kwai
Definition
Noun: - The basic unit of money in China: "Kwai" is an informal, romanized term for the primary monetary unit of the People's Republic of China. It is a transliteration of the Chinese word for the currency, which is more formally known as the renminbi (RMB). The primary unit is the yuan.
Usage
"Kwai" is used in informal contexts, particularly in spoken English and in some regional dialects (like in parts of Southeast Asia), to refer to the Chinese currency. It is important to note that the formal and internationally recognized name for the currency is the renminbi (RMB), with the yuan as its primary unit.
Examples
- (The souvenir cost me fifty units of Chinese currency.)
- (How much does that cost in Chinese currency?)
Advanced Usage
- The term "kwai" originates from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese character 元 (yuán), which is the standard term for the basic unit. It is commonly used in colloquial speech in Guangdong province, Hong Kong, Macau, and among overseas Chinese communities, and has been adopted into informal English usage in these regions.
Variants and Related Words
- Yuan (元): The standard Mandarin term for the basic unit of Chinese currency. One yuan equals ten jiao or one hundred fen.
- Renminbi (RMB / 人民币): The official name of the Chinese currency, meaning "people's currency." The yuan is the primary unit of the renminbi.
- CNY: The official ISO 4217 currency code for the Chinese yuan.
Synonyms
- Yuan: The formal term for the same monetary unit.
- Renminbi (RMB): The official name of the currency system.
Notes on Usage
- "Kwai" is considered informal and is not typically used in formal financial, academic, or official documents. In such contexts, "yuan," "renminbi (RMB)," or "CNY" are the correct terms.
- Its usage is analogous to how "bucks" is used informally for "dollars" in American English.
Noun
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the basic unit of money in China
