起源(きげん)

きげん
noun
origin; beginning; genesis
See also: 紀元(きげん) (era, epoch)
1. origin; beginning; genesis; source
The point at which something began or first came into existence. Used for the origins of words, customs, species, civilizations, and phenomena.
言葉(ことば)の起源(きげん)を調(しら)べる。
Look up the origin of a word.
オリンピックの起源(きげん)は古代(こだい)ギリシャにある。
The Olympics have their origins in ancient Greece.
生命(せいめい)の起源(きげん)についてはさまざまな学説(がくせつ)があるが、まだ完全(かんぜん)には解明(かいめい)されていない。
There are various theories about the origin of life, but it has not yet been fully explained.

USAGE:
Used for the historical or primordial beginning of something. The pattern 〜の起源(きげん) (the origin of ~) is extremely common. Appears frequently in academic, scientific, and cultural contexts.

NOTE: Not to be confused with the homophones 期限(きげん) (deadline, time limit), 機嫌(きげん) (mood, temper), or 紀元(きげん) (era, epoch).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 起源(きげん)をたどる (to trace the origin)
  • 起源(きげん)を探(さぐ)る (to investigate the origin)
  • 〜に起源(きげん)を持(も)つ (to have its origin in ~)
  • 生命(せいめい)の起源(きげん) (the origin of life)
  • 文明(ぶんめい)の起源(きげん) (the origin of civilization)
general
Added 2026.3.17 19:34
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