Meanings of 购物
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Podcast: 购物
Podcast: 购物
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AI study notes for 购物
购物 (gòuwù) vs 买东西 (mǎi dōngxī): 购物 emphasizes the experience of shopping as a whole, while 买东西 focuses specifically on the act of buying items.
Be cautious with the tone; the correct pronunciation is gòu (4th tone) and wù (4th tone). Common collocations include 购物中心 (shopping center) and 购物车 (shopping cart). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where '消费' (consumption) might be more appropriate.
As HSK Level 4, 购物 connects with vocabulary related to daily life and transactions. Focus on using it in context with related terms such as 买 (mǎi - to buy) and 卖 (mài - to sell) to deepen understanding.
Learners often confuse 购物 with 消费 (xiāofèi), which is more general and refers to consumption rather than the act of shopping itself. For example, saying '我去消费' instead of '我去购物' can lead to ambiguity.
Pronunciation of 购物
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Component characters
How to say shopping in Chinese
“shopping” in Chinese is购物
购物 (gòuwù) means 'shopping' in Mandarin, referring to the activity of purchasing goods or services. It's commonly used in both everyday conversation and formal contexts when discussing consumer behavior or retail experiences.
When to use 购物
Be cautious with the tone; the correct pronunciation is gòu (4th tone) and wù (4th tone). Common collocations include 购物中心 (shopping center) and 购物车 (shopping cart). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where '消费' (consumption) might be more appropriate.
购物 or something close to it
购物 (gòuwù) vs 买东西 (mǎi dōngxī): 购物 emphasizes the experience of shopping as a whole, while 买东西 focuses specifically on the act of buying items.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 购物 with 消费 (xiāofèi), which is more general and refers to consumption rather than the act of shopping itself. For example, saying '我去消费' instead of '我去购物' can lead to ambiguity.
Write 购物
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Practice writing 购物 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 购物
购物 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
新的____中心耗资110万建成。
The new shopping centre was constructed at a cost of 1 million.
Example sentences for 购物 (10)
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Cultural Notes for 购物
While shopping is a universal concept, in China, the integration of online shopping with social media platforms is particularly pronounced, influencing consumer behavior more than in many Western cultures.
Frequently asked questions about 购物
You can say '我喜欢购物' (I like shopping) to express your interest.
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