現錢 / 现钱
xiànqián
Cash in Chinese is 現錢 / 现钱 (xiànqián), an everyday word for money in notes and coins. The standard term in banks and shops is 現金 / 现金 (xiànjīn). If unsure, use 現錢 / 现钱. Wiktionary also lists 現款 / 现款 (xiànkuǎn).
Meaning: money in the form of notes/bills and coins (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 現錢 / 现钱 | xiànqián |
| 現金 / 现金 | xiànjīn |
| 現款 / 现款 | xiànkuǎn |
To say to pay in cash, use 付現 or 付现金.
What does it mean word for word?
現錢 combines 現, meaning present or current, with 錢, meaning money.
Which one should you use?
現金 is the standard, formal term used in banking, accounting and official contexts, while 現錢 is more colloquial. 現款 / 现款 (xiànkuǎn) refers to cash funds or cash payment and is mostly used in business transactions or when settling a debt.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cantonese speakers in Guangdong also use 現金 for cash.
How do you pronounce it?
Say xiànqián with a falling tone on the first syllable and a rising tone on the second.
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, giving 'cash' in red envelopes during Lunar New Year is a strict social ritual. The money must be crisp and new, as old or wrinkled notes are seen as unlucky or disrespectful.
- The character 錢 is used in the word 錢包 for 'wallet', but it also appears in the word for 'weight' in traditional units. This is because early coins were weighed to determine their value.
- If you ask for 'change' after paying with 現錢 / 现钱, you use the word 找錢 / 找钱 ('zhǎo qián'), which literally means 'to look for money'.
Examples in context
- 我可以用现金支付吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn zhīfù ma?)Can I pay with cash?
- 请问，这家商店接受信用卡还是现金？(Qǐngwèn, zhè jiā shāngdiàn jiēshòu xìnyòngkǎ háishì xiànjīn?)Excuse me, does this store accept credit cards or cash?
- 我需要从银行取现金。 (Wǒ xūyào cóng yínháng qǔ xiànjīn.)I need to withdraw cash from the bank.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cash” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
