yuan

UK: /juːˈæn/ US: (yo̅o̅ än′; Chin. yyän)

Inflections of 'yuan' (n): npl: yuan

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

yu•an  (yo̅o̅ än′; Chin. yyän), n., pl. -an. 

1. Currency Also called yuan′ dol′lar. a copper coin of the Republic of China, equal to 100 cents;
   dollar.
2. Currency a paper money, brass or cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of the People's Republic of China, equal to 10 jiao or 100 fen.

• Chinese yuán literally, round, circular; compare yen
• 1915–20

Yu•an  (yo̅o̅ än′; Chin. yyän), n. (sometimes l.c.)

1. Government (in the Republic of China) a department of government;
   council.

Yü•an  (yo̅o̅ än′; Chin. yyän), n. 

1. the Mongol dynasty in China, 1260–1368, founded by Kublai Khan.
2. Place Names Yüen.

Also,[Pinyin,] Yuan. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

yuan / ˈjuːˈæn/ noun ( -an)

1. the standard monetary unit of China, divided into 10 jiao and 100 fen

Etymology: from Chinese yüan round object; see yen¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Yuan / ˈjuːˈæn/ noun

1. the imperial dynasty of China from 1279 to 1368

adjective

1. of or relating to the Chinese porcelain produced during the Yuan dynasty, characterized by the appearance of under-glaze blue-and-white ware

Yuan / ˈjuːˈæn/, Yüen / 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)