溯源

sùyuán

verb #37,551

Meanings

1 to trace back to the source
2 to investigate the origin of
3 to follow upstream

Characters

go against the current; trace back

Examples

HSK 3

这个词可以溯源到唐代。

Zhège cí kěyǐ sùyuán dào Táng dài.

This word can be traced back to the Tang dynasty.

HSK 7-9

我们要溯源这种习俗的由来。

Wǒmen yào sùyuán zhèzhǒng xísú de yóulái.

We need to trace the origin of this custom.

Tips

memory

溯 (sù) literally means to travel upstream against the current; 源 means 'source.' So 溯源 = 'go upstream to the source' - a vivid image whether you mean a river, a custom, or a software bug.

usage

Often appears in the four-character set phrase 追本溯源 (zhuī běn sù yuán, 'pursue the root, trace the source') meaning 'to get to the bottom of something.'

Stroke Order

溯 sù

源 yuán