Meaning of 钱
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- coin
- money
- unit of weight, one tenth of a tael 兩|两[liang3]
Measure word: 筆|笔
- surname Qian
How to use 钱
钱 is the everyday word for money and appears in many common words like 钱包 (qiánbāo, wallet) and 价钱 (jiàqián, price). The most useful phrase is asking a price: 这个多少钱？(Zhège duōshao qián?) How much is this?
The left side 钅 is the metal radical, and the right side 戋 looks like stacked layers. Picture small pieces of metal stacked up, like a pile of coins, and you have 钱 (qián), money.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up the tones of 钱 (qián, second tone) and 前 (qián, front), which sound the same, or write 浅 (qiǎn, shallow) by mistake because it shares the right side 戋. Check the left side: money takes the metal radical 钅, while shallow takes the water radical 氵.
钱 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
钱 qián · coin · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 钱.
| 钱包 | qiánbāo | purse; wallet |
| 价钱 | jiàqián | price |
| 挣钱 | zhèngqián | to make money |
| 赚钱 | zhuànqián | to earn money; moneymaking |
| 金钱 | jīnqián | money; currency |
| 省钱 | shěngqián | to save money |
| 值钱 | zhíqián | valuable; costly |
| 零钱 | língqián | change (of money); small change |
| 钱财 | qiáncái | wealth; money |
| 赔钱 | péiqián | to lose money; to suffer a financial loss; to pay for damages |
| 掏钱 | tāo qián | to pay; to spend money |
| 本钱 | běnqián | capital; (fig.) asset; advantage; the means (to do sth) |
Questions about 钱
What does 钱 mean?
钱 (qián) means "coin; money" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 钱?
钱 is made of 1 character: 钱 (10 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 钱 an HSK word?
Yes. 钱 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 钱 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 钱 is written 錢.
What is the difference between 挣钱 and 赚钱?
Both mean to make money. 挣钱 (zhèngqián) stresses earning through work and effort, while 赚钱 (zhuànqián) often suggests making a profit, as in business.
Is 钱 also a unit of weight or a surname?
Yes. Traditionally 一钱 is one tenth of a 两 (liǎng), a unit still seen in Chinese medicine and gold weights. 钱 (Qián) is also a common Chinese surname.