万円

• Reading: まんえん
• Romaji: man'en
• Kanji breakdown: 万 (man) — ten thousand; 円 (en) — yen, circle
• Pronunciation: /maɴ.eɴ/

Meaning

10,000 yen. The largest standard bill denomination in Japanese currency.

A noun combining 万 (man, ten thousand) with 円 (en, yen). In Japan, large amounts are counted in units of 万 (10,000) rather than thousands, so understanding this unit is essential for prices of electronics, rent, and travel. The 万円 bill is the highest denomination in circulation.

Examples

1. 新しいスマホは五万円でした。 The new smartphone was 50,000 yen.
2. 毎月三万円を貯金しています。 I save 30,000 yen every month.
3. 一万円札でお願いします。 I'd like to pay with a 10,000-yen bill, please.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, money, large purchases

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 万 (man, ten thousand) and 円 (en, yen). The kanji 万 was originally a pictograph of a scorpion but came to represent 10,000 through phonetic borrowing in ancient Chinese.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal