Keyword
origin
Info
FrequencyTop 100-200
Type
Kyōiku (2nd grade) 
?
KankenLevel 9
Heisig63
Readings
もと
(69%)
げん
(28%)
がん
(2%)
Composed of
one
high and steep
Mnemonic

On this one high and steep mountain peak is where you'll find the origin of the mountain spring.

Used in kanji (10 in total)
complete
stubborn
crown
toy
Used in vocabulary (503 in total)
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
lively; full of spirit; energetic; healthy; well; fit
at one's feet; underfoot; gait; pace; most recent; current
home area; home town; local
originally; by nature; from the start
mouth; lips; shape of the mouth; near an entrance; vicinity of an entrance
at hand; on hand; way of moving one's arms; skill; money at hand; pocket money
breast; chest; pit of the stomach; solar plexus; epigastrium
close to the ear
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
dimension; perspective; point of reference; level (of something)
eyes; expression of the eyes; area around the eyes; skin round one's eyes
base (of a plant, tree, pillar, etc.); (part near the) root; roots (of one's hair); root (e.g. of a problem); source
to go back to the start; to reset; to restore; to return to the point (of a discussion); to return something (that has been moved) to previous place; to reconstitute
as before; as ever; as it was originally
originally; essentially; naturally; in the first place; to begin with
(one's) identity; background; upbringing; (one's) character
bedside; near one's pillow
ringleader; main culprit; main cause; source
base of the throat; bottom of the neck
from the beginning; from the first; all along; of course
(around the) neck; nape; collar (at the front)
restoration (to original state or location); reconstruction; reversion
brimming with health (vigor, vigour); full of vitality; full of health
to feel uplifted; to be cheered up; to hearten; to be inspired; to be energized
losing everything; coming to nothing; having lost the interest and the principal
to pep up; to cheer up
two dimensions; fictional world of anime, manga, video games, etc.
different dimension
three dimensions; three dimensional; 3D; real world; IRL (in real life)
restoration; return; reduction; resolution; deoxidization
to take advantage (e.g. of a weak situation); to size up (e.g. customer when setting a high price)
(field) marshal; (fleet) admiral; general of the army
keep up your strength; chin up!
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage
element; chemical element; (classical) element (e.g. earth, water, air, fire); (arch.) origin; (arch.) source
former girlfriend; ex-girlfriend
another dimension; different level; whole other level
when it comes to the cause; when you get right down to it; as for what started it; as for the reason; originally
as before; as ever; as it was originally
to get encouraged; to become heightened in spirits; to recover one's strength
first year (of an imperial era); year something (important) first happened or began
giving something a try because it will not do any harm
capital; funds; seed money; asset
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage
manager; controller; chief treasurer; boss (of a gambling den)
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
originator; pioneer; inventor; progenitor; primogenitor; founder of a family line
pre-era; BC; BCE
chamber maid; female servant; area around the hips; waist area
to be no match for; to not hold a candle to
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
one's parents' home
New Year's Day
original (that was parodied or acted as an inspiration for something else, etc.); source
New Year's Day; New Year's morning; morning of New Year's Day
sovereign; ruler; head of state
cheerfully; spiritedly; vigorously; lively
to pep up; to cheer up
male coming-of-age-ceremony; shaving one's eyebrows, blackening one's teeth, and wearing one's hair in the marumage style (of a newly married woman; Edo period)
one's home; hometown; native place; birthplace
to become clumsy; to miss one's aim
(a person or body being) unidentifiable (unidentified)
based on; built on; made from
originally
origin of a fire
near one's knee; (by) one's side; (at) one's hand; place under the protection (of one's parents, etc.); (under) the care (of); territory of a powerful person
brimming with health (vigor, vigour); full of vitality; full of health
head of a school (of music, dance); head family of a school
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
high dimension; higher dimensions
to trace back to (the origins of something)
to trip someone up; to pull the carpet from under
Genroku era (1688.9.30-1704.3.13)
elder statesman; doyen; old-timer; Genro (member of a pre-WWII body that informally advised the emperor)
lighten up!; cheer up!
