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原
原 (readings: げん, はら; Japanese kanji) means “plain / original”. It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 原因 (cause).
What does 原 mean?
| Kanji | 原 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | plain / original |
| Readings | げん, はら |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 原
原 is read げん or はら depending on the word.
Example words with 原
| Example | 原因 (cause) |
|---|
Practice writing 原 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14