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元
yuán
unit of currency
这张纸币是一百元。
This banknote is 100 yuan.
general
The basic unit of currency in China, Taiwan, and other Chinese-speaking regions.
我需要兑换一些人民币元。
I need to exchange some Chinese yuan.
The yuan is the primary currency unit in China, often abbreviated as CNY in international contexts.
general
A unit of currency in other contexts, such as the New Taiwan dollar (NTD).
台湾的货币单位是新台币元。
The currency unit in Taiwan is the New Taiwan dollar.
In Taiwan, the term '元' refers to the New Taiwan dollar (NTD).
historical
An ancient Chinese unit of weight, equivalent to approximately 37.3 grams.
古代中国的元是一种重量单位。
In ancient China, the yuan was a unit of weight.
This historical usage is less common in modern contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Currency Context
When referring to currency, '元' is often used with the name of the specific currency, such as '人民币元' (Chinese yuan) or '新台币元' (New Taiwan dollar).
Gold Rule
Currency Usage
In financial contexts, '元' is the standard unit of currency in China and Taiwan. Always specify the currency type to avoid ambiguity.
Word Origin
The character '元' originally meant 'origin' or 'beginning' in ancient Chinese, but it evolved to represent the basic unit of currency in modern times.
Usage Notes
In modern usage, '元' primarily refers to the currency unit in Chinese-speaking regions. It can also refer to the New Taiwan dollar in Taiwan. The historical usage as a weight unit is less common today.
Word Breakdown
元
origin, beginning, or unit
root汉英词典