元

ONげん、がん

KUNもと

Meanings

originformerbasesource

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How to remember

The ancient form of 元 depicted a person with a prominent head, symbolizing the 'head' or 'origin' of a person or thing.

'Gen' — think of 'GENesis', the origin of everything.

元気げんき

healthy, energetic

元日がんじつ

New Year's Day

元々もともと

originally, from the start

地元じもと

local area, hometown

紀元きげん

era, Christian era