Hwan Meaning in English
word
Definition
'Hwan' was the official currency of South Korea from 1953 to 1962, before being replaced by the won. It was also briefly used in North Korea. 'Hwan' refers specifically to this old unit of money.
Usage & Nuances
'Hwan' is historical and not used for modern Korean currency; today 'won' is correct. May appear in books, old coins, or historical discussions about Korea. Do not confuse 'hwan' with 'won' (the current currency). Sometimes romanized similarly, but only 'hwan' was used for this discontinued unit.
Example Sentences
The hwan was used in South Korea in the 1950s.
basic
He found an old hwan coin at the market.
basic
The hwan was replaced by the won in 1962.
basic
My grandfather still remembers using hwan to buy snacks as a child.
natural
Collectors pay a lot for rare hwan notes these days.
natural
If you see the word hwan in a book, it means the story is set in the past.
natural