yuan

¹

[ yoo-ahn; Chinese yyahn ]

noun

, plural yu·an.

1. Also called yuan dollar. a copper coin of the Republic of China, equal to 100 cents; dollar.
2. a paper money, brass or cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of the People's Republic of China, equal to 10 jiao or 100 fen.

Yuan

²

[ yoo-ahn; Chinese yyahn ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. (in the Republic of China) a department of government; council.

Yüan

³

[ yoo-ahn; Chinese yyahn ]

noun

1. the Mongol dynasty in China, 1260–1368, founded by Kublai Khan.
2. Yuan.

Yüan

¹

/ ˈjuːˈæn /

noun

1. the imperial dynasty of China from 1279 to 1368

adjective

1. of or relating to the Chinese porcelain produced during the Yüan dynasty, characterized by the appearance of under-glaze blue-and-white ware

Yüan

²

/ ˈjuːˈæn; ˈjuːˈɛn /

noun

1. a river in SE central China, rising in central Guizhou province and flowing northeast to Lake Tungting. Length: about 800 km (500 miles)

yuan

³

/ ˈjuːˈæn /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of China, divided into 10 jiao and 100 fen Also calledrenminbirenminbi yuan

Word History and Origins

Origin of yuan¹

1915–20; < Chinese yuán literally, round, circular; yen ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of yuan¹

from Chinese yüan round object; see yen ¹

Example Sentences

The average monthly salary in the country's richest city, Shanghai, was just over 12,000 yuan.

From BBC

For some this new flood of yuan into the country offers Ireland an opportunity to reduce its reliance on being the European base for US tech giants such as Apple and Alphabet.

From BBC

“In the beginning, maybe we’d just do a project for one client, a farmer, and it’d be worth ten thousand yuan, fifty thousand,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Once it reaches 50,000 yuan, she plans to return it to the bank as a fixed deposit.

From BBC

The Chinese yuan has shown notable signs of weakness, despite officials’ stated intent to stabilize it.

From New York Times