hole in a coin; money-grubbing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
the square hole in the center of a traditional Chinese copper coin
Often used in the idiom 钻钱眼儿(里) to describe someone who is obsessed with money or excessively greedy. In traditional Chinese coins (铜钱), the square hole allowed them to be strung together on a cord.
Gǔ古
dài代
tóng铜
qián钱
zhōng中
jiān间
dōu都
yǒu有
yī一
gè个
fāng方
xíng形
de的
qián钱
yǎn眼
。
Ancient copper coins all had a square hole in the center.
Tā他
bǎ把
qián钱
chuān穿
jìn进
qián钱
yǎn眼
lǐ里
，
guà挂
zài在
yāo腰
dài带
shàng上
。
He threaded the coins through their holes and hung them on his belt.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhè这
gè个
rén人
yī一
xīn心
zuān钻
qián钱
yǎn眼
r儿
，
shén什
me么
dào道
dé德
dōu都
bù不
gù顾
le了
。
This person is obsessed with money and disregards all morality.
Bié别
zuān钻
dào到
qián钱
yǎn眼
r儿
lǐ里
chū出
bù不
lái来
，
hái还
shì是
xiǎng想
xiang想
bié别
de的
ba吧
。
Don't get so obsessed with money that you can't see anything else; think about other things.