现金
xiànjīn · HSK 3
cash
💰 现金 = present/now + gold/metal — money on hand right now
现 means present or current; 金 means gold or metal, extended to money. Together: cash you have on you right now, as opposed to credit or deposits. The English clues (quids, rhino, clink) are all British slang for ready money.
金 — roof 亼 + two dots (metal nuggets) + earth 土
Originally a pictograph of metal nuggets buried in the earth beneath a covering, with the two dots representing pieces of ore. It first meant 'metal' broadly, then narrowed to 'gold' as the most precious metal, and by extension 'money'.