原始

yuánshǐ

adjective HSK 5 #4,482

Meanings

1 original
2 primitive
3 primeval

Characters

beginning; start

Examples

这里还保留着原始森林。

Zhèlǐ hái bǎoliú zhe yuánshǐ sēnlín.

Pristine forests are still preserved here.

原始人靠打猎为生。

Yuánshǐ rén kào dǎliè wéi shēng.

Primitive people lived by hunting.

请保存好原始数据。

Qǐng bǎocún hǎo yuánshǐ shùjù.

Please keep the original/raw data safe.

Tips

usage

原始 can mean 'primitive' (原始社会 — primitive society) or 'original/raw' (原始数据 — raw data). Both senses relate to 'the very beginning state.'

Stroke Order

原 yuán

始 shǐ