yen

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈyen 

plural yen

: the basic monetary unit of Japan see Money Table

yen

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a strong desire or propensity

a yen for the sea

also : urge, craving

a yen for ice cream

yen

3 of 3

verb

yenned; yenning

intransitive verb

: to have an intense desire : long

Did you know?

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

Noun (2)

• craving
• desire
• thirst
• longing
• urge
• appetite
• hunger

Verb

• crave
• pine (for)
• die (for)
• hunger (for)
• long (for)
• thirst (for)
• repine (for)
• wish (for)
• want
• itch (for)
• salivate (for)
• sigh (for)
• lust (for or after)
• jones (for)
• yearn (for)
• ache (for)
• hanker (for or after)

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

Noun

Treasury's maneuvering, which also has included a parallel move to support the Japanese yen, come as Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh has preached less involvement in financial markets. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Bessent is juggling multiple interventions, daring traders to take the opposite side of his yen purchases. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026

The Treasury also recently intervened in currency markets to boost the Japanese yen, a move that analysts say was aimed at preventing Japan from selling US bonds to boost its own currency. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

The association also funds the Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists, an award of 5 million yen (about $32,000) given to a group or institution that encourages the involvement of young people in the arts. — News Desk, Artforum, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Japanese en

Noun (2)

obsolete English argot yen-yen craving for opium, from Chin (Guangdong) yīn-yáhn, from yīn opium + yáhn craving

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1874, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1906, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1919, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing yen

• the yen
• yen-shee

Rhymes for yen

• ben
• bren
• chen
• den
• en
• gen
• glen
• hen
• jen
• ken
• men
• pen

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Kids Definition

yen

1 of 2 noun

ˈyen 

plural yen

1

: the basic unit of money of Japan

2

: a coin worth one yen

yen

2 of 2 noun

: an intense desire : longing