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Although yen suggests no more than a strong desire these days (as in “a yen for a beach vacation”), at one time someone with a yen was in deep trouble: the first meaning of yen, used in the late 19th century, was an intense craving for opium. The word comes from yīn-yáhn, a combination of yīn, meaning “opium,” and yáhn, “craving,” in the Chinese language used in the province of Guangdong. In English, the Chinese syllables were translated as yen-yen, and eventually shortened to yen.
Synonyms of yen
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Noun (2)
Verb
Examples of yen in a Sentence
Noun (2)
I have a strange yen to take the day off from work
Verb
what car lover doesn't yen for a new car at the start of every model year
Recent Examples on the Web
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
The election outcome will give Takaichi a fresh mandate to tackle challenges such as Japan’s rapidly aging population, the rising cost of living, a weak yen, and soured relations with China.
—Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
The finance minister’s comments come after Takaichi sent a fresh warning on Sunday that the government will be ready to take action amid a weakening yen and surging bond yields.
—Mia Glass, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
The dollar's drop over the last few days has also been fueled by abrupt moves in the Japanese yen, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a snap election.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 27 Jan. 2026
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Noun
The dollar and yen saw sharp declines over 2025 and into 2026.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
The election outcome will give Takaichi a fresh mandate to tackle challenges such as Japan’s rapidly aging population, the rising cost of living, a weak yen, and soured relations with China.
—Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
The finance minister’s comments come after Takaichi sent a fresh warning on Sunday that the government will be ready to take action amid a weakening yen and surging bond yields.
—Mia Glass, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
The dollar's drop over the last few days has also been fueled by abrupt moves in the Japanese yen, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a snap election.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yen
Cite this Entry
“Yen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yen. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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