What is the difference between 元 (圓), 幣, and 金?
In currency exchange booths, and in conversation, I've noticed this:
- US dollar = 美元, 美金.
- Hong Kong dollar = 港幣
- Japanese Yen = 日元
- Singapore dollar = 新幣
- Euro = 歐元
There's also 英磅 for the pound sterling, but I understand where that comes from.
What is the difference between 元 (圓), 幣, and 金? Is there a rule for using one over the other? Or is usage based on historical and/or personal preferences?
I've personally never seen anyone use "日幣", "歐金", etc.
word-choice usage difference
add a comment |
In currency exchange booths, and in conversation, I've noticed this:
- US dollar = 美元, 美金.
- Hong Kong dollar = 港幣
- Japanese Yen = 日元
- Singapore dollar = 新幣
- Euro = 歐元
There's also 英磅 for the pound sterling, but I understand where that comes from.
What is the difference between 元 (圓), 幣, and 金? Is there a rule for using one over the other? Or is usage based on historical and/or personal preferences?
I've personally never seen anyone use "日幣", "歐金", etc.
word-choice usage difference
日圓 is most likely due to it being 圓 (円) in Japanese.
– droooze
2 days ago
add a comment |
In currency exchange booths, and in conversation, I've noticed this:
- US dollar = 美元, 美金.
- Hong Kong dollar = 港幣
- Japanese Yen = 日元
- Singapore dollar = 新幣
- Euro = 歐元
There's also 英磅 for the pound sterling, but I understand where that comes from.
What is the difference between 元 (圓), 幣, and 金? Is there a rule for using one over the other? Or is usage based on historical and/or personal preferences?
I've personally never seen anyone use "日幣", "歐金", etc.
word-choice usage difference
In currency exchange booths, and in conversation, I've noticed this:
- US dollar = 美元, 美金.
- Hong Kong dollar = 港幣
- Japanese Yen = 日元
- Singapore dollar = 新幣
- Euro = 歐元
There's also 英磅 for the pound sterling, but I understand where that comes from.
What is the difference between 元 (圓), 幣, and 金? Is there a rule for using one over the other? Or is usage based on historical and/or personal preferences?
I've personally never seen anyone use "日幣", "歐金", etc.
word-choice usage difference
word-choice usage difference
edited 2 days ago
Flux
asked Apr 7 at 5:41
FluxFlux
1998
1998
日圓 is most likely due to it being 圓 (円) in Japanese.
– droooze
2 days ago
add a comment |
日圓 is most likely due to it being 圓 (円) in Japanese.
– droooze
2 days ago
日圓 is most likely due to it being 圓 (円) in Japanese.
– droooze
2 days ago
日圓 is most likely due to it being 圓 (円) in Japanese.
– droooze
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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元/圓 (dollar) is a unit of money, 澳洲元/圓 = Australian Dollar; 美元/圓 = US Dollar
圓 is the correct character, 元 is a sound-alike shorthand
Japan only use 圓, therefore, 日圓 = Japanese Yen
幣 means 'coin' , referring to currency, 人民幣(People's coin) = China's currency; 新台幣 (New Taiwan coin) = Taiwan's currency
It is correct that choosing 圓 or 幣 mostly based on historical or personal preferences. Historically 圓 is more colloquial, general public would refer foreign coins as 圓; while 幣 is more formal and literary.
Calling 美元 as 美金 is a unique case. No other country's currency is called 金.
Back in the days when US tried to make US dollar the common currency of the world thus enable America to gain control of the world trade, they announced US dollar's value will be hooked with America's gold reserve . It meant America could only issue the amount of currency with equal value of gold in reserve. That effectively made US dollar as trust worthy as gold. American dollar was in effect, American gold. They could do that because at that time they had the largest gold reserve in the world.
Nowadays it is no longer the case, US dollar no longer hooked up with gold's value, it is now based only upon the trust on America's economy
Hong Kong people also use 紙 (as in 銀紙, meaning banknote) colloquially to refer to currency.
加紙, 加圓 and 加幣 all refer to Canadian currency
港紙, 港圓 and 港幣 all refer to Hong Kong's currency
1
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.
– droooze
2 days ago
1
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
1
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
元/圓 (dollar) is a unit of money, 澳洲元/圓 = Australian Dollar; 美元/圓 = US Dollar
圓 is the correct character, 元 is a sound-alike shorthand
Japan only use 圓, therefore, 日圓 = Japanese Yen
幣 means 'coin' , referring to currency, 人民幣(People's coin) = China's currency; 新台幣 (New Taiwan coin) = Taiwan's currency
It is correct that choosing 圓 or 幣 mostly based on historical or personal preferences. Historically 圓 is more colloquial, general public would refer foreign coins as 圓; while 幣 is more formal and literary.
Calling 美元 as 美金 is a unique case. No other country's currency is called 金.
Back in the days when US tried to make US dollar the common currency of the world thus enable America to gain control of the world trade, they announced US dollar's value will be hooked with America's gold reserve . It meant America could only issue the amount of currency with equal value of gold in reserve. That effectively made US dollar as trust worthy as gold. American dollar was in effect, American gold. They could do that because at that time they had the largest gold reserve in the world.
Nowadays it is no longer the case, US dollar no longer hooked up with gold's value, it is now based only upon the trust on America's economy
Hong Kong people also use 紙 (as in 銀紙, meaning banknote) colloquially to refer to currency.
