錢 (qián) - Money — currency, coins, cash & wealth, riches

錢Tone 2

qián ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

錢 · qián

Money — currency, coins, cash;

wealth, riches;

a unit of weight in traditional Chinese measurement;

also a common Chinese surname.

Money — currency, coins, cashwealth, richesa unit of weight in traditional Chinese measurement

Usage highlights

MoneyCurrencyWealthPocket moneySalaryBribe

Synonyms

  • 币— currency, coin
  • 财— wealth, property
  • 金— gold, money (archaic)

Antonyms

  • 贫— poverty, poor
  • 穷— destitute, impoverished

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I need to withdraw money from the bank (取钱).
  • The price is ten dollars (十块钱).
  • He comes from a wealthy family (有钱的家庭).
  • In ancient times, coins were called copper cash (铜钱).

Collocations

  • Money(钱)
  • Currency(钱币)
  • Wealth(钱财)
  • Pocket money(零钱)
  • Salary(工钱)
  • Bribe(贿赂钱)

Idioms

  • Money can make the devil turn the millstone(有钱能使鬼推磨)
  • To value money as one's life(爱钱如命)
  • Money and silk are in abundance(钱帛殷富)
  • To have both money and power(有钱有势)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a type of agricultural tool that evolved into a form of currency in ancient China.
  • The character appears in many idioms and phrases reflecting traditional attitudes toward wealth and money.
  • As a surname, Qian is one of the most common Chinese surnames with a long historical lineage.

FAQ