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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 was an intense craving for opium. The word comes from Cantonese yīn-yáhn, a combination of yīn, meaning "opium," and yáhn, "craving." In English, the Chinese syllables were translated as yen-yen.
Synonyms
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
Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
In an effort to ease congestion during hiking season, Japan introduced a charge this year of 2,000 Japanese yen, or about $13, for hikers wishing to trek the volcano’s most popular route.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Fresh setback Before the election the LDP faced falling approval ratings and public discontent over one of the country’s biggest political scandals in decades, as well as increasing living costs, which have been exacerbated by the weak yen, a sluggish economy and high inflation.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and its Topix index climbed on Monday, supported by a weak yen amid political uncertainty as the ruling LDP lost its parliamentary majority.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2024
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Noun
Because the weak yen is hurting consumers and one of the driving forces behind popular discontent.
—Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
In an effort to ease congestion during hiking season, Japan introduced a charge this year of 2,000 Japanese yen, or about $13, for hikers wishing to trek the volcano’s most popular route.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Fresh setback Before the election the LDP faced falling approval ratings and public discontent over one of the country’s biggest political scandals in decades, as well as increasing living costs, which have been exacerbated by the weak yen, a sluggish economy and high inflation.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and its Topix index climbed on Monday, supported by a weak yen amid political uncertainty as the ruling LDP lost its parliamentary majority.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yen
Dictionary Entries Near yen
Cite this Entry
“Yen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yen. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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