円 means “circle, yen”

えん · en

Also: round

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
まるい, まる, まど, まどか, まろやか
On'yomi (Chinese reading)
エン

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 4 strokes

The story

A perfect circle squared off for the carver's knife: roundness made writable. Every coin in your pocket is a small 円, and the name of Japan's currency simply means "circle."

Used in 百円 (hyaku-en, 100 yen), 円い (marui, round), and 円高 (endaka, strong yen)

More from Everyday Japan

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.