renminbi: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, financial, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “renminbi” mean?
The official currency of the People's Republic of China.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The official currency of the People's Republic of China.
May refer to China's monetary system or economic policy when discussed in financial contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Neutral financial term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, appearing primarily in economic/financial reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “renminbi” in a Sentence
The renminbi is...... traded in renminbi... pegged to the renminbiVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “renminbi” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The renminbi exchange rate is carefully managed.
- Renminbi-denominated assets are growing.
American English
- Renminbi trading volumes increased last quarter.
- They issued a renminbi bond in Hong Kong.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in international trade, forex markets, and corporate finance reports (e.g., 'invoicing in renminbi').
Academic
Used in economics, political science, and international relations papers discussing China's monetary policy.
Everyday
Rare outside discussions of travel to China or international news.
Technical
Standard in banking, foreign exchange, and central banking communications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “renminbi”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “renminbi”
- Using 'renminbi' as a plural (it's uncountable).
- Misspelling as 'renmenbi' or 'renmimbi'.
- Incorrectly stating 'one renminbi' instead of 'one yuan'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They refer to the same currency, but 'renminbi' is the name of the currency system (like 'sterling'), while 'yuan' is the primary unit (like 'pound'). One can say 'ten yuan' but not 'ten renminbi'.
It translates from Mandarin as 'people's currency'.
Not fully. While used increasingly in international trade, China maintains capital controls, and the renminbi's exchange rate is managed within a band by the central bank.
RMB is the common abbreviation. In forex markets, the ISO code CNY (or CNH for offshore traded renminbi) is used.
The official currency of the People's Republic of China.
Renminbi is usually formal, financial, journalistic in register.
Renminbi: in British English it is pronounced /ˌrɛnmɪnˈbiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛnmɪnˈbi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: RENMINBI = REN (people) + MIN (civilian) + BI (currency) = 'people's currency'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CURRENCY IS A MEASURING TOOL (for economic strength).
Practice
Quiz
What is the relationship between 'renminbi' and 'yuan'?