Translation and Meaning of: 源 - minamoto

The Japanese word 「源」 (minamoto) is a fascinating term that denotes various nuances of meaning, primarily relating to ideas of "origin," "source," or "beginning." The kanji 「源」 is composed of two parts: the radical 「氵」, which means "water," reflecting the idea of flow or natural origin, and 「原」, which represents "field" or "principle." This combination suggests a concept of something that flows or emerges from a primary source, emphasizing the origin or the place where something begins.

Historically, 「みなもと」 (minamoto) is also an ancient family name in Japan, associated with the powerful Minamoto clan. This clan played a crucial role in Japanese history, especially during the Heian period. Members of this clan were instrumentally involved in numerous significant historical events, such as battles for noble supremacy, contributing to the formation of Japan as we know it today. Moreover, the name Minamoto often symbolizes noble origin or lineage, being adopted by many emperors as a family name when members of the nobility were sent to live as commoners.

In the linguistic context, 「源」 is used in compound words and phrases to indicate the origin or source of something, such as in 「資源」 (shigen, resources) or 「源泉」 (gensen, source). This usage underscores the importance of the expression in communication and cultural understanding in Japan. The word is an integral part of the language and is daily associated with ideas of beginning and source, shaping how Japanese speakers perceive and describe the world around them.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 起源 (Kigen) - Origin, beginning of something.
• 根源 (Kongen) - Primordial source, origin of a cause or phenomenon.
• 元 (Moto) - Origin, foundation, starting point.
• 始まり (Hajimari) - Beginning, start of a process.
• 原点 (Genten) - Starting point, starting point for measurements or reflections.

源

Romaji: minamoto
Kana: みなもと
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: fonte; origem

Meaning in English: source;origin

Definition: A place where water gushes, like water, river, lake, sea, etc.

Example Sentences - (源) minamoto

See below some example sentences:

地下水は大切な資源です。

Chikasui wa taisetsu na shigen desu

Groundwater is an important resource.

Groundwater is an important resource.

• 地下水 - Groundwater
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 大切な - important
• 資源 - resource
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

不足な資源が問題です。

Fusoku na shigen ga mondai desu

The lack of resources is a problem.

Insufficient resources are a problem.

• 不足な - scarcity, lack of
• 資源 - resources
• が - subject particle
• 問題 - problem
• です - verb to be in the polite form

この本は私にとって重宝な情報源です。

Kono hon wa watashi ni totte chōhō na jōhōgen desu

Este livro é uma fonte valiosa de informações para mim.

Este livro é uma fonte útil para mim.

• この本 - esta livro
• は - Topic particle
• 私にとって - for me
• 重宝な - valuable
• 情報源 - fonte de informação
• です - Verb to be/estar

「人類の文明の起源はどこにあるのか？」

Jinrui no bunmei no kigen wa doko ni aru no ka?

Onde está a origem da civilização humana?

• 人類 - significa "raça humana" em japonês.
• の - partícula de posse em japonês, que indica que o próximo termo é possuído pelo anterior.
• 文明 - significa "civilização" em japonês.
• の - partícula de posse em japonês, que indica que o próximo termo é possuído pelo anterior.
• 起源 - significa "origem" em japonês.
• は - partícula de tópico em japonês, que indica que o próximo termo é o assunto da frase.
• どこ - significa "onde" em japonês.
• に - partícula de localização em japonês, que indica que o próximo termo é o local onde algo está.
• ある - verbo "estar" em japonês, que indica a existência de algo.
• の - partícula de posse em japonês, que indica que o próximo termo é possuído pelo anterior.
• か - partícula interrogativa em japonês, que indica uma pergunta.
• ？ - sinal de pontuação em japonês, que indica uma pergunta.

石油はエネルギー源として重要です。

Sekiyu wa enerugī gen to shite jūyō desu

O petróleo é importante como fonte de energia.

• 石油 (sekiyu) - petróleo
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• エネルギー (enerugii) - energy
• 源 (gen) - fonte
• として (toshite) - how
• 重要 (juuyou) - important
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

血は命の源です。

Chi wa inochi no minamoto desu

O sangue é a fonte da vida.

• 血 (chi) - blood
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 命 (inochi) - life
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 源 (minamoto) - source, origin
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

課税は国の財源の一つです。

Kazei wa kuni no zaigen no hitotsu desu

The tax is one of the national financial resources.

• 課税 - means "tax" in Japanese.
• は - Topic particle in Japanese, which indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 国 - "País" significa "国" (kuni) em japonês.
• の - particle of possession in Japanese, which indicates that "財源" belongs to "国".
• 財源 - means "source of income" in Japanese.
• の - particle of possession in Japanese, which indicates that "一つ" belongs to "財源".
• 一つ - means "one" in Japanese, indicating that "財源" is one of the country's sources of income.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a statement.

資源は大切なものです。

Shigen wa taisetsu na mono desu

Os recursos são coisas importantes.

Recursos são importantes.

• 資源 (shigen) - recursos naturais
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 大切な (taisetsu na) - important, valuable
• もの (mono) - thing, object
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present