来源 (láiyuán) — source, origin
HSK 5 | noun / verb | the point from which something originates; to originate from
来源 (láiyuán)
The origin or source from which something comes -- whether information, funds, goods, or ideas.
Meanings
- [noun] source, origin, provenance
- [verb] to originate from, to come from
Example Sentences
记者有义务核实新闻信息的来源。 Jìzhě yǒu yìwù héshí xīnwén xìnxī de láiyuán. Journalists have an obligation to verify the sources of news information.
这笔资金的来源目前尚不明确。 Zhè bǐ zījīn de láiyuán mùqián shàng bù míngquè. The source of these funds is currently unclear.
这个词语来源于古代汉语，有着悠久的历史。 Zhège cíyǔ láiyuán yú gǔdài Hànyǔ, yǒuzhe yōujiǔ de lìshǐ. This word originates from ancient Chinese and has a long history.
多元化收入来源有助于增强个人的财务抗风险能力。 Duōyuánhuà shōurù láiyuán yǒuzhù yú zēngqiáng gèrén de cáiwù kàng fēngxiǎn nénglì. Diversifying income sources helps strengthen personal financial resilience.
数据来源的可靠性直接影响研究结论的准确性。 Shùjù láiyuán de kěkào xìng zhíjiē yǐngxiǎng yánjiū jiélùn de zhǔnquèxìng. The reliability of data sources directly affects the accuracy of research conclusions.
许多民间传说来源于真实的历史事件。 Xǔduō mínjiān chuánshuō láiyuán yú zhēnshí de lìshǐ shìjiàn. Many folk legends originate from real historical events.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 信息来源 (xìnxī láiyuán) | information source |
| 收入来源 (shōurù láiyuán) | income source |
| 来源于 (láiyuán yú) | to originate from |
| 数据来源 (shùjù láiyuán) | data source |
| 核实来源 (héshí láiyuán) | to verify the source |
| 来源不明 (láiyuán bù míng) | of unknown origin |
Usage Notes
来源 functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun it answers "where does X come from?" As a verb, it is always followed by 于 (yú): 来源于 = "to originate from / to derive from." This 来源于 pattern is extremely common in academic and journalistic Chinese.
At B2, learners should recognize 来源 in contexts involving media literacy (verifying news sources), academic citation (citing data sources), and financial investigations (source of funds). The phrase 来源不明 (of unknown origin) appears frequently in legal and investigative contexts.
Memory Hook
来 = to come. 源 = source/spring (like 水源 = water source). 来源 is "where something comes from" -- trace any river back and you find its 源, the spring where the water originates.