1.
source; origin; point of origin
The place, thing, or condition from which something originates or is generated — typically used for undesirable things like pollution, disease, noise, or problems. Emphasizes the point where something first emerges rather than its cause.
Compound of 発生 ('occurrence; generation; outbreak') and 源 ('source; origin'). The word strongly implies that something problematic or unwanted is being generated — it is rarely used for positive things.
Usage
- Most commonly used with negative phenomena: pollution, disease, odor, noise, problems
- Appears frequently in news reports, scientific writing, and official investigations
- Distinguished from 原因 ('cause') by focusing on the physical location or thing producing the problem, not the underlying reason
Common collocations
- 発生源を突き止める: to track down the source
- 発生源を特定する: to identify the source
- 汚染の発生源: source of contamination
- 騒音の発生源: source of noise