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买
mǎi
buy
我要买一杯咖啡。
I want to buy a cup of coffee.
neutral
To acquire something in exchange for money; to purchase.
他在网上买了一本书。
He bought a book online.
你想买什么礼物？
What gift do you want to buy?
Commonly used in daily conversation for transactions. Can be used with objects (买+object) or abstract items (e.g., 买保险 'buy insurance').
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 买 and 卖
买 means 'to buy' (acquire), while 卖 means 'to sell' (dispose of). Remember: 买 is for the buyer's action, 卖 for the seller's.
Gold Rule
Object placement
In 买 + object sentences, the object typically follows 买 directly (e.g., 买书 'buy a book'). For abstract items, use 买 + noun (e.g., 买保险 'buy insurance').
Word Origin
From Old Chinese '買' (OC *mreːʔ), related to the idea of exchanging goods. The character combines '网' (net) and '头' (head), possibly referencing ancient barter systems where goods were exchanged via nets or baskets.
Usage Notes
买 is the most common verb for purchasing in Mandarin. It is often used with objects (e.g., 买苹果 'buy apples') and can be combined with other verbs to form compound verbs (e.g., 买单 'pay the bill'). In some contexts, it implies a transactional relationship (e.g., 买账 'acknowledge superiority or acknowledge a debt').
Word Breakdown
买
buy/purchase
root汉英词典