块

• Pinyin: kuài
• Hanzi breakdown: 块 = 土 (earth) + 夬 (phonetic component) — a lump of earth, extended to 'piece' and 'yuan'

Meaning

Piece; lump; yuan (colloquial). A measure word for chunks or pieces, and the informal word for the Chinese yuan currency unit.

Two main uses: (1) as a measure word for pieces or chunks of things (一块蛋糕 = a piece of cake), and (2) as the colloquial word for yuan/RMB (十块钱 = 10 yuan). In money contexts, 块 is informal while 元 is formal.

Examples

1. 这个多少钱？十块。 How much is this? Ten yuan.
2. 给我一块蛋糕。 Give me a piece of cake.
3. 我只有五块钱。 I only have five yuan.

Usage Guide

Context: money, quantities, everyday

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 这个五块钱。(This is five yuan.)
• 来一块西瓜。(Give me a piece of watermelon.)

Don't Say

• 一块书。(块 is for chunks/pieces — use 本 for books: 一本书)

Origin & History

Originally referred to a lump or clod of earth. The character contains 土 (earth) as a component. Extended to mean a piece or chunk of anything, and colloquially became the word for the yuan.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal