元: the kanji for origin, former, base
元 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means origin, former, base. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
元 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
元 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 14 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ゲン (gen)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 元気げんき · genki | healthy; energetic |
| 次元じげん · jigen | dimension |
| 復元ふくげん · fukugen | restoration |
| 還元かんげん · kangen | return; giving back |
ガン (gan)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 元日がんじつ · ganjitsu | New Year's Day |
| 元来がんらい · ganrai | originally |
| 元祖がんそ · ganso | originator |
もと (moto)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 元もと · moto | origin; former |
| 地元じもと · jimoto | hometown; local |
| 足元あしもと · ashimoto | at one's feet |
| 手元てもと · temoto | at hand |
| 元々もともと · motomoto | originally |
| 身元みもと · mimoto | identity |
| 元社員もとしゃいん · moto shain | former employee |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- お元気ですか。O-genki desu ka.How are you?
- 足元に気をつけてください。Ashimoto ni ki o tsukete kudasai.Please watch your step.
- 今、手元に資料がありません。Ima, temoto ni shiryō ga arimasen.I don't have the documents with me right now.
- 元日は店が休みです。Ganjitsu wa mise ga yasumi desu.The store is closed on New Year's Day.
- 地元の人においしい店を教えてもらいました。Jimoto no hito ni oishii mise o oshiete moraimashita.A local told me about a good restaurant.
- 彼は元々エンジニアでした。Kare wa motomoto enjinia deshita.He was originally an engineer.
Questions about 元
How many strokes does 元 have?
元 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 元?
The on readings are gen (ゲン), gan (ガン). The kun readings are moto (もと).
What is the difference between 元日 and 元旦?
元日 (ganjitsu) is January 1. 元旦 (gantan) originally means the morning of January 1, though many people use the two words the same way on New Year's cards.
What JLPT level is 元?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Places and buildings
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 元
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.