Usage note
零钱表示小额钱币，也可以指找回的小钱。
líng qián biǎo shì xiǎo é qián bì， yě kě yǐ zhǐ zhǎo huí de xiǎo qián。
Small change means coins or small money returned.
Context note
零钱常出现在买东西和找钱里。
líng qián cháng chū xiàn zài mǎi dōng xī hé zhǎo qián lǐ。
Small change often appears when buying things and getting change.
5 examples
我有一些零钱。
wǒ yǒu yì xiē líng qián。
I have some small change.
请找我零钱。
qǐng zhǎo wǒ líng qián。
Please give me the change.
零钱放在口袋里。
líng qián fàng zài kǒu dài lǐ。
The change is in the pocket.
我想把零钱存起来。
wǒ xiǎng bǎ líng qián cún qǐ lái。
I want to save the change.
他拿出零钱买水。
tā ná chū líng qián mǎi shuǐ。
He took out small change to buy water.
5 mini stories
买完东西以后，我把零钱放进口袋。
mǎi wán dōng xī yǐ hòu， wǒ bǎ líng qián fàng jìn kǒu dài。
After buying things, I put the change in my pocket.
妈妈让我把零钱收好，不要弄丢。
mā ma ràng wǒ bǎ líng qián shōu hǎo， bú yào nòng diū。
Mom asked me to keep the change safe and not lose it.
我用零钱买了一本小本子。
wǒ yòng líng qián mǎi le yì běn xiǎo běn zi。
I used change to buy a small notebook.
收银员找给我一些零钱。
shōu yín yuán zhǎo gěi wǒ yì xiē líng qián。
The cashier gave me some change.
零钱虽然少，也可以慢慢存起来。
líng qián suī rán shǎo， yě kě yǐ màn màn cún qǐ lái。
Even though the change is little, it can be saved slowly.
Mini dialogue
坐公交车
A
你有零钱吗？坐公交车需要硬币。
Nǐ yǒu língqián ma? Zuò gōngjiāochē xūyào yìngbì.
Do you have small change? Taking the bus needs coins.
B
我看看，我有一些零钱。
Wǒ kànkan, wǒ yǒu yìxiē língqián.
Let me see, I have some small change.
帮忙换零钱
A
你能借我一点零钱吗？
Nǐ néng jiè wǒ yìdiǎn língqián ma?
Can you lend me a little small change?
B
可以，我的零钱刚好够。
Kěyǐ, wǒ de língqián gānghǎo gòu.
Sure, my small change is just enough.
Related words and contrasts
related
零花钱
líng huā qián
pocket money
Pocket money is often given as small change.
similar
硬币
yìng bì
coin
Coins are a common form of small change.