katsuryokugen

Katsuryokugen (活力源) is a Japanese noun meaning “source of vitality” or “spring of energy.” It is formed from the kanji 活力 (katsuryoku, vitality) and 源 (gen, source). The expression describes something that provides or sustains energy, motivation, or aliveness. It is not a fixed technical term but is used in everyday language, media, and advertising to characterize things that boost or restore energy.

The term can refer to foods, beverages, supplements, activities, or people believed to enhance energy. It can be used both literally and figuratively—for example, describing a nutritious breakfast as a katsuryokugen for the day, or calling someone who acts as a source of motivation a katsuryokugen for a team.

Related expressions include 活力の源 (katsuryoku no minamoto, “the source of vitality”), エネルギー源 (enerugī gen, “source of energy”), and 元気の源 (genki no minamoto, “source of vigor”). Differences among them are nuanced: 活力源 emphasizes overall vitality, while エネルギー源 is a broader term for energy in nutrition or physics contexts.

Notes: The term appears primarily in contemporary Japanese and promotional language. It does not have a formal, standardized definition in dictionaries as a fixed linguistic term, but it is widely understood in everyday speech.