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

古人把铜钱穿成钱串方便携带。

Gǔrén bǎ tóngqián chuānchéng qiánchuàn fāngbiàn xiédài.

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

博物馆展出了一串完整的清代钱串。

Bówùguǎn zhǎnchū le yī chuàn wánzhěng de Qīngdài 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