元
yuáninformal
Yuan is the English term for the basic unit of money in Chinese. If unsure, use 元 (yuán). Wiktionary also lists 圓 / 圆 (yuán) and 塊 / 块 (kuài).
Meaning: basic unit of money in China (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 元 | yuán | informal |
| 圓 / 圆 | yuán | formal |
| 塊 / 块 | kuài | colloquial |
| 人民幣 / 人民币 | rénmínbì |
The official name for the currency is 人民币 (rénmínbì), which literally translates to 'people's currency'.
What does it mean word for word?
The official term 人民币 (rénmínbì) is composed of the words meaning 'people's currency'.
Which one should you use?
In spoken Chinese, people almost always use 块 / 块 (kuài) instead of 元 (yuán) when referring to amounts of money. For example, when asking for the price of something in a market or shop, you should use 块 (kuài) to sound natural.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
元 (yuán) is the informal form. 块 (kuài) is the colloquial form used in everyday speech. 人民币 (rénmínbì) is the formal, official name for the currency.
How do you pronounce it?
yuán
Did you know?
- The term 元 (yuán) is cognate with the Garo word sko, which means 'skull'.
Examples in context
- 你能借給我一萬元嗎?Can you lend me ten thousand yuan?This sentence shows how to use 元 in a request for money.Tatoeba #13240148 by mimosawang, translation #13898026 by Vortarulo
- 二十美金等于一百四十元。Twenty dollars are one hundred and forty yuan.This sentence demonstrates how to use 元 when converting between currencies.Tatoeba #440130 by GlossaMatik, translation #440127 by FeuDRenais
- 5元硬币是黄铜做的，10元硬币是青铜做的。The five yuan coins are brass, and the ten yuan coins are made out of bronze.This sentence illustrates the use of 元 when describing the material of coins.Tatoeba #4661402 by yuiyu, translation #4728087 by paper1n0
- 100 元 人民币 。100 yuan (Chinese currency).
- 这个 多少 块 ？How much is this?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are buying snacks at a convenience store.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这个面包多少元？Zhège miànbāo duōshǎo yuán?How many yuan is this bread?
- 伟 Wei一共是五元。Yīgòng shì wǔ yuán.It is five yuan in total.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen太便宜了，我要两个。Tài piányi le, wǒ yào liǎng gè.That's so cheap, I want two.
- 伟 Wei那一共是十元。Nà yīgòng shì shí yuán.Then it is ten yuan in total.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yuan” 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.
