原 (yuán) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 原 (yuán) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 原 (yuán) means "original; source; plain". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 10 strokes and the radical 厂.

Q: How do you write 原 stroke by stroke?

原 has 10 strokes. The radical is 厂. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 原 and 厓?

原 (yuán) and 厓 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 原?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 厂. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 原?

Common words containing 原 include: 原来 (yuán lái) — originally; as it turns out; 原因 (yuán yīn) — reason; cause; 草原 (cǎo yuán) — grassland / prairie.

How to Write 原

The character 原 (yuán) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 厂 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

原 is pronounced yuán in Mandarin Chinese. It means original; source; plain.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 原 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 原

原来 yuán lái

originally; as it turns out

原因 yuán yīn

reason; cause

草原 cǎo yuán

grassland / prairie

Example Sentences

原来是你啊！

yuán lái shì nǐ a

So it's you!

这是什么原因？

zhè shì shén me yuán yīn

What is the reason for this?

草原很大很美。

cǎo yuán hěn dà hěn měi

The grassland is vast and beautiful.

Similar Characters

厓 yá

厕 cè

厗 tí

Practice Writing 原 (yuán)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 原 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 原

What does 原 (yuán) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 原 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 原 and 厓?

What mistakes do learners make writing 原?

What common words use 原?

How to Write 原 (yuán)