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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
what car lover doesn't yen for a new car at the start of every model year
Recent Examples on the Web
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Japan has invested around 40 billion yen, or about $250 million, into the project since 2018, but has not set reserve estimates or production goals.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
The price was 35 million yen ($223,000).
—Tim Hornyak, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Our new observations of physical risk-taking in chimpanzees suggests that the rise in risk-taking in human adolescence isn’t due to a new yen for danger.
—Lauren Sarringhaus, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
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Noun
Since taking office, Takaichi has had to contend with a weakening yen, above target inflation, and a weak economy.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Japan has invested around 40 billion yen, or about $250 million, into the project since 2018, but has not set reserve estimates or production goals.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
The price was 35 million yen ($223,000).
—Tim Hornyak, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Our new observations of physical risk-taking in chimpanzees suggests that the rise in risk-taking in human adolescence isn’t due to a new yen for danger.
—Lauren Sarringhaus, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 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 14 Jan. 2026.
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