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

PetroChina’s H shares ended 3.5% lower at HK$10.75, while its A shares closed 2.0% lower at 12.19 yuan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Huawei reported 344.5 billion yuan revenue from its consumer business in 2025, up only 1.6 percent from the year before compared to the 38.3 percent jump reported in 2024.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 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

Huawei's research and development expenditure rose in 2025 to 192.3 billion yuan -- 21.8 percent of its total revenue -- as the company poured resources into building computing products intended for AI use.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

He offered Shin food, lodging, and five yuan a day— about sixty cents—if he was willing to tend pigs.

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