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3C 273 is a well-studied FSRQ. In order to analyze its spectrum variabilities, we make spectroscopic observations of 3C 273 using the 2.16 m telescope at Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories. Based on these observations and some other spectra from the literature, we study the spectrum variabilities and the physical origin of the optical spectrum. The main results are as follows: (1) The continuum spectrum (S c ) shows obvious variabilities and displays quasi-periodic properties, P = 3.39 ± 1.13 yr, consistent with the result calculated from photometric observations. (2) The spectral energy distribution (SED) was modeled by a combination of blackbody emission that originated from the accretion disk and the dusty torus, synchrotron emission from the jet, the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission, and the external Compton (EC) emission from the broad-line region, accretion disk, and dusty torus. The SED suggests that the optical continuum is dominated by the thermal emission from the accretion disk. (3) A time delay of τ c H β = 209.42 ± 9.38 days lies between the slope of the continuum spectrum (S c ) and H β emission line. (4) The relationships between the spectrum and polarization can be explained by the jet model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]