cheerfully; spiritedly; vigorously; lively
giving something a try because it will not do any harm
era; CE (Common Era); AD (Anno Domini)
ex-husband; former husband
fourth dimension; four dimensions
to leave home; to leave one's parental roof; to leave the nest; to go out on one's own
banker (gambling); bookmaker; person who runs a gambling den; manager; boss
ex-wife; former wife
as it was before
ending up right back where one started
unknown (e.g. in an equation); element (of a set); yuan (monetary unit of China); New Taiwan dollar; Yuan dynasty (China, 1271-1368); Yüan dynasty
ex-husband; former husband
central black dot on a go board; Tengen era (978.11.29-983.4.15)
take care; take good care of yourself
manufacturer; maker
identification; background check; identity confirmation
three dimensions; three dimensional; 3D; real world; IRL (in real life)
to go to the bottom of an affair; to inquire into the origin
stopcock (gas, water)
mid-year gift; summer gift
giving something a try because one has nothing to lose
guarantor; surety; person responsible for another's behavior
to trace back to (the origins of something)
commander-in-chief; generalissimo
original home; birthplace; originator
to trip someone up; to pull the carpet from under
name of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa); Japanese era name
low-level; trivial; coarse; low-dimension
capital; principal
reformed delinquent; former delinquent youth
words can lead to disaster; the tongue is the root of calamities; the more you open your mouth the more likely you are to put your foot in it
to go to the bottom of an affair; to inquire into the origin
Genki era (1570.4.23-1573.7.28)
to recover a cost; to recover an expense; to get a return on one's investment; to get one's money's worth
manager; controller; chief treasurer; boss (of a gambling den)
pluralism; diversity
place where fire is likely to break out; possible cause of a fire
multidimensional
identity or background check (often to see if someone is a burakumin)
Genji era (1864.2.20-1865.4.7)
change of era
giving something a try because one has nothing to lose
principal (invest.); capital
ex-girlfriend; former girlfriend
(one's) ex-wife; (one's) former wife
source of information; intelligence source; message source
righting moment; restoring force; stability
Hōgen era (1156.4.27-1159.4.20)
the four classical chemical elements (fire, earth, air and water)
type of jōruri narrative performance
to go back to the start; to reset; to restore; to return to the point (of a discussion); to return something (that has been moved) to previous place; to reconstitute
former president of a company
to get encouraged; to become heightened in spirits; to recover one's strength
primordial; fundamental; basic; primitive
monistic; unitary; unified; centralized; centralised
extremely healthy; lively; in good spirits
former prime minister; former premier; former chancellor
to feel uplifted; to be cheered up; to hearten; to be inspired; to be energized
pep-up; reassurance; pick-me-up; restorative; energizer
various factors or elements
in and about a kitchen; family circumstances
Mongol invasions of Japan (1274, 1281)
(paper) cord for tying the hair
sender; source (of a transmission, e.g. email)
eyes; expression of the eyes; area around the eyes; skin round one's eyes
Genna era (1615.7.13-1624.2.30); Genwa era
former job; former position
teaching unit
full of energy; full of liveliness; full of pep
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage
duality; binary (system)
full of energy; full of liveliness; full of pep
brewery (sake, soy); brewer; (arch.) warehouse overseer
(personal) guarantor; (personal) surety; person providing a character reference
mark of liveliness; sign of activity
to bury the hatchet; to make up; to be reconciled; to be reunited (e.g. couple); to be reinstated
one dimensional
developer (of software, video games, etc.)
4D pocket; magical pocket that can hold any item
ringleader; main culprit; main cause; source
renminbi; Chinese yuan
getting back together; being reconciled; returning to normal
head of fisherman's group or union
chemical symbol (e.g. H for hydrogen); element symbol
Genkō era (1331.8.9-1334.1.29)
15th day of the 7th lunar month; (last day of) Bon lantern festival; mid-year gift; summer gift; Bon Festival gifts
unification; centralization; centralisation
Gentoku era (1329.8.29-1331.8.9)
manager (theatrical company)
Genbun era (1736.4.28-1741.2.27)
New Year's period (January 1 to 3)
financier; lender; financial backer; gambling boss; head of a gambling house
prime contract work; prime contractor
getting back together; being reconciled; returning to normal
local newspaper
full of energy; full of liveliness; full of pep
elder statesman
to encourage; to give courage to
danger past and God forgotten; once on shore, we pray no more; (lit.) once it's past the throat, one forgets the heat (of the swallowed object)
former boyfriend; former girlfriend
pluralistic; plural
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
origin; main branch of family
