Currency symbols are visual abbreviations used for quick identification of a particular currency. Their role may seem simple, but they run through the entire financial transaction chain—from offline supermarket price tags, to real-time trading data in the foreign exchange market, to international payment receipts—all relying on these seemingly inconspicuous symbols.
These symbols are not just for writing convenience; they are important markers within the economic system. The appearance of symbols like the Renminbi symbol (¥), the US dollar symbol ($), and the Euro symbol (€) essentially represents the economic status and international influence of different countries or regions. For those engaged in forex investment, international trade, or cross-border payments, mastering and correctly using these symbols is crucial.
Clarify These Easily Confused Symbols First
In practical applications, some currency symbols can cause confusion and require special attention:
¥ Symbol’s Dual Identity
In China and parts of Asia, ¥ represents the Renminbi symbol (currency code CNY)
In Japan, the same ¥ symbol stands for the Japanese Yen (currency code JPY)
To avoid confusion, the standard notation is: CNY¥100 (meaning 100 RMB) or JPY¥100 (meaning 100 Yen)
$ Symbol’s Global Usage
Over 30 countries worldwide use $ as a currency symbol, which can be confusing. Notable examples include:
Currency Name
Currency Code
Differentiated Symbol
US Dollar
USD
US$
Canadian Dollar
CAD
C$
Hong Kong Dollar
HKD
HK$
New Taiwan Dollar
TWD
NT$
Australian Dollar
AUD
A$
New Zealand Dollar
NZD
NZ$
Singapore Dollar
SGD
S$
Brazilian Real
BRL
R$
Special Symbol: ฿ with Two Meanings
In the forex market, ฿ represents the Thai Baht (Thailand’s currency)
In the cryptocurrency field, ฿ stands for Bitcoin
Interpretation depends on the specific context during trading
Major Global Currency Symbols Comparison Table
Continent
Country
Currency Name
Code
Symbol
Americas
USA
US Dollar
USD
$
Canada
Canadian Dollar
CAD
$
Brazil
Brazilian Real
BRL
R$
Asia
China
Renminbi
CNY
¥ / Yuan
Japan
Yen
JPY
¥
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Dollar
HKD
$ / HK$
Taiwan
New Taiwan Dollar
TWD
NT$
Singapore
Singapore Dollar
SGD
$
South Korea
Won
KRW
₩
India
Rupee
INR
₹
Indonesia
Rupiah
IDR
Rp
Malaysia
Ringgit
MYR
RM
Thailand
Baht
THB
฿
Vietnam
Dong
VND
₫
Europe
Eurozone
Euro
EUR
€
UK
Pound Sterling
GBP
£
Russia
Ruble
RUB
₽
Ukraine
Hryvnia
UAH
₴
Turkey
Lira
TRY
₺
Australia
Australia
Australian Dollar
AUD
$
New Zealand
New Zealand Dollar
NZD
$
Middle East & Africa
UAE
Dirham
AED
د.إ
Israel
New Shekel
ILS
₪
Nigeria
Naira
NGN
₦
Kenya
Kenyan Shilling
KES
Ksh
South Africa
Rand
ZAR
R
How to Quickly Input These Symbols on Your Keyboard?
Memorizing the following common currency symbol input methods can greatly improve your work efficiency:
Currency
Code
Symbol
Mac Shortcut
Windows Shortcut
Euro
EUR
€
Shift+Option+2
Alt+E
Pound Sterling
GBP
£
Option+3
Alt+L
US Dollar
USD
$
Shift+4
Shift+4
Yen/Renminbi
JPY/CNY
¥
Option+Y
Alt+Y
For Renminbi symbol input, in a Chinese input environment, you can also directly type “¥” or select the character “Yuan”. In some specialized software, Unicode input may be required; methods vary depending on the system and application.
Currency Pair Concepts in the Forex Market
Single currency symbols (like $, €, ¥, or the Renminbi symbol) represent the value unit of a specific currency, used for pricing and settlement.
Forex currency pairs refer to the exchange rate relationship between two currencies. For example:
EUR/USD: The exchange rate of Euro to US Dollar, indicating how many USD one Euro can buy
GBP/JPY: The exchange rate of British Pound to Japanese Yen
USD/CNY: The exchange rate of US Dollar to Renminbi
In currency pair notation, the first currency is called the base currency (the currency being exchanged), and the second currency is the quote currency (the currency used for pricing). Investors buy and sell these currency pairs to participate in the forex market, seeking profit from exchange rate fluctuations.
Mastering the symbols of various countries’ currencies and the Renminbi is the first step into forex trading. Accurately understanding currency codes and symbol systems can help you analyze market data more efficiently and make smarter trading decisions.
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Quick reference for national currency symbols: RMB symbol, complete comparison table from USD to EUR
What Exactly Are Currency Symbols?
Currency symbols are visual abbreviations used for quick identification of a particular currency. Their role may seem simple, but they run through the entire financial transaction chain—from offline supermarket price tags, to real-time trading data in the foreign exchange market, to international payment receipts—all relying on these seemingly inconspicuous symbols.
These symbols are not just for writing convenience; they are important markers within the economic system. The appearance of symbols like the Renminbi symbol (¥), the US dollar symbol ($), and the Euro symbol (€) essentially represents the economic status and international influence of different countries or regions. For those engaged in forex investment, international trade, or cross-border payments, mastering and correctly using these symbols is crucial.
Clarify These Easily Confused Symbols First
In practical applications, some currency symbols can cause confusion and require special attention:
¥ Symbol’s Dual Identity
$ Symbol’s Global Usage Over 30 countries worldwide use $ as a currency symbol, which can be confusing. Notable examples include:
Special Symbol: ฿ with Two Meanings
Major Global Currency Symbols Comparison Table
How to Quickly Input These Symbols on Your Keyboard?
Memorizing the following common currency symbol input methods can greatly improve your work efficiency:
For Renminbi symbol input, in a Chinese input environment, you can also directly type “¥” or select the character “Yuan”. In some specialized software, Unicode input may be required; methods vary depending on the system and application.
Currency Pair Concepts in the Forex Market
Single currency symbols (like $, €, ¥, or the Renminbi symbol) represent the value unit of a specific currency, used for pricing and settlement.
Forex currency pairs refer to the exchange rate relationship between two currencies. For example:
In currency pair notation, the first currency is called the base currency (the currency being exchanged), and the second currency is the quote currency (the currency used for pricing). Investors buy and sell these currency pairs to participate in the forex market, seeking profit from exchange rate fluctuations.
Mastering the symbols of various countries’ currencies and the Renminbi is the first step into forex trading. Accurately understanding currency codes and symbol systems can help you analyze market data more efficiently and make smarter trading decisions.