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Jiao

Jiao is a term with multiple uses in Chinese language and culture. In modern currency, jiao (角) is a unit equal to one tenth of a yuan. Ten jiao equal one yuan, and ten fen equal one jiao. In everyday speech, jiao is commonly referred to as mao (毛). Coins and banknotes have circulated in jiao denominations, and prices are often quoted to the nearest jiao or yuan.

Jiao is also a Chinese surname and a common pinyin transliteration for several Chinese characters, including 角,

Historically, the character Jiao appears in the names of ancient Chinese administrative regions and frontier districts.

Beyond currency and names, 角 has general meanings such as horn, corner, or angle. In geometry, 角 denotes

郊,
焦,
and
交.
As
a
surname,
it
appears
in
historical
and
contemporary
contexts,
with
various
lineages
across
China.
The
same
pinyin
spelling
can
correspond
to
different
characters,
depending
on
the
family
name
in
question.
Jiaozhi
(交趾)
is
a
well-known
example,
a
Chinese
designation
for
a
region
in
what
is
now
northern
Vietnam
and
parts
of
Guangxi,
recorded
in
classical
sources.
The
term
likewise
appears
in
other
toponyms
used
in
Chinese
historical
geography
across
different
dynasties.
an
angle,
and
the
term
is
used
in
phrases
describing
corners
and
projections.
The
variety
of
uses
for
Jiao
reflects
its
broad
presence
in
Chinese
language,
history,
and
culture.