yuan

noun

yu·​an ˈyü-ən How to pronounce yuan (audio) yü-ˈän How to pronounce yuan (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Net income is expected to rise by up to 35% to 115 million yuan from the same period a year ago. — Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 But China’s yuan is emerging as a small-but-growing competitor, with consequences for American power and influence. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 26 June 2026 Through an online platform, customers can rent a humanoid for as low as 3500 yuan ($517) a day, including shipping costs and a human operator who helps control and program the machine. — John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Investigators also uncovered records indicating Di had sold two pythons to another buyer for 1,000 yuan, or about $140. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for yuan

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) yuán

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of yuan was in 1917

Rhymes for yuan

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Browse Nearby Words

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yuan
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Cite this Entry

“Yuan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yuan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

yuan

noun
yu·​an ˈyü-ən How to pronounce yuan (audio) yu̇-ˈän How to pronounce yuan (audio)
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 How to pronounce Yuan (audio)
ˈywän
1
river 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in southeast central China flowing from Guizhou northeast to northeastern Hunan
2
see red sense 4

More from Merriam-Webster on yuan

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yuan

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