[yoo-ahn; Chin. yyahn] 
| 1. | Also called yuan dollar. a copper coin of the Republic of China, equal to 100 cents; dollar. |
| 2. | a paper money, brass or cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of the People's Republic of China, equal to 10 jiao or 100 fen. |
[yoo-ahn; Chin. yyahn] 
) | (in the Republic of China) a department of government; council. |
[yoo-en; Chin. yyen] | a river in S China, flowing NE to Tungting. 540 mi. (869 km) long. |
| yu·an (yōō-än', yüän) n. pl. yuan or yu·ans See Table at currency. [Chinese (Mandarin) yuán, dollar.] |
| Yu·an (yōō'än', ywän) A Chinese dynasty (1279-1368) established by the Mongolian ruler Kublai Khan at present-day Beijing. It was superseded by the Ming dynasty. [Chinese (Mandarin) Yuán, after the phrase dà zāi qián yuán, how large the heaven is, from yuán, primary, first.] |
yuan
monetary unit of China. The yuan is divided into 100 fen and 10 jiao. The People's Bank of China has exclusive authority to issue currency. Banknotes are issued in denominations from 1 fen to 100 yuan. The obverse of some banknotes contains images of communist leaders, such as Mao Zedong, leader of China's communist revolution, whose likeness is pictured on several notes; lower denominations often contain images of people dressed in traditional attire. The reverse side of most coins, which range in denominations from 1 fen to 1 yuan, contains images of historic buildings and the country's diverse landscape. Renminbi, or people's money, became the official name of the currency in 1969.
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