1. origin; source; beginning
esp. 元
2. basis; base; foundation; root
oft. 基
3. cause
also written as 因, 原
4. (raw) material; ingredient; base; mix (e.g. for a cake); (soup) stock
esp. 素
5. root (of a plant); (tree) trunk
6. part (of a brush, chopsticks, etc.) one holds (with the hand)
7. first three lines of a waka