Meaning & use
Chinese currency
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The money used in China, especially the yuan (renminbi), the country's official unit of money.
Grammar: Usually uncountable, so say 'Chinese currency is rising' rather than 'Chinese currencies are rising'; use 'a Chinese currency' only when you mean one particular currency among several.
Patterns
- the Chinese currency
- Chinese currency exchange
- in Chinese currency
The hotel lets you pay in Chinese currency or in US dollars.
The value of Chinese currency has changed a lot this year.
She changed her euros into Chinese currency before the trip.
noununcountablefinance
The system of money and coins used in China, including its notes, coins, and bank rules.
Grammar: Refers to the whole system rather than one coin or note; often appears with words like 'system', 'market', or 'policy'.
Patterns
- the Chinese currency system
- the Chinese currency market
- Chinese currency policy
Analysts watch Chinese currency policy closely.
The report explains how the Chinese currency system works.
Traders on the Chinese currency market had a busy morning.
Common combinations
- in Chinese currency
- Prices are listed in Chinese currency.
- exchange into Chinese currency
- You can exchange dollars into Chinese currency at the airport.
- the value of Chinese currency
- The value of Chinese currency affects exporters.
- Chinese currency reserves
- The country holds large Chinese currency reserves.
- pay in Chinese currency
- Most local shops prefer you to pay in Chinese currency.
Synonyms and how they differ
- renminbi
- The official name of China's currency; more formal and often used in financial news.
- yuan
- The main unit of Chinese currency; use it when you mean the unit itself, as in 'fifty yuan'.
- RMB
- A short written form of renminbi, common in business and banking contexts.
Word family
Commonly confused: Chinese currency or Japanese currency? Chinese currency or yuan?
Chinese currency vs Japanese currency
Japanese currency is the yen, not the yuan; the names sound similar in English but belong to different countries.
Chinese currency vs yuan
The yuan is the unit of Chinese currency, while 'Chinese currency' can refer to the whole money system.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'In Chinese currency' is the natural pattern for the money you pay with. Option 1 wrongly makes it plural, option 2 uses the wrong preposition, and option 3 needs 'a Chinese currency coin'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Chinese currency”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.