Used to describe something of very little monetary value or of low quality. Often appears in fixed expressions like 三文小説 (cheap novel) or 三文の値打ちもない (not worth a penny).
It's a waste of time to read such a cheap novel.
His proposal isn't worth a penny.
three one-mon coins
Original literal meaning: three coins of the smallest denomination (mon) in the Edo period. Now mainly encountered in historical contexts or when explaining the origin of the figurative sense.
In the Edo period, three mon was a trifling amount of money.
dirt cheap; very cheap
cheap ready-made seal; inexpensive personal stamp
dime novel; cheap novel; pulp fiction
third-rate actor; ham actor
hack writer; pulp writer; scribbler
cheap, low-quality play; worthless performance · transparent act; see-through scheming
Literally 'three mon', where 文 (mon) was the smallest unit of currency in the Edo period. The figurative sense of 'paltry' or 'worthless' developed from the idea of something costing only three such coins.