加紙, 加圓 and 加幣 all refer to Canadian currency
港紙, 港圓 and 港幣 all refer to Hong Kong's currency
1
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.
– droooze
2 days ago
1
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
1
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
元/圓 (dollar) is a unit of money, 澳洲元/圓 = Australian Dollar; 美元/圓 = US Dollar
圓 is the correct character, 元 is a sound-alike shorthand
Japan only use 圓, therefore, 日圓 = Japanese Yen
幣 means 'coin' , referring to currency, 人民幣(People's coin) = China's currency; 新台幣 (New Taiwan coin) = Taiwan's currency
It is correct that choosing 圓 or 幣 mostly based on historical or personal preferences. Historically 圓 is more colloquial, general public would refer foreign coins as 圓; while 幣 is more formal and literary.
Calling 美元 as 美金 is a unique case. No other country's currency is called 金.
Back in the days when US tried to make US dollar the common currency of the world thus enable America to gain control of the world trade, they announced US dollar's value will be hooked with America's gold reserve . It meant America could only issue the amount of currency with equal value of gold in reserve. That effectively made US dollar as trust worthy as gold. American dollar was in effect, American gold. They could do that because at that time they had the largest gold reserve in the world.
Nowadays it is no longer the case, US dollar no longer hooked up with gold's value, it is now based only upon the trust on America's economy
Hong Kong people also use 紙 (as in 銀紙, meaning banknote) colloquially to refer to currency.
加紙, 加圓 and 加幣 all refer to Canadian currency
港紙, 港圓 and 港幣 all refer to Hong Kong's currency
1
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.
– droooze
2 days ago
1
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
1
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
元/圓 (dollar) is a unit of money, 澳洲元/圓 = Australian Dollar; 美元/圓 = US Dollar
圓 is the correct character, 元 is a sound-alike shorthand
Japan only use 圓, therefore, 日圓 = Japanese Yen
幣 means 'coin' , referring to currency, 人民幣(People's coin) = China's currency; 新台幣 (New Taiwan coin) = Taiwan's currency
It is correct that choosing 圓 or 幣 mostly based on historical or personal preferences. Historically 圓 is more colloquial, general public would refer foreign coins as 圓; while 幣 is more formal and literary.
Calling 美元 as 美金 is a unique case. No other country's currency is called 金.
Back in the days when US tried to make US dollar the common currency of the world thus enable America to gain control of the world trade, they announced US dollar's value will be hooked with America's gold reserve . It meant America could only issue the amount of currency with equal value of gold in reserve. That effectively made US dollar as trust worthy as gold. American dollar was in effect, American gold. They could do that because at that time they had the largest gold reserve in the world.
Nowadays it is no longer the case, US dollar no longer hooked up with gold's value, it is now based only upon the trust on America's economy
Hong Kong people also use 紙 (as in 銀紙, meaning banknote) colloquially to refer to currency.
加紙, 加圓 and 加幣 all refer to Canadian currency
港紙, 港圓 and 港幣 all refer to Hong Kong's currency
元/圓 (dollar) is a unit of money, 澳洲元/圓 = Australian Dollar; 美元/圓 = US Dollar
圓 is the correct character, 元 is a sound-alike shorthand
Japan only use 圓, therefore, 日圓 = Japanese Yen
幣 means 'coin' , referring to currency, 人民幣(People's coin) = China's currency; 新台幣 (New Taiwan coin) = Taiwan's currency
It is correct that choosing 圓 or 幣 mostly based on historical or personal preferences. Historically 圓 is more colloquial, general public would refer foreign coins as 圓; while 幣 is more formal and literary.
Calling 美元 as 美金 is a unique case. No other country's currency is called 金.
Back in the days when US tried to make US dollar the common currency of the world thus enable America to gain control of the world trade, they announced US dollar's value will be hooked with America's gold reserve . It meant America could only issue the amount of currency with equal value of gold in reserve. That effectively made US dollar as trust worthy as gold. American dollar was in effect, American gold. They could do that because at that time they had the largest gold reserve in the world.
Nowadays it is no longer the case, US dollar no longer hooked up with gold's value, it is now based only upon the trust on America's economy
Hong Kong people also use 紙 (as in 銀紙, meaning banknote) colloquially to refer to currency.
加紙, 加圓 and 加幣 all refer to Canadian currency
港紙, 港圓 and 港幣 all refer to Hong Kong's currency
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30k1741
30k1741
1
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.
– droooze
2 days ago
1
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
1
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
1
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.
– droooze
2 days ago
1
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
1
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
1
1
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.– droooze
2 days ago
Japanese use 圓 instead of 元 as a unit of money
I'd rather say that Chinese uses 元 as a shorthand of 圓, because they're pronounced the same in Mandarin. 元 is non-official.– droooze
2 days ago
1
1
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
Is 元 vs. 圓 also based on personal preferences? On Hong Kong dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰元, whereas on New Taiwan dollar bank notes, I see 壹佰圓.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
1
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
圓 and 元 are just difference in character choice,
– Tang Ho
2 days ago
1
1
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
@droooze The Hong Kong dollar uses 元.
– Flux
2 days ago
1
1
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
元 and 圓 are different words. They're pronounced identically in Mandarin and Cantonese, but not so in some other languages (notably Min topolects).
– droooze
2 days ago
|
show 3 more comments
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日圓 is most likely due to it being 圓 (円) in Japanese.
– droooze
2 days ago