originally; by nature; from the start
original seller; sales agency
full of energy; full of liveliness; full of pep
live wire (a person)
Yuan-Dynasty Chinese-Mongolian military
principal (e.g. in a loan)
(around the) neck; nape; collar (at the front)
pottery (i.e. the place); potter
Genchū era (of the Southern Court; 1384.4.28-1392.10.5)
Engen era (of the Southern Court) (1336.2.29-1340.4.28)
big three dragons; winning hand consisting of pungs or kongs of each of the three types of dragon tiles
Empire Day (February 11th; national holiday held from 1872 to 1948)
the whole year's plans should be made on New Year's Day
Supreme Military Council (1898-1945)
New Year's morning
first segment of a chicken's wing; drumette
root of the nose
words can lead to disaster; the tongue is the root of calamities; the more you open your mouth the more likely you are to put your foot in it
pep-up; reassurance; pick-me-up; restorative; energizer
local product; homegrown; homebred
reformed delinquent; former delinquent youth
textile manufacturer
source of a hot spring
theater proprietor; theatre proprietor; producer
15th day of the 1st, 7th and 10th lunar months; heaven, earth and man; January 1; New Year's Day; ternary
(of juice, etc.) "from concentrate"
John Doe; Jane Doe; person unknown
Yuanshi Tianzun (one of the supreme divinities of Taoism)
Angen era (1175.7.28-1177.8.4)
foot of a mountain; base of a mountain; mine; colliery; owner of a mountain; operator of a mine
direct sale by the producer
quotation source; citation source; reference source
common bean; green bean
common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); kidney bean; navy bean; wax bean; green bean; string bean
based on; built on; made from
source of all kinds of diseases
restoration; restoration (restorative) work
new era or epoch
15th day of the 1st lunar month
trace element; micronutrient
Genkō era (1321.2.23-1324.12.9)
uniform management; uniform control; to control centrally; to manage centrally; to consolidate
Genryaku era (1184.4.16-1185.8.14)
to bury the hatchet; to make up; to be reconciled; to be reunited (e.g. couple); to be reinstated
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
failure teaches success; failure is a stepping-stone to success
lantern festival, held on the night of the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar
the flourishing mid-Shōwa period (1960s and early 1970s) of peace, rapid economic growth, and life of ease
Genkyū era (1204.2.20-1206.4.27)
Jōgen era (1207.10.25-1211.3.9); Shōgen era
duality; dualism
(around the) neck; nape; collar (at the front)
a cold can lead to all sorts of illnesses
principal and interest
brimming with vitality; full of vigor; full of life
to be no match for; to not hold a candle to
base of the throat; bottom of the neck
based on; derived from; building on; beginning with
returning profits to customers; lowering prices to make up for profits (e.g. from exchange rate changes); distribution of profits (to staff, shareholders)
New Year's Day
to recover a cost; to recover an expense; to get a return on one's investment; to get one's money's worth
to go to the bottom of an affair; to inquire into the origin
recovering one's spirits; rejuvenation; refection
near one's knee; (by) one's side; (at) one's hand; place under the protection (of one's parents, etc.); (under) the care (of); territory of a powerful person
short and round sleeves of a kimono
Kengen era (1302.11.21-1303.8.5)
Genkō War (1331-1333); Genkō Incident
root; source; origin; cause
getting back together; being reconciled; returning to normal
privy purse; money used for private purposes by the members of the Imperial family
good and evil dualism; Manicheanism
Christian Era; CE
Kōgen era (1256.10.5-1257.3.14)
radioelement; radioactive element
dimensionless number; dimensionless quantity
falling below par (value); loss of principal
Gangyō era (877.4.16-885.2.21); Genkei era
original song
breech-loading
prime contract work; prime contractor
Yuan dynasty (China, 1271-1368); Yüan dynasty; Mongol dynasty
Motomachi Station (Hyōgo)
reducing agent; reductant
Kagen era (1303.8.5-1306.12.14)
(paper) cord for tying the hair
to bury the hatchet; to make up; to be reconciled; to be reunited (e.g. couple); to be reinstated
Kangen era (1243.2.26-1247.2.28)
yuanqu (form of Chinese classical drama); Yuan drama
receiver (of an attack during kendo practice)
for something unexpected to happen (to someone or something one is close to); (deciding to do something) abruptly; at the turn of a dime
commoners; the masses
basal fertilizer; basal dressing; manure given at the time of planting
Gen'ō era (1319.4.28-1321.2.23)
to be in imminent peril; to be in imminent danger
denominated in Chinese Yuan; denominated in renminbi
superficial (shortsighted) way of thinking; half-baked (foolish, ill-advised) idea
cost price
the practice of assigning one era name to one emperor
capitalist; wholesaler
common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Chōgen era (1028.7.25-1037.4.21)
to bury the hatchet; to make up; to be reconciled; to be reunited (e.g. couple); to be reinstated
