---
title: "Qiyuan Meaning: 起源 (qǐyuán) Means “origin”"
description: "起源 (qǐyuán) means “origin; to originate”. Hear its tones, see what 起 and 源 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qiyuan"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 起源 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

起源 qǐyuán

## origin; to originate

## Its characters

1. 起 qǐ to rise
2. 源 yuán source

## In a sentence

这个节日的起源很古老。 The origin of this festival is very old.

关于它的**起源**，有一个流传很广的传说：武当山上的道士张三丰看见一只鸟和一条蛇打斗，从中受到启发

From [太极拳是什么？ · What is tai chi?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-tai-chi#library-word-207-209)

[More about 起源](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%B7%E6%BA%90)

## More words with 起 or 源

- [电源 diànyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dianyuan)
- [对不起 duìbuqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duibuqi)
- [发起 fāqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/faqi)
- [根源 gēnyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/genyuan)
- [崛起 juéqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jueqi)
- [来源 láiyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/laiyuan)
- [了不起 liǎobuqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liaobuqi)
- [能源 néngyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/nengyuan)
- [起步 qǐbù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qibu)
- [起初 qǐchū](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qichu)

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