~円

~えん

Yen

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Understanding ~円

The suffix ~円 (えん) is used to indicate amounts of Japanese yen, the currency of Japan. It is attached directly after a number to express prices, costs, or amounts of money.

Usage in Daily Life

You will often see ~円 in shops, menus, and price tags. For example, "千円" means "1,000 yen." It is a fundamental part of everyday transactions in Japan.

Common Collocations and Patterns

  • 数字 + 円 (e.g., 100円): Expresses a specific amount of yen.
  • ~円です: Polite way to state a price or cost.
  • ~円で買う/売る: To buy/sell something for a certain amount of yen.

Tips for Learners

When using ~円, remember it always follows the number without a space. Avoid confusing it with other counters. Also, the pronunciation of the number before 円 follows normal Japanese number reading rules.

Common Mistake

Do not add extra particles between the number and 円. For example, say "五百円" not "五百の円." The particle の is not used here.

Example Sentences

このほんはせんえんです。

This book costs 1,000 yen.

りんごはいっこひゃくえんでうっています。

Apples are sold for 100 yen each.

おみやげにごひゃくえんのおかしをかいました。

I bought 500-yen sweets as a souvenir.