copper coin; small change
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
copper coin; copper cash; small change
informalColloquial term for copper coins or small denomination currency, commonly used in spoken Chinese. The final 儿 indicates the retroflex (erhua) pronunciation typical of northern dialects.
Tā他
shēn身
shang上
lián连
yī一
gè个
tóng铜
zǐ子
r儿
dōu都
méi没
yǒu有
。
He doesn't have a single copper coin on him.
Zhè这
shì是
jǐ几
gè个
tóng铜
zǐ子
r儿
，
nǐ你
ná拿
qù去
mǎi买
táng糖
chī吃
ba吧
。
Here are a few coppers; go buy some candy with them.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zài在
nà那
ge个
nián年
dài代
，
yī一
gè个
tóng铜
zǐ子
r儿
néng能
mǎi买
liǎng两
gè个
shāo烧
bing饼
。
In those days, one copper coin could buy two sesame cakes.