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

Rogers needed more help, and cash, for Yu Yu to get a divorce from her then-husband, who was demanding 80,000 yuan — currently about $12,000 — to sign the papers. — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Geopolitical conflict is also giving the yuan’s standing a boost. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

In Beijing, the Jiang Sir durian shop sells platters priced roughly between 300 and 1,000 yuan (about $44 to $150), depending on the weight of the pulp and the varieties chosen. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

According to Ganzhou’s policy, if a household per-person income is below the minimum living allowance threshold set by the government, each person in the family could receive 1,005 yuan per month, equivalent to $150 dollars. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 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