Meanings of 買
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 買
Podcast: 買
Podcast: 買
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Drill the tone of 買 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
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
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 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.
- 1The meaning half貝 carries the sense.
- 2The giveawaymoney
- 3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 買? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 買?
Decomposition of 買
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 買?
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.
Write 買
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 買 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 買
Compound Meaning
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.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 買?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.