Chinese word

水源

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuǐ yuán

Meaning

  • nounwater source

Example

这个村子附近有一个水源。zhè ge cūn zi fù jìn yǒu yí gè shuǐ yuán

There is a water source near this village.

Illustration for 水源 (water source)

More examples

当地社区组织志愿者参与水源保护活动。dāng dì shè qū zǔ zhī zhì yuàn zhě cān yù shuǐ yuán bǎo hù huó dòng

The local community organized volunteers to take part in water source protection activities.

Core concept

The origin of a water supply, extending from a visible natural outlet to a protected area or structure that provides access to water.

Common phrases

  • 水源管理shuǐ yuán guán lǐ

    water source management

  • 水源保护shuǐ yuán bǎo hù

    water source protection

  • 主要水源zhǔ yào shuǐ yuán

    main water source

Similar words

源头yuán tóu: The starting point of a river or stream and the area around it.
上游shàng yóu: The section of a river or its surrounding basin nearer to where the river begins.
水库shuǐ kù: A human-made place for storing water for later use or release.
泉quán: Water from underground that naturally comes out onto the earth's surface.

Definition in Chinese

指可供利用的水的来源，既可指自然的泉、河源和湖泊，也可指为取水而设的人工设施或保护区。zhǐ kě gōng lì yòng de shuǐ de lái yuán jì kě zhǐ zì rán de quán hé yuán hé hú pō yě kě zhǐ wèi qú shuǐ ér shè de rén gōng shè shī huò bǎo hù qū

Word origin

水 (shuǐ, "water") names the substance, while 源 (yuán, "source") adds the idea of where that substance begins or comes from.

Usage tips

  • English uses source for the origin of many things, but this Chinese noun keeps the subject firmly tied to water, not to information, money, or other supplies.

Other meanings

  • sourcenoun
  • springnoun

Related words

  • 水源保护shuǐ yuán bǎo hùwater source protectionnoun
  • 水源管理shuǐ yuán guán lǐwater source managementnoun

Word lists with this word