原
Character
original; at first (as in 原来)
Meaning
yuán
yuan2- original; at first (as in 原来)
- reason; cause (as in 原因)
- a Chinese family name
Examples
原来是你！
yuán lái shì nǐ
So it was you!
AI-generated sentence
我不知道他迟到的原因。
wǒ bù zhī dào tā chí dào de yuán yīn
I don't know why he is late.
AI-generated sentence
原是我的老师。
Yuán shì wǒ de lǎo shī
Yuan is my teacher.
AI-generated sentence
Stroke order
All 10 strokes
Speed
Practice writing 原
Draw “原” here — the faint guide shows its shape.
Words with 原
See all 282 →原因yuán yīnthe reason why something happens or is doneWordHSK 2原来yuán láioriginal; former; what something was beforeWordHSK 2原则yuán zéa rule that tells you how to do or think about thingsWordHSK 4原料yuán liàobasic things used to make products, like wood, oil, or cottonWordHSK 4原先yuán xiānat first; in the beginning, before something changedWordHSK 5原始yuán shǐoriginal; from the very beginning; not changedWordHSK 5原有yuán yǒuoriginal; existing from the startWordHSK 5原理yuán lǐthe basic idea of how something worksWordHSK 5原告yuán gàothe person who starts a court case against another personWordHSK 6原谅yuán liàngto forgive someone; to stop being angry at themWordHSK 6原创yuán chuàngoriginal; not copied from other people or thingsWordHSK 7–9原地yuán dìthe same spot; the place where you are now, without movingWordHSK 7–9