The yen is the official currency of Japan, similar to how the United States uses dollars or the United Kingdom uses pounds. If you traveled to Tokyo and wanted to buy a bowl of ramen or visit an arcade, you'd need to exchange your dollars for yen. The symbol for yen looks like this: ¥.

Today, one U.S. dollar often equals a little over 100 yen, depending on exchange rates, so prices in Japan look much bigger in numbers than Americans are used to. A candy bar that costs two dollars might cost around 300 yen.

The word yen can also mean a strong desire or craving for something. You might have a yen for pizza after smelling it baking, or develop a yen for learning skateboarding after watching skilled riders at the park. When someone says “I have a yen for adventure,” they mean they feel a powerful urge to try something new and exciting.