JLPT N4 · Japanese kanji
元 — beginning
- Reading
- ゲン・ガン・もと
- Meaning
- beginning; former time; origin
- JLPT level
- N4
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
元 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N4 level. Its primary reading is ゲン・ガン・もと and it means beginning; former time; origin. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
元 appears in everyday japanese words such as 元 (origin), 元年 (first year) and 元来 (originally).
Japanese words containing 元
Frequently asked questions
What does 元 mean in Japanese?
元 means beginning; former time; origin in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N4 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 元 read?
元 is read ゲン・ガン・もと. Reading it inside real words — 元 and 元年 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 元 — is it JLPT N4?
Yes. 元 is on the official JLPT N4 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 元 in a word?
A common word containing 元 is 元 (もと) — "origin". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 元 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 元 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N4 kanji
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