Meanings of 買
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Podcast: 買
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AI study notes for 買
卖 (mài) - use '買' (mǎi) when referring to the act of purchasing, and '卖' (mài) when discussing the act of selling.
Be mindful of the context in which you use '買'. While it primarily means 'to buy', using it to imply bribery can lead to misunderstandings, especially in formal settings. Common collocations include '買東西' (mǎi dōngxi, to buy things) and '買票' (mǎi piào, to buy tickets).
Although '買' is not categorized under a specific HSK level, it is essential for beginners as it relates to everyday activities like shopping. Focus on its pronunciation and practice using it in simple sentences to build confidence.
Learners often confuse '買' (mǎi) with '賣' (mài), leading to sentences like '我想賣這個' (I want to buy this), which is incorrect. Remember that '買' is for purchasing, while '賣' is for selling.
Pronunciation of 買
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Etymology of 買
Pictograph of money (貝) coming out of a netted bag (网). The simplified character 买 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 買.
money
Origin
What kind of character is 買?
Decomposition of 買
Parts
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How to say to buy, to purchase; to bribe, to persuade in Chinese
“to buy, to purchase; to bribe, to persuade” in Chinese is買
The character '買' (mǎi) means 'to buy' or 'to purchase' and is commonly used in contexts related to shopping and transactions. It can also imply the act of bribing or persuading someone, although this usage is less common and carries a negative connotation. Understanding its primary meaning is essential for engaging in everyday commerce in Mandarin-speaking environments.
When to use 買
Be mindful of the context in which you use '買'. While it primarily means 'to buy', using it to imply bribery can lead to misunderstandings, especially in formal settings. Common collocations include '買東西' (mǎi dōngxi, to buy things) and '買票' (mǎi piào, to buy tickets).
買 or something close to it
卖 (mài) - use '買' (mǎi) when referring to the act of purchasing, and '卖' (mài) when discussing the act of selling.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '買' (mǎi) with '賣' (mài), leading to sentences like '我想賣這個' (I want to buy this), which is incorrect. Remember that '買' is for purchasing, while '賣' is for selling.
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Word Family of 買
Characters with 買
What does 买 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 買
You can say '我想買這個' (wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhège), which means 'I want to buy this.'
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