (nīmutu)
• 元 (むーとぅ)所 (どぅくる) (mūtudukuru)

 

Alternative forms

• 本, 原, 基, 素

Etymology

Kanji in this term
元
むとぅ Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Kanji in this term
元
むーとぅ Grade: 2
kun’yomi

From Proto-Ryukyuan *moto, from Proto-Japonic *mətə. Cognate with mainland Japanese 元 (moto).

Noun

元 (hiragana むとぅ, rōmaji mutu, alternative reading むーとぅ, rōmaji mūtu)

1. cause, origin
2. basis, foundation
3. cost
4. origin
5. (finance) capital
6. principal

References

• “ムトゥ” in Okinawa Center of Language Study, Shuri-Naha Dialect Dictionary.
• “ムートゥ” in Okinawa Center of Language Study, Shuri-Naha Dialect Dictionary.

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Vietnamese

Han character

元: Hán Nôm readings: nguyên, nguyễn

1. source, origin, base
2. a family name