round coin with a square hole
Historical coin design; often used when talking about old Japanese or Chinese coins.
This museum has many old coins with square holes on display.
base-metal coin; non-precious coin
Refers to coins made of copper, iron, etc., as opposed to gold or silver.
In the past, many people only had base-metal coins.
Colloquial term for money, often with a slightly rough or old-fashioned feel.
I have no money, so I can't buy anything today.
baby spotted turtle; young Japanese pond turtle
daily cash income; money paid in daily installments
one's own money; personal funds
pocket money; spending money
Standard kanji spelling for this word.
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or in informal contexts.
Kana spelling is common in casual writing.
Originally referred to a specific type of round coin with a square hole, later extended to mean coins in general and then money colloquially.