yuan

noun

yu·​an ˈyü-ən  yü-ˈän 

plural yuan

1

: the basic monetary unit of the People's Republic of China see Money Table compare renminbi

2

: the dollar of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Examples of yuan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Energy Alchemy, a luxury five-day retreat in Bali priced at 42,000 yuan ($6,200), is aimed at wealthy millennial Chinese women and includes workshops on breathwork and reiki, a Japanese spiritual healing practice. — CNN Money, 8 July 2026

In 2023, the company offered employees a 10,000 yuan ($1,470) annual cash bonus per newborn child, paid every year until the fifth birthday. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 7 July 2026

The support is earmarked in the form of a purse of 20 million yuan (~$3 million). — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026

The pre-Series A raise brings total funds raised to 1 billion yuan. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) yuán

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for yuan

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

yuan

noun

yu·​an ˈyü-ən  yu̇-ˈän 

plural yuan

1

: the basic unit of money in China

2

: a coin or bill worth one yuan

Geographical Definition

Yuan

geographical name

Yu·​an ˈywen 

ˈywän

1

river 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in southeast central China flowing from Guizhou northeast to northeastern Hunan

2

see red sense 4