What does 元 mean in Chinese?

元 (yuán) means "currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan); first; original; primary; fundamental; constituent; part; era (of a reign); (math.) argument; variable; (Tw) (geology) eon" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 元?

元 is pronounced "yuán" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 元?

元 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on the old exam, HSK 1 on the new one.

What words contain the character 元?

Common words with 元 include 一元 (single variable (math.)), 中元 (Ghost Festival on 15th day of 7th lunar month when offerings are made to the deceased), 二元 (duality), 位元 (bit (computing)), 一元论 (monism, belief that the universe is made of a single substance).

How do you write 元?

You can practice writing 元 using our stroke order tool.

元 (yuán), currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)

元

yuán

currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan); first; original; primary

HSK 1 Was HSK 2

Character Breakdown

Radical: 儿 (no. 10)

View stroke order →

Definitions

currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)
first
original
primary
fundamental
constituent
part
era (of a reign)
(math.) argument
variable
(Tw) (geology) eon

Example Sentences

这本书要二十元。

Zhè běn shū yào èrshí yuán

This book costs twenty yuan

Words Containing 元

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
一元	yī yuán	single variable (math.)
中元	Zhōng yuán	Ghost Festival on 15th day of 7th lunar month when offerings are made to the deceased
二元	èr yuán	duality
位元	wèi yuán	bit (computing)
一元论	yī yuán lùn	monism, belief that the universe is made of a single substance

Related Words

人民币元(rén mín bì yuán)· Renminbi Yuan (RMB), PRC currency unit

→

令吉(lìng jí)· ringgit (Malaysian currency unit)

→

Appears in these articles

Chinese Money & Shopping Vocabulary: 70+ Words for Buying & Paying

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

元: HSK 2 on the old exam, HSK 1 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 元 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.