元 Kanji – beginning
The Japanese kanji 元 can mean beginning, former time, origin.
Meaning and Readings
How is 元 read?
元 has the onyomi readings ゲン, ガン and the kunyomi reading もと.
In romaji, these readings can be written as gen, gan, moto.
Common Japanese Words Using 元
These common Japanese words contain 元. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 一元（いちげん） — unitary
- 一元化（いちげんか） — unification, centralization, centralisation
- 家元（いえもと） — head of a school (of music, dance), head family of a school
- 還元（かんげん） — restoration, return
- 紀元（きげん） — era
- 紀元前（きげんぜん） — pre-era, BC, BCE
- 襟元（えりもと） — (around the) neck, nape
- 元（もと） — origin, source, beginning
- 元より（もとより） — from the beginning, from the first, all along, originally
- 元気（げんき） — lively, full of spirit, energetic, vigorous, vital, spirited