钱串

錢串

qiánchuàn

noun

Measure Word

一串钱串 chuàn

Meanings

1 a string of cash (old copper coins strung through their square holes)
2 money string

Characters

string; to string together

Examples

HSK 6

古人把铜钱穿成钱串方便携带。

Gǔrén bǎ tóng qián chuān chéng qiánchuàn fāngbiàn xiédài.

People in ancient times strung copper coins into money strings for easier carrying.

HSK 6

博物馆展出了一串完整的清代钱串。

Bówùguǎn zhǎnchū le yíchuàn wánzhěng de Qīng dài qiánchuàn.

The museum displayed an intact Qing-dynasty string of cash.

Tips

history

Imperial Chinese copper coins had a square hole in the middle precisely so they could be strung on cords. A standard 'string' was nominally 1,000 coins (一贯 yī guàn or 一吊 yī diào), and 钱串 is the physical object - the bundled string of coins. This is why 串 (chuàn, a string/skewer) became a counting unit for cash.

memory

钱 = money, 串 = string/skewer. Same 串 used for kebabs (羊肉串 yángròuchuàn). Picture old coins skewered like kebabs of cash.

Stroke Order

钱 qián

串 chuàn