while it is light; before dark; while the going is good; before things get worse
ex-husband; former husband
mid-year gift; summer gift
15th day of the 10th lunar month
head gangster
rare-earth element; rare-earth metal
hypercomplex equation; plural equation
inverse element
digital renminbi; digital yuan; e-CNY
General Douglas MacArthur
zero milestone
base (of a plant or tree); (part near the) roots
little three dragons; winning hand that contains two pungs or kongs of dragons and a pair of the third dragon
Gen'ei era (1118.4.3-1120.4.10)
night of the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar
personal reference letter; personal reference guarantee
show of courage
to be in imminent peril; to be in imminent danger
identity element; neutral element
transuranium element; transuranic element; super heavy element
textile manufacturer
Shōgen era (1259.3.26-1260.4.13)
Genkō Incident (1331-1333); Genkō War
to take advantage (of another's weakness)
rare-earth element; rare-earth metal
native element mineral; native element
transuranium element; transuranic element; super heavy element
direct sale by the producer
synchronization source
(field) marshal; (fleet) admiral; general of the army
reproduction; replica; facisimile; reconstruction
banker (gambling); bookmaker; person who runs a gambling den; manager; boss
financier; lender; financial backer; gambling boss; head of a gambling house
Jōgen era (976.7.13-978.11.29); Teigen era
specification table; specification sheet
Gennin era (1224.11.20-1225.4.20)
French beans; string beans
white kidney bean
(business) manager
as you were; return to your original position!; er, rather
as you were; return to your original position!; er, rather
former girlfriend; ex-girlfriend
to be no match for; to not hold a candle to
original (that was parodied or acted as an inspiration for something else, etc.); source
former; ex-; earlier times; the past; formerly; previously
reformed delinquent; former delinquent youth
yuan (monetary unit of China)
three primary colors (colours); trichromatic
pottery (i.e. the place); potter
while it is light; before dark; while the going is good; before things get worse
the whole year's plans should be made on New Year's Day
French beans; string beans
cannellini bean; white kidney bean; navy bean; haricot bean; great northern bean
basal fertilizer; basal dressing; manure given at the time of planting
root (of a tooth); dedendum
to take advantage (of another's weakness)
to be expensive; to cost much
money on hand; ready money; spending money; pocket money
Festival of Origins (January 3)
master contractor
master contractor; prime contactor; general contractor
master contractor; prime contactor; general contractor
dimensional regularisation; dimensional regularization
broadcast in which participants speak from different stations
style of jōruri narrative performance
to be below the cost; to sell below cost
broadcast originating from multiple locations
halogen family elements
being returned (sent back) to the drawing board
beautiful eyes; bright-eyed; there being a sublime charm about one's eyes
beautiful eyes; bright-eyed; there being a sublime charm about one's eyes
superficial (shortsighted) way of thinking; half-baked (foolish, ill-advised) idea
reference (e.g. on CV, resume)
former surname; original surname
periodic table of the elements
nitrogen group (group 15 of the periodic table)
transition element; transition metal
synthetic element; artificial element (i.e. technetium)
platinum group metals; platinum group elements
Yamamoto sect (of Shin Buddhism); Sangen sect
local language; local dialect
prime element
nilpotent element
multiple-access (e.g. TDMA, CDMA)
multiple access methods (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA)
multidimensional classification system
primitive element (of a finite field)
zero element
language being translated from; source language
quaternary material (e.g. semiconductor)
ternary material (e.g. semiconductor)
reduced sugar syrup
liquidity on hand; ready liquidity cash plus marketable securities
topological dimension
transactinide elements; transactinides; super-heavy elements
oxygen family element; chalcogen
original packaging (e.g. box holding several cartons, each with individually packaged products)
night of the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar
New Taiwan dollar
wanton (of a woman); promiscuous
wanton (of a woman); promiscuous
Era Name Act; Era Name Law
chaptrel; impost; springing
administrative unification of day-care centers and kindergartens
black turtle bean; black bean
Kōrimoto Station (JR Kyushu)
American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
merlin (Falco columbarius); pigeon hawk
lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni)
Amur falcon (Falco amurensis); eastern red-footed falcon
scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Examples (195 in total)
Just go back to where you came from.
After you finish reading the book, put it back where it was.
"How are you?" "I'm fine. You?" "I'm fine too."