yuan

¹ American  

[yoo-ahn, yyahn] / yuˈɑn, yüɑn /

noun

plural

yuan

1. Also called yuan dollar.  a copper coin of the Republic of China, equal to 100 cents; dollar.

2. a paper money, brass or cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of the People's Republic of China, equal to 10 jiao or 100 fen.

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Yuan ² American  

[yoo-ahn, yyahn] / yuˈɑn, yüɑn /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. (in the Republic of China) a department of government; council.

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Yüan ³ American  

[yoo-ahn, yyahn] / yuˈɑn, yüɑn /

noun

1. the Mongol dynasty in China, 1260–1368, founded by Kublai Khan.

2. Yuan.

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Yüan ¹ British  

/ ˈjuːˈæn /

noun

1. the imperial dynasty of China from 1279 to 1368

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Chinese porcelain produced during the Yüan dynasty, characterized by the appearance of under-glaze blue-and-white ware

Yüan ² British  

/ ˈjuːˈæn, ˈjuːˈɛn /

noun

1. a river in SE central China, rising in central Guizhou province and flowing northeast to Lake Tungting. Length: about 800 km (500 miles)

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yuan ³ British  

/ ˈjuːˈæn /

noun

1. Also called: renminbi.   renminbi yuan.  the standard monetary unit of China, divided into 10 jiao and 100 fen

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Etymology

Origin of yuan

1915–20; < Chinese yuán literally, round, circular; yen ¹

Example Sentences

In a small number of cases, ships have paid to transit, with the going rate quoted at up to $2 million in Chinese yuan for a very large crude carrier, Raanan said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Huawei reported an 8.7% rise in net profit to 68 billion yuan in 2025, with revenue up 2.2% to 880.9 billion yuan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Net profit for 2025 was 68 billion yuan, up 8.7 percent from 2024's 62.6 billion yuan.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Net profit last year rose to 68 billion yuan, equivalent to $9.8 billion at current rates, up 8.7% from a year earlier, the company said Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Ethnic Korean pastors gave him cash, as much as fifteen dollars’ worth of yuan.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden