{"id":20009,"date":"2023-12-18T14:16:48","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T06:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/?p=20009"},"modified":"2026-01-08T15:10:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T07:10:33","slug":"how-do-you-say-money-in-chinese-40-money-words-in-mandarin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/how-do-you-say-money-in-chinese-40-money-words-in-mandarin-post-20009\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say Money in Chinese | 50+ Money Phrases in Mandarin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to our guide on how to say money in Chinese! In this article, WuKong Education<\/a> will explore the various ways to say “money” in Chinese, as well as its cultural significance and usage in different contexts. China has a rich history and language that reflects its complex culture and traditions. Understanding how to say basic words like “money” in Chinese can not only help with communication while traveling or doing business in China, but also provide insight into the language and culture. So let’s dive into the world of Chinese language and explore how to say “money”!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>Part 1: How to say Money in Chinese?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several ways to say “money” in Chinese, depending on the context and usage. The most common and general term for money in Chinese is “\u94b1” (qi\u00e1n). It is pronounced as “chien” in Mandarin and can be written using simplified or traditional characters. This term encompasses all forms of currency, including coins and bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another commonly used term for money in Chinese is “\u91d1\u94b1” (j\u012bnqi\u00e1n), which literally translates to “golden money”. This term has a more formal and literary connotation, and it is often used in business or academic settings. It can also be used to refer to wealth or finances as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Learn authentic Chinese<\/span> from those who live and breathe the culture.<\/p>\n<\/h3>\r\n

Specially tailored for kids aged 3-18 around the world!<\/p>\r\n \r\n Get started free!\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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<\/span>Part2\uff1aBasic Vocabulary for Money in Chinese Mandarin<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting with the fundamentals sets a strong foundation for young learners. Mandarin uses simple characters and tones that kids can grasp with repetition and visual aids. Focus on pronunciation using pinyin, the Romanized system, to make it accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\u3001The Word for Money: Qi\u00e1n (\u94b1)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common word for money in Chinese is qi\u00e1n (\u94b1), pronounced like “chee-en” with a rising tone on the “a.” This term appears in countless contexts, from pocket money to big purchases. Imagine qi\u00e1n as the building block for all finance talk, much like “dollar” in English. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids can practice by drawing the character money<\/a>, which looks like a house with treasures inside, symbolizing wealth. In lessons, pair it with visuals like play money to reinforce meaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2\u3001Currency Units: Yuan\uff08\u5143\uff09, Jiao\uff08\u89d2\uff09, and Fen\uff08\u5206\uff09<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

China’s currency is the renminbi, but people commonly refer to it as yuan (\u5143), the main unit. One yuan equals 10 jiao (\u89d2), and one jiao equals 10 fen (\u5206). Think of it like dollars, dimes, and pennies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For children, use analogies: yuan is the big boss, jiao the helper, and fen the tiny assistant. Pronounce yuan as “ywen,” jiao as “jee-ow,” and fen as “fun.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice counting: y\u012b yu\u00e1n (\u4e00\u5143) for one yuan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3\u3001Coins and Bills: y\u00ecngb\u00ec (\u786c\u5e01) and ch\u0101opi\u00e0o (\u949e\u7968)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coins are y\u00ecngb\u00ec (\u786c\u5e01), hard and round like buttons, while bills are ch\u0101opi\u00e0o (\u949e\u7968), paper notes. Kids love handling pretend versions during games. Explain that smaller coins might be for fen, building up to yuan bills. This vocabulary extends to describing amounts, like w\u01d4 ku\u00e0i qi\u00e1n (\u4e94\u5757\u94b1) for five yuan informally, where ku\u00e0i is slang for yuan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\u30017 Other common terms of money in chinese<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To further expand your knowledge of how to say “money” in Chinese, here are some other common terms related to money that you may come across:<\/p>\n\n\n\n