Why Traders Must Master Currency Symbols and English Codes
In the foreign exchange market and international investments, currency symbols and English codes are essential tools for quickly identifying and tracking different currencies. As a trader or investor, proficient use of these symbols can significantly improve work efficiency.
For example, when you see the euro symbol € , you can immediately associate it with euro-related currency pairs such as EUR/USD or EUR/JPY. Compared to writing out “European Dollar,” using symbols and codes is not only more convenient but also facilitates rapid recognition of market trends. The essence of currency symbols is an efficient visual identification system that condenses complex currency information into an image or short code, enabling faster trading decisions.
Quick Reference Table of Major Global Currency Symbols and English Codes
The following table is categorized by region, covering major trading currencies worldwide, including their symbols, English codes, and respective countries:
Region
Country
Currency Name
English Code
Currency Symbol
Americas
United States
US Dollar
USD
$
Canada
Canadian Dollar
CAD
$
Brazil
Brazilian Real
BRL
R$
Asia
China
Renminbi
CNY
¥ / 元
Taiwan
New Taiwan Dollar
TWD
NT$
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Dollar
HKD
$ / HK$
Japan
Yen
JPY
¥
Singapore
Singapore Dollar
SGD
$
South Korea
South Korean Won
KRW
₩
India
Indian Rupee
INR
₹
Indonesia
Indonesian Rupiah
IDR
Rp
Malaysia
Malaysian Ringgit
MYR
RM
Philippines
Philippine Peso
PHP
₱
Thailand
Thai Baht
THB
฿
Vietnam
Vietnamese Dong
VND
₫
Oceania
Australia
Australian Dollar
AUD
$
New Zealand
New Zealand Dollar
NZD
$
Europe
United Kingdom
British Pound
GBP
£
Eurozone
Euro
EUR
€
Russia
Russian Ruble
RUB
₽
Ukraine
Ukrainian Hryvnia
UAH
₴
Turkey
Turkish Lira
TRY
₺
Middle East & Africa
UAE
UAE Dirham
AED
د.إ
Israel
Israeli Shekel
ILS
₪
Nigeria
Nigerian Naira
NGN
₦
Kenya
Kenyan Shilling
KES
Ksh
South Africa
South African Rand
ZAR
R
Keyboard Shortcuts for Quick Input of Currency Symbols
Frequent use of symbols in daily trading and reports makes mastering shortcut keys highly beneficial. Here are methods to input common currency symbols on Mac and Windows systems:
Currency
English Code
Symbol
Mac Shortcut
Windows Shortcut
Euro
EUR
€
Shift+option+2
Alt+E
Pound
GBP
£
Option+3
Alt+L
US Dollar
USD
$
Shift+4
Shift+4
Yen
JPY
¥
Option+Y
Alt+Y
Usage Tip: If you frequently input data in Excel or trading platforms, mastering these shortcuts can greatly reduce the need to switch input methods, boosting work efficiency.
Commonly Confused Currency Symbols and How to Distinguish Them
The Dual Identity of ¥ Symbol
The “¥” symbol represents different currencies in different countries. Japan uses it to denote Yen (JPY), while China uses it for Renminbi (CNY). To avoid confusion, international transactions typically specify as follows:
CNY¥100 = 100 Renminbi
JPY¥100 = 100 Yen
The “$” Symbol and Its Global Usage
The “$” symbol is not exclusive to the US dollar; over 30 countries worldwide use it. Common ways to distinguish include:
Currency Name
English Representation
Distinguishing Symbol
US Dollar
United States Dollar
US$
New Taiwan Dollar
New Taiwan Dollar
NT$
Canadian Dollar
Canadian Dollar
C$
Brazilian Real
Brazilian Real
R$
Hong Kong Dollar
Hong Kong Dollar
HK$
Singapore Dollar
Singapore Dollar
S$
Australian Dollar
Australian Dollar
A$
New Zealand Dollar
New Zealand Dollar
NZ$
The Meaning of ฿ Symbol in Two Contexts
The “฿” symbol has distinctly different meanings depending on the context:
Forex Market: Represents the Thai Baht (THB)
Cryptocurrency Market: Represents Bitcoin (BTC)
Traders should interpret the symbol based on the trading environment to avoid errors.
