About
The character for money, "钱", derives from its traditional form "錢", a compound character integrating the metal radical "金" on the left with the component "戔" on the right, which historically served a phonetic role while also implying concepts related to cutting or small value. Originally, "錢" denoted a specific metal farming tool, such as a spade or hoe, which in ancient economies was used as a primitive form of commodity currency due to its utility and metal composition. This concrete referent shifted over time, with the character coming to represent a unit of weight for metal currency and then broadening to signify coinage and monetary wealth in general. The simplified form "钱" maintains this structural logic, featuring the abbreviated metal radical "钅" alongside the simplified phonetic "戋", reflecting the same etymological journey from a tangible object to an abstract economic concept.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我口袋里有钱。
他昨天花了太多钱。
赚钱真的不容易。
如果你有钱，你可以买这本书。
她存钱是为了去旅行。
钱能解决一些问题，但不是所有问题。
尽管他很有钱，但他并不快乐。
在现代社会中，钱扮演着重要的角色。