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, 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.

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

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