# yen

/ˈjɛn/ (US) · /jˈɛn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yen
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. Japanese currency

noun · CEFR A2

the official unit of money used in Japan.

For teachers: the standard unit of currency in Japan, symbolised as ¥.

- The price of the camera was fifty thousand yen at the shop in Tokyo.
- Investors watched the exchange rate closely as the yen strengthened against the dollar following the central bank's announcement.

### 2. a strong desire

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

a strong feeling that you want to do or have something.

For teachers: a persistent and intense desire, urge, or yearning for something.

- After a long week of work, I had a real yen for a quiet day at the beach.
- Despite his successful career in the city, he harboured a secret yen to move to the countryside and start a small organic farm.

## Examples

- I have a sudden yen for some chocolate cake.
- After years of living in the city, she felt a growing yen to move back to the countryside.
- Despite his professional success in finance, he harbored a secret yen for the stage, eventually leaving his firm to pursue a career in local theater.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.