The left side is 钅, the shortened form of 金 (metal). It shows up in every metal word: 银 (silver), 铁 (iron), 铜 (copper). The right side 戋 only hints at the sound. Bronze coins were the original cash, so the whole character is basically 'metal object you trade'.
钱 is money in general. The counting unit for yuan is 块, so you say 五块钱 or just 五块.
钱 is a thing, not a quality. 很 can't sit right in front of it, so you need 有 in between.
有 flips to 没有 when you say you don't have something. 不 doesn't work here.
钱 means money in general; the counting unit for yuan is 块, not 钱.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| General money | 我没有钱。 | 我没有块。 |
| Five yuan | 五块钱。 | 五钱。 |
| Price short form | 五块。 | 五钱。 |
Money is a thing you have, so 'rich' is literally 很有钱.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Rich | 他很有钱。 | 他很钱。 |
| Has money | 他有钱。 | 他钱有。 |
| No money | 他没有钱。 | 他不有钱。 |
多少钱 works for any price; 几块钱 expects just a few yuan.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Ask any price | 多少钱？ | 几钱？ |
| Expect a small price | 几块钱？ | 几钱？ |
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
坐车要 九块钱 ，高先明手里有 四块钱 ，少 五块钱 。
高先明的手机里也没有 钱 。
老先生来到高先明前边，给高先明 五块钱 。
我明天给您 钱 。”
高先明看见了老先生，给老先生 五块钱 。
高先明说：“老先生，谢谢您那天的 五块钱 。”
有人没有 钱 坐车，你给他这 五块钱 吧。”
高先明看见一个中国同学安小语，也是手里少 五块钱 ，不能上车。
高先明去前边，给安小语 五块钱 。
我明天给你 钱 。”
有人 没有钱 坐车，你给他们吧。”
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
钱老师 只有一个孩子，叫 钱学中 。
钱学中 喜欢吃，经常找爸妈 要钱 买东西吃。
这一天，这个孩子找爸爸 要钱 ：“爸爸，给我 五块钱 吧。
钱老师 说：“你已经十岁了，已经是个大孩子了。
昨天你找我要 五块钱 ，今天你再要 五块钱 ，明天是不是还要再要 五块钱 。
小钱 想了想，说：”爸爸你说得对！
那，你今天给我 一百块钱 吧“！
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
我给女朋友买了一个苹果，现在 没钱 了。
A：哈哈，给女朋友 花钱 ，难过什么？
结婚也要 钱 啊！
从现在开始，不 花钱 了。
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
我们四个人，今天的 饭钱 ，是不是中国一半、英国一半？”
中国一半、英国一半， 饭钱 我和米小山一人一半。”
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
他姓 钱 ，我们都喜欢叫他“ 老钱 ”，您可以叫他“ 小钱 ”。
他的姓是 钱 ，所以他的姓名是“ 钱小明 ”。
This playful poem helps you count and practice vocabulary about clothes, students, and pets. Enjoy the rhythm while learning new words.
买了五只小猫，七百零五块 钱 。
卖了六只小狗，四百零九元 钱 。
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
我有十五块 钱 。
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
买东西，多少 钱 ？
Shopping for fruit is a common daily task in China. Practice saying prices, counting items, and using simple shopping phrases while buying five apples for three yuan.
我有三块 钱 。
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
我有四十五块 钱 。
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
这个手机六千多块 钱 。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
比如，一个公司破产了，老板又重新创业 赚钱 ，我们就可以说“他东山再起了”。
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
什么都 要钱 ，还都不好吃。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
请给我五块 钱 吧。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
苹果十九很贵，八千七百多块 钱 。
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
我听 钱 老师说，“where”是“哪儿”。
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!
