The kanji 原 primarily conveys the idea of "origin," "source," "field," or "plain." It represents the beginning, the fundamental place where something comes from or is located. It can refer to a starting point, a basic foundation, or a wide, open area. This kanji is often associated with the idea of something being in its natural or original state.

・On-yomi (音読み): ゲン (gen) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): はら (hara)

⚫︎ 草原 (そうげん) Translation: grassland, prairie ⚫︎ 原因 (げんいん) Translation: cause, origin ⚫︎ 原爆 (げんばく) Translation: atomic bomb (literally "original explosion")

The kanji 原 is a pictograph. The top portion represents a cliff or a rock, while the bottom portion depicts a field or a plain. Therefore, it originally depicted a field that was level with the cliff. This symbolizes a level field, a plain, which suggests a beginning or an open area where things originate. Over time, the meaning expanded to encompass the idea of "origin" or "source".