元

元 — beginning, former time, origin

Learn the correct stroke order for 元 (beginning), a 4-stroke kanji.

JLPT N4Grade 24 strokes

Stroke Order

Stroke 0 / 4

On'yomi (音読み)ゲンgen、ガンgan

Kun'yomi (訓読み)もとmoto

Strokes4

Radical儿

Frequency#192

Meaningsbeginning, former time, origin

Step-by-Step Diagram

Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 4 — start from the green dot

Common Words

一元いちげんsingle element; unitarynoun

家元いえもとhead of a school (of music, dance); head family of a schoolnoun

還元かんげんrestoration; returnnoun

紀元きげんeranoun

襟元えりもと(around the) neck; napenoun

元気げんきlively; full of spirit; energeticna-adjective

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 元 (beginning) is taught in grade 2 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N4 level. It has 4 strokes with radical 儿.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 元 is #192, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

一元いちげん — single element; unitary

家元いえもと — head of a school (of music, dance); head family of a school

還元かんげん — restoration; return

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (儿)

兄elder brother 先before 光ray 充allot 兆portent 児newborn babe 克overcome 免excuse

Same reading

言say 験verification

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 元 have?

The kanji 元 (beginning) has 4 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 元?

元 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 元 mean?

元 means: beginning, former time, origin. On'yomi readings: ゲン, ガン. Kun'yomi readings: もと.

What JLPT level is 元?

元 is a JLPT N4 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.