Kanji

元

beginning, former time, origin

Kanji

Grade

Grade 2

Strokes

4 strokes

Radical

儿部

On'yomi (Chinese Reading)

ゲン, ガン

Kun'yomi (Japanese Reading)

もと

Nanori (Name Reading)

あさ, ちか, つかさ, なが, はじむ, はじめ, はる, まさ, もと, ゆき, よし

Common Readings

ガン, ゲン, もと

Example sentences

元 もと
彼は私の元の同僚です。

He is my former colleague.

戻す もどす
本を読んだら、元の棚に戻してください。

After reading the book, please put it back on the original shelf.

元気 げんき
毎日しっかり食べて、元気に過ごしましょう。

Let's eat well every day and stay healthy.

みんな みんな
みんな元気に歌っている

Everyone is singing cheerfully.

元々 もともと
彼は元々気が弱い人だ。

He is originally a weak-willed person.

口元 くちもと
彼女は口元に笑みを浮かべていた。

She had a smile around her mouth.

笑み えみ
彼女の口元には、優しい笑みが浮かんでいた。

A gentle smile played on her lips.

足元 あしもと
足元に注意してください。

Please watch your step.

気をつける きをつける
暗い道では足元に気をつけてください。

Please be careful of your step on dark roads.

手元 てもと
資料を手元に置いてください

Please keep the materials close at hand.

Example Vocabulary

元

もと

origin; source; former; ex-

元気

げんき

energetic; healthy; well; spirits; vigor

元々

もともと

originally; from the start

口元

くちもと

area around the mouth; mouth

足元

あしもと

at one's feet; footing; nearby; step

手元

てもと

close at hand, nearby, within reach

胸元

むなもと

chest area; neckline; front of the chest

耳元

みみもと

by the ear; close to the ear

元に戻る

もとにもどる

to return to normal; to return to the original state

地元

じもと

hometown; local; home area

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