元

• Pinyin: yuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 元 = 二 (two) + 儿 (legs) — originally depicting a person's head, meaning 'primary, first'

Meaning

Yuan; the basic unit of Chinese currency (RMB). Used when stating prices and amounts of money.

The formal measure word for Chinese money (人民币). In casual speech, 块 is far more common, but 元 appears on price tags, receipts, bank documents, and formal writing. One 元 equals ten 角 (or 毛 in speech).

Examples

1. 这个苹果三元。 This apple is three yuan.
2. 请给我五十元。 Please give me fifty yuan.
3. 一杯咖啡二十元。 A cup of coffee is twenty yuan.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, money, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这本书二十五元。(This book is twenty-five yuan.)
• 票价是一百元。(The ticket price is one hundred yuan.)

Don't Say

• 我有很多元。(Unnatural — say 我有很多钱 for 'I have a lot of money,' not 很多元)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'head' or 'first/primary.' Extended to mean the primary unit of currency. The character has been used for the monetary unit since the Yuan dynasty.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal