金元宝

金元寶

jīnyuánbǎo

noun

Measure Word

一个金元宝 gè

Meanings

1 gold ingot
2 gold sycee
3 (figuratively) symbol of wealth

Characters

Examples

电视剧里堆满了金元宝。

Diànshìjù lǐ duī mǎn le jīnyuánbǎo.

The TV drama set was piled with gold ingots.

过年时桌上摆几个金元宝模型，象征发财。

Guònián shí zhuō shàng bǎi jǐ gè jīnyuánbǎo móxíng, xiàngzhēng fācái.

At New Year people put gold-ingot ornaments on the table to symbolize wealth.

Tips

history

From the Yuan dynasty onward, 元宝 named the boat-shaped silver/gold ingots used as bullion currency. In Ming-Qing times the standard 'big' ingot was about 50 taels. Today the shape lives on as a Lunar New Year decoration — paper, plastic, or chocolate gold ingots stand in for prosperity.

Stroke Order

金 jīn

元 yuán

宝 bǎo