yen
yen Lexical Profile
yen Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The basic monetary unit and official currency of Japan.
"The travelers exchanged their dollars for yen at the airport before boarding the train to Tokyo."
A strong, persistent longing, craving, or inclination for something.
"After years of working in a busy city office, she developed a sudden yen for a quiet life in the countryside."
• verb
To feel a strong desire, craving, or longing for something.
"During the long winter months, he often yenned for the warm beaches of his childhood home."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the Japanese currency, the plural form is invariant ('yen', as in '500 yen'); when meaning a longing or craving, the regular plural 'yens' is used.
• Rhymes for yen
Word Origin & Etymology
The currency sense derives from Japanese 'en' (literally 'circle' or 'round object'), borrowed from Chinese 'yuán' to describe round silver coins. The sense of a strong craving is a separate borrowing from Cantonese 'yīn-yǎn' ('opium craving'), which entered American English in the late 19th century.