源

みなもと

noun

source; origin; root

1. source; origin; fountainhead; root

The point from which something arises — literally the headwaters of a river, or figuratively the origin or root cause of an idea, energy, problem, or culture.

川(かわ)の源(みなもと)をたどる。

To trace a river to its source.

好奇心(こうきしん)が学問(がくもん)の源(みなもと)だ。

Curiosity is the source of learning.

争(あらそ)いの源(みなもと)をたどれば、小(ちい)さな誤解(ごかい)にたどり着(つ)いた。

Tracing the conflict back to its root, we arrived at a small misunderstanding.

Both literal (the headwaters of a river) and figurative (the origin or root cause of something).

Common collocations

川(かわ)の源(みなもと): the source of a river
力(ちから)の源(みなもと): the source of one's strength
源(みなもと)をたどる: to trace back to the origin

Similar words

起源(きげん): origin — the historical beginning of something.
根源(こんげん): root, fundamental source — more abstract and emphatic.

general

Added 2026.5.22 12:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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