HSK · Level 111
45 words
Chinese word
渊源
Pronunciation
Pinyinyuān yuán
Meaning
- nounorigin
Example
这些习俗的渊源还不十分明确。zhè xiē xí sú de yuān yuán hái bù shí fēn míng què
The origin of these customs is still unclear.
More examples
两国文化之间有着深厚的渊源。liǎng guó wén huà zhī jiān yǒu zhe shēn hòu de yuān yuán
The cultures of the two countries have deep roots.
Core concept
An underlying beginning that explains where something comes from and how it reaches its present form.
Common phrases
有渊源yǒu yuān yuán
have historical ties
追溯渊源zhuī sù yuān yuán
trace the origins
渊源深厚yuān yuán shēn hòu
have deep roots
Similar words
起源qǐ yuán: The point where a thing or event starts.
来源lái yuán: The source of a thing, person, or piece of information.
来历lái lì: The history and background that explain a person or thing's past.
根源gēn yuán: The deep underlying cause of a problem or event.
Definition in Chinese
事物发生的起点或来历，常指历史、原因或制度的根本来源shì wù fā shēng de qí diǎn huò lái lì cháng zhǐ lì shǐ yuán yīn huò zhì dù de gēn běn lái yuán
Word origin
渊 (yuān, "deep pool") + 源 (yuán, "source") originally evokes water emerging from a deep source, then extends that image to the beginnings of traditions, ideas, and institutions.
Usage tips
- It commonly appears when a speaker connects a present practice with its past, making it useful for following explanations about culture and history.
Other meanings
- sourcenoun
- rootnoun
- backgroundnoun
Opposites
- 结果jié guǒresultnoun