noun, noun, used as a prefix
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).
そんな三文小説を読む時間がもったいない。
It's a waste of time to read such a cheap novel.
彼の提案は三文の価値もない。
His proposal isn't worth a penny.
noun
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.
江戸時代、三文はわずかな金額だった。
In the Edo period, three mon was a trifling amount of money.