# 原 original/ high plain

(cliff) + 白 (white) + 小 (small size)
★★★☆☆
10 strokes
ILL PAIR JERK
JERK - by itself it means 'high plain', but used with another kanji it means 'original'

## Onyomi

GEN |

## Mnemonic

| I'll go back to my origins AGAIN: I originated on a tiny white cliff. (FYI, I'm a cormorant, coming home to the ol' guano colony to mate) (not sure that that helps you remember the actual kanji, but I went to the trouble of making a whole back-story for the cormorant, and I figure I should get credit for it (he overcame many obstacles))

## Kunyomi

はら | a high plain. (not useful, unless you are a High Plains Drifter, and concoct a Black and Tan in your brandy Snifter) ★☆☆☆☆

## Jukugo

原因(げんいん) | cause ★★★☆☆ 原 (original/ high plain) + 因 (origin) = 原因 (cause) origin or cause of something
原爆(げんばく) | A-bomb ★☆☆☆☆ NEO 原 (original/ high plain) + 爆 (explode) = 原爆 (A-bomb　) the A-bomb　(a contraction of 原子爆弾 (げんしばくだん))
原住民(げんじゅうみん) | native ☆☆☆☆☆ 原 (original/ high plain) + 住民 (residents) = 原住民 (native) a person or animal native to the area. Indigenous.

## Used In

- 源
- 願