钱 (qián)

钱 means money. It is the everyday word for money in Mandarin, used for prices, payment, and wealth. The official currency unit 元 (yuán) is used in formal contexts, but 钱 covers money in general.

Meanings

[noun] Money, currency.

Example Sentences

这个多少钱？ Zhège duōshao qián? How much does this cost?

我没有钱了。 Wǒ méiyǒu qián le. I have no money left.

他花了很多钱买书。 Tā huā le hěn duō qián mǎi shū. He spent a lot of money buying books.

你带钱了吗？ Nǐ dài qián le ma? Did you bring money?

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
多少钱	how much money / how much does it cost
花钱	to spend money
存钱	to save money
借钱	to borrow money
赚钱	to earn money

Memory Hook

钱 has the metal radical 钅 on the left (money is metal coins) and 戋 on the right suggesting two small things: coins stacked up, small pieces of metal that add up to wealth.