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March 24, 2026
购(購)gòu(gou4)
The character 购 (gòu) means 'to buy' or 'to purchase.' It is commonly used in commercial contexts, such as shopping or acquiring goods and services. The term conveys a sense of transaction and is often paired with words related to finance and commerce.
Strokes8Radical贝Frequency#7924DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shopping is often seen as a social activity, especially during festivals where people purchase gifts. The term 购 is frequently seen in advertisements and promotions, especially during shopping events like Singles' Day (双十一).
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a market holding a gold coin (金), ready to buy (购) fresh vegetables. The sound 'gòu' is like 'go' in English, encouraging you to go out and make a purchase.
Meanings of 购
gòu(gou4)
1to buy
2to purchase
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 购
购Simplified
購Traditional
8Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7924Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 购
Podcast: 购
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AI Study Notes for 购
Quick Contrast
购 (gòu) vs 买 (mǎi) — 购 is often used in formal or commercial contexts, while 买 is more casual and general.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person at a market holding a gold coin (金), ready to buy (购) fresh vegetables. The sound 'gòu' is like 'go' in English, encouraging you to go out and make a purchase.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 购 with 买 (mǎi), which also means 'to buy.' 购 is more formal and often used in written contexts, while 买 is more colloquial. Be careful with the second tone in gòu, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
购 is not included in HSK levels but is relevant for learners aiming for higher proficiency in business or commerce. Focus on recognizing it in written texts and understanding its usage in formal transactions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shopping is often seen as a social activity, especially during festivals where people purchase gifts. The term 购 is frequently seen in advertisements and promotions, especially during shopping events like Singles' Day (双十一).
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 购 with the verb 买, as learners might use 购 in casual settings where 买 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我购一个苹果' (I buy an apple) is less natural than '我买一个苹果.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 购
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Grammar Patterns of 购
购 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Shoppers took cover behind cars as police marksmen returned fire.
Cultural Notes for 购
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, shopping is often seen as a social activity, especially during festivals where people purchase gifts. The term 购 is frequently seen in advertisements and promotions, especially during shopping events like Singles' Day (双十一).
Word Family of 购
Words Containing This Character20
购物gòuwùshopping購物
购买gòumǎito buy購買
购gòuto buy購
收购shōugòuto acquire (a company)收購
采购cǎigòuto purchase採購
订购dìnggòuto subscribe訂購
认购to undertake to purchase sth認購
抢购to buy frenetically搶購
选购to buy選購
并购bìnggòuacquisition併購
购置to purchase購置
邮购mail order郵購
定购to order goods定購
代购to buy (on behalf of sb)代購
购买力purchasing power購買力
购物中心shopping center購物中心
购买者purchaser購買者
购得to purchase購得
采购员buyer採購員
导购shopper's guide導購
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 购物 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 购
Both 购 (gòu) and 买 (mǎi) mean 'to buy,' but 购 is often used in more formal contexts or in written language, while 买 is more colloquial. For instance, you might see 购 in business or legal documents.
Yes, while 购 (gòu) is more formal, it can still be used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts like shopping or discussing purchases. However, most people tend to use 买 (mǎi) in casual situations.
购 (gòu) means 'to buy' or 'to purchase' in Chinese. It is commonly used in various contexts related to buying goods or services. For example, you might see it in phrases like 购物 (gòuwù), which means 'shopping.'
You can use 购 (gòu) in sentences like '我想购一本书' (Wǒ xiǎng gòu yī běn shū), which means 'I want to buy a book.' It is often paired with other words to specify what is being purchased.
购 is more formal and often used in written contexts, while 买 is more common in everyday conversations.
Yes, but it is more commonly used for larger or more significant purchases rather than everyday items.
Absolutely, 购 is frequently seen in the context of online commerce and advertisements.
