‘Yáo qián shù’ literally means ‘shake-money tree’ — a mythical tree that drops coins when shaken. It originates from Chinese folklore and symbolizes an effortless, abundant source of wealth or income. Though not a real plant, it appears in stories, idioms, and modern metaphors to describe people, businesses, investments, or even jobs that reliably generate money with little effort.

The characters combine meaningfully: 摇 (yáo) means ‘to shake’, 钱 (qián) means ‘money’, and 树 (shù) means ‘tree’. Together, they form a vivid, humorous image — like shaking a tree and having cash fall into your hands. The term is often used figuratively and carries a slightly playful or ironic tone, especially when referring to something that seems too good to be true or depends on luck or unsustainable conditions.