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Although yen suggests no more than a strong desire these days (as in “a yen for a beach vacation”), at one time someone with a yen was in deep trouble: the first meaning of yen, used in the late 19th century, was an intense craving for opium. The word comes from yīn-yáhn, a combination of yīn, meaning “opium,” and yáhn, “craving,” in the Chinese language used in the province of Guangdong. In English, the Chinese syllables were translated as yen-yen, and eventually shortened to yen.
Synonyms of yen
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Noun (2)
Verb
Examples of yen in a Sentence
Noun (2)
I have a strange yen to take the day off from work
Verb
A car lover who predictably yens for the latest and greatest new models.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Afternoon tea is huge in Tokyo, with diners shelling out nearly 90 billion yen each year to nibble scones and petit-fours.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Total shareholder returns by TOPIX companies reached 43 trillion yen in fiscal 2025, while buyback announcements remained robust during the latest earnings season.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 June 2026
Priced at 20,000 yen per person in person, or 4,250 yen for an online session.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
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Noun
Fox News Digital previously reported that Japan plans to triple its international tourist tax from 1,000 yen, or about $6, to 3,000 yen, or about $18, per visitor as officials work to balance tourism growth with the quality of life for local residents.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Afternoon tea is huge in Tokyo, with diners shelling out nearly 90 billion yen each year to nibble scones and petit-fours.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Total shareholder returns by TOPIX companies reached 43 trillion yen in fiscal 2025, while buyback announcements remained robust during the latest earnings season.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 June 2026
Priced at 20,000 yen per person in person, or 4,250 yen for an online session.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for yen
Cite this Entry
“Yen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yen. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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