to buy

JLPT N5 6 strokes

Words with this Kanji

The verb (mǎi) means "to buy" and is one of the most common verbs in daily Chinese conversation. It is used to describe the action of purchasing goods or services.

Usage and Context

is typically followed by the object being purchased, such as (buy books) or 礼物 (buy gifts). It can be used in various tenses with particles like to indicate completed actions (e.g., ). It also appears in expressions about affordability, such as (cannot afford to buy).

Common Collocations

  • 东西: to buy things, a very common phrase used in everyday shopping contexts.
  • 礼物: to buy gifts, often used when talking about presents.
  • : cannot afford to buy, used to express financial inability.
  • : to buy online, reflecting modern shopping habits.

Pragmatic Notes

When using , speakers often imply a transaction involving money and goods. It is a neutral verb suitable for formal and informal contexts. Avoid confusing with verbs like (mài, to sell).

Example Sentences

I bought a book yesterday.

What gift do you want to buy?

He bought many things online.

You should pay attention to quality when buying things.

He cannot afford to buy that car.