円玉(えんだま)

えんだま
noun
yen coin (used after a denomination, e.g. 100{円玉|えんだま} "100-yen coin")
1. yen coin; coin of a given yen denomination
A noun used to refer to a yen coin of a specified value. Almost always preceded by a numeric denomination — the standard ones are 一円玉(いちえんだま) (¥1), 五円玉(ごえんだま) (¥5), 十円玉(じゅうえんだま) (¥10), 五十円玉(ごじゅうえんだま) (¥50), 百円玉(ひゃくえんだま) (¥100), and 五百円玉(ごひゃくえんだま) (¥500). On its own, 円玉(えんだま) just means "yen coin" generically, in contrast to お札(おさつ) ("bills").
百円玉(ひゃくえんだま)を出(だ)す。
I take out a 100-yen coin.
財布(さいふ)に五百円玉(ごひゃくえんだま)が一枚(いちまい)ある。
I have one 500-yen coin in my wallet.
自動販売機(じどうはんばいき)は十円玉(じゅうえんだま)も使(つか)える。
The vending machine accepts 10-yen coins, too.
机(つくえ)の引(ひ)き出(だ)しを開(あ)けたら、何年分(なんねんぶん)もの一円玉(いちえんだま)と五円玉(ごえんだま)がたくさん出(で)てきた。
When I opened the desk drawer, years' worth of 1-yen and 5-yen coins came tumbling out.

円玉(えんだま) is a compound of 円(えん) ("yen") and 玉(だま)/玉(たま) ("ball, round object," a suffix used for round small objects including coins). It denotes a yen coin and is essentially always preceded by a numeric denomination, although in contrastive contexts it can stand alone (e.g. 円玉(えんだま)とお札(おさつ), "coins and bills").

FORMATION:

  • 一円玉(いちえんだま): 1-yen coin (aluminum)
  • 五円玉(ごえんだま): 5-yen coin (brass, with center hole)
  • 十円玉(じゅうえんだま): 10-yen coin (bronze)
  • 五十円玉(ごじゅうえんだま): 50-yen coin (cupronickel, with center hole)
  • 百円玉(ひゃくえんだま): 100-yen coin (cupronickel)
  • 五百円玉(ごひゃくえんだま): 500-yen coin (the largest in everyday circulation)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 百円玉(ひゃくえんだま)を入(い)れる: to insert a 100-yen coin (e.g., into a vending machine)
  • 五百円玉(ごひゃくえんだま)を貯(た)める: to save up 500-yen coins (a popular saving habit)
  • 小銭(こぜに)と円玉(えんだま)を分(わ)ける: to separate coins from bills

COUNTER:

  • The counter for coins as physical objects is 枚(まい) when speaking of an individual coin: 百円玉(ひゃくえんだま)一枚(いちまい) ("one 100-yen coin"). In casual speech, 個(こ) also occurs.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 小銭(こぜに): small change / coins (collective)
  • 硬貨(こうか): coin (the formal/written term, used in laws and bank language)
  • お札(さつ) / 紙幣(しへい): paper bills
  • 玉(たま) / 玉(だま): ball, round object (used in many other compounds: 目玉(めだま) "eyeball," 水玉(みずたま) "water drop / polka dot")

USAGE NOTES:

  • The reading is rendaku-shifted: 玉(たま) → だま after another element (百円(ひゃくえん) + 玉(たま) → ひゃくえんだま).
  • 円玉(えんだま) is used in everyday speech; in formal writing, banking, and legal contexts, the coin is referred to as 硬貨(こうか) (e.g., 百円硬貨(ひゃくえんこうか)).
general
Added 2026.5.9 21:08
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