Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 塊 / 块 | kuài | colloquial |
| 圓 / 圆 | yuán | formal, literary |
| 元 | yuán | literary |
| 塊錢 / 块钱 | kuài qián | |
| 刀 | dāo | colloquial, neologism |
The term is used to denote a unit of currency. In daily speech, the most common colloquial term is 塊 / 块. You can also use 塊錢 / 块钱, which is a very common way to refer to an amount of money in spoken Chinese. One-tenth of a yuan is referred to as one máo.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 塊錢 / 块钱 is composed of 塊 / 块 (kuài) and 錢 (qián), which means "money". Additionally, the slang term 刀 (dāo) literally means "knife".
Which one should you use?
Speakers choose between different forms based on whether they are writing or speaking. 塊 / 块 is the standard spoken way to say "dollar" in daily life, while 元 is the written standard. The term 圓 / 圆 is also used as a formal or literary designation for the currency. In certain informal contexts, 刀 is used as slang for "dollar", similar to how English speakers might use "bucks".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
塊 / 块 and 塊錢 / 块钱 are colloquial. 元 and 圓 / 圆 are formal or literary. 刀 is considered slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the formal form 元 as a unit of currency in a written context, it follows the number directly, such as in 五元 (five dollars).
How do you pronounce it?
kuài
Did you know?
- While 元 is used for currency, it is also a common Chinese surname that was once mandated by Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei.
Examples in context
- “两元店”是我最喜欢的商店。“One dollar store” is my favorite store.This sentence shows the use of 元 in a shop name.Tatoeba #9961260 by GlossaMatik, translation #8303970 by Ivanovb
- 歐盟週二推出了一項規模龐大的萬億美元投資計劃，以兌現其到 2050 年使歐洲成為第一個碳中和大洲的承諾。The European Union rolled out a massive, trillion-dollar investment plan Tuesday to deliver on promises to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.This sentence demonstrates using 元 in a large-scale investment context.Tatoeba #13556491 by LeviHighway, translation #8456150 by Hybrid
- 你有零錢換一元美金嗎？Do you have change for a dollar?This sentence shows how to ask for change using 元.Tatoeba #873208 by Martha, translation #502621 by CK
- 这个汉堡是五 块 钱。This hamburger costs 5 dollars.
- 这个零食只要十 毛 。This snack costs only 10 cents.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dollar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 元, 圓, 塊, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
