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钱
qián
money
我需要一些钱。
I need some money.
formal
A medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; currency.
他赚了很多钱。
He earned a lot of money.
这件衣服花了我五十块钱。
This shirt cost me fifty yuan.
钱 is the general term for money in Chinese, regardless of form (coins, bills, digital currency). It can also refer to wealth or funds in a broader sense.
Business
formal
A sum of money paid as a salary or wage.
这个月的工资还没发钱呢。
This month's salary hasn't been paid yet.
Commonly used in contexts like 工资 (salary), 薪水 (wage), or 零花钱 (pocket money).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Counting Money
When referring to amounts, use the unit '元' (yuán) or '块' (kuài) for colloquial speech. For example, '五十块钱' (fifty yuan) is common in daily conversation.
Gold Rule
钱 vs. 金钱
钱 is the general term for money, while 金钱 (jīnqián) is a more formal or literary term, often used in abstract or philosophical contexts.
Word Origin
The character 钱 (qián) originally depicted a type of ancient bronze coin with a square hole in the center (铜钱, tóngqián). The left side 氵(水, water) suggests liquidity or flow, while the right side 戋 (jiān) represents a small unit or measure, implying a small, circulating currency.
Usage Notes
钱 is universally understood across Chinese-speaking regions, though specific terms for currency vary (e.g., 人民币 in mainland China, 新台币 in Taiwan). It is often used in idioms and proverbs (e.g., 有钱能使鬼推磨, 'Money can make the devil push the millstone').
Word Breakdown
钅 (金)
gold or metal (indicating currency)
radical戋
small or thin (referring to the shape of ancient coins)
root汉英词典