Japanese symbol for “origin”
元
もと
Romaji: moto
origin; source; beginning
In Japanese, origin is 元, read もと (moto).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n origin; source; beginning
- n basis; base; foundation; root
- n cause
- n (raw) material; ingredient; base; mix (e.g. for a cake); (soup) stock
- n (one's) side
- n capital; principal; cost price
Written forms: 元、本、素、基. Readings: もと.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “origin”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 始まり | はじまり hajimari | origin; beginning; start |
| 由来 | ゆらい yurai | origin; source; history |
| 原因 | げんいん gen'in | cause; origin; source |
| 発端 | ほったん hottan | origin; genesis; opening |
| 起源 | きげん kigen | origin; beginning; source |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 元気 | げんき genki | lively; full of spirit; energetic |
| 地元 | じもと jimoto | home area; home town |
| 次元 | じげん jigen | dimension |
| 足元 | あしもと ashimoto | at one's feet; underfoot; one's step (as in "watch your step") |
| 還元 | かんげん kangen | restoration; return |
| 手元 | てもと temoto | at hand; on hand; nearby |
See also: Chinese symbol for “origin”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.