元 means “origin, source”

もと · moto

Also: beginning, former time

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

もと

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ゲン, ガン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 2 · 4 strokes

The story

A person drawn with the head emphasized: the origin, the source, the top. Ask お元気ですか and you are really asking: is your original energy still flowing?

Used in 元気 (genki, healthy/energetic), 元々 (motomoto, originally), and 足元 (ashimoto, at one's feet)

Words with 元

• 元気 (げんき, genki): healthy / energetic

More from Healing & Spirit

• 死 death
• 病 illness
• 医 doctor
• 悪 bad
• 薬 medicine
• 弱 weak
• 気 spirit

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.