Understanding Forex Currency Pairs and Their English Codes
Forex currency pairs refer to the exchange rate between two different currencies. For example, EUR/USD indicates the euro against the US dollar, while GBP/JPY indicates the British pound against the Japanese yen. Investors buy or sell one currency to exchange for another, seeking profit.
How to Read Currency Pairs: Taking USD/GBP as an example, it indicates the rate of US dollar (USD) against the British pound (GBP), meaning how many pounds one dollar can buy.
USD = Base currency (quote currency)
GBP = Quote currency (counter currency)
When the rate rises, it indicates the base currency is appreciating; when it falls, the base currency is depreciating. Understanding this logic is crucial for correctly interpreting market trends.
Practical Recommendations
Traders are advised to store a reference table of common English codes and symbols in their trading terminals for quick lookup.
When conducting international transactions, prioritize using English codes over symbols to reduce misunderstandings caused by regional differences.
Regularly update your knowledge of currency symbols, especially for emerging market currencies and their latest codes.
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
Global Cryptocurrency Symbols Quick Reference: Quickly Master the English Codes and Input Tips for Currencies of Various Countries
Why Traders Must Master Currency Symbols and English Codes
In the foreign exchange market and international investments, currency symbols and English codes are essential tools for quickly identifying and tracking different currencies. As a trader or investor, proficient use of these symbols can significantly improve work efficiency.
For example, when you see the euro symbol € , you can immediately associate it with euro-related currency pairs such as EUR/USD or EUR/JPY. Compared to writing out “European Dollar,” using symbols and codes is not only more convenient but also facilitates rapid recognition of market trends. The essence of currency symbols is an efficient visual identification system that condenses complex currency information into an image or short code, enabling faster trading decisions.
Quick Reference Table of Major Global Currency Symbols and English Codes
The following table is categorized by region, covering major trading currencies worldwide, including their symbols, English codes, and respective countries:
Keyboard Shortcuts for Quick Input of Currency Symbols
Frequent use of symbols in daily trading and reports makes mastering shortcut keys highly beneficial. Here are methods to input common currency symbols on Mac and Windows systems:
Usage Tip: If you frequently input data in Excel or trading platforms, mastering these shortcuts can greatly reduce the need to switch input methods, boosting work efficiency.
Commonly Confused Currency Symbols and How to Distinguish Them
The Dual Identity of ¥ Symbol
The “¥” symbol represents different currencies in different countries. Japan uses it to denote Yen (JPY), while China uses it for Renminbi (CNY). To avoid confusion, international transactions typically specify as follows:
The “$” Symbol and Its Global Usage
The “$” symbol is not exclusive to the US dollar; over 30 countries worldwide use it. Common ways to distinguish include:
The Meaning of ฿ Symbol in Two Contexts
The “฿” symbol has distinctly different meanings depending on the context:
Traders should interpret the symbol based on the trading environment to avoid errors.
Understanding Forex Currency Pairs and Their English Codes
Forex currency pairs refer to the exchange rate between two different currencies. For example, EUR/USD indicates the euro against the US dollar, while GBP/JPY indicates the British pound against the Japanese yen. Investors buy or sell one currency to exchange for another, seeking profit.
How to Read Currency Pairs: Taking USD/GBP as an example, it indicates the rate of US dollar (USD) against the British pound (GBP), meaning how many pounds one dollar can buy.
When the rate rises, it indicates the base currency is appreciating; when it falls, the base currency is depreciating. Understanding this logic is crucial for correctly interpreting market trends.
Practical Recommendations