Definition

Noun: - Small change; coins and low-denomination banknotes: Refers to money in small denominations, typically coins or banknotes of low value, used for making exact payments or receiving change from larger bills. - Divisional currency: Money that is a subdivision of the main monetary unit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bạn có tiền lẻ không? Tôi cần trả tiền xe buýt. (Do you have any change? I need to pay for the bus.)
  • Hãy giữ lại tiền lẻ để tiện mua đồ nhỏ. (Keep some small change handy for buying small items.)
  • Máy bán hàng tự động chỉ nhận tiền lẻ. (The vending machine only accepts coins/small bills.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đổi tiền lẻ": To get change / to break a large bill.
  • Tôi cần đổi tiền lẻ từ tờ 500,000 đồng. (I need to get change from a 500,000 dong bill.)
• "Thiếu tiền lẻ": To be short of change.
  • Xin lỗi, tôi thiếu tiền lẻ để thối lại cho bạn. (Sorry, I'm short of change to give you back.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tiền xu (noun): Coins.
  • Ví của tôi nặng vì có nhiều tiền xu. (My wallet is heavy because it has many coins.)
• Tiền mặt (noun): Cash.
  • Tôi thích thanh toán bằng tiền mặt. (I prefer to pay in cash.)
• Tiền thừa (noun): Change (money returned from a payment).
  • Đây là tiền thừa của bạn. (Here is your change.)

Synonyms

• Tiền nhỏ: Small money (informal synonym).
• Tiền cắc (regional, Southern Vietnam): Coins/small change.

Related Phrases

• "Có tiền lẻ không?": A very common phrase meaning "Do you have (any) change?"
• "Xin tiền lẻ": To ask for change.
  • Tôi phải xin tiền lẻ ở quầy tính tiền. (I had to ask for change at the checkout counter.)

Notes on Meaning

The term "tiền lẻ" specifically refers to the physical form of money in small units. It is the opposite of "tiền chẵn" or large bills. Its primary function is for facilitating small, everyday transactions. While it often means coins, in modern usage with high-value banknotes, it can also include low-denomination paper money (e.g., 10,000 dong or 20,000 dong notes in Vietnam).

noun

1. change