Definitions

mǎi (verb) to buy; to purchase

Etymology

Pictograph of money () coming out of a netted bag (). The simplified character was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character .

About

The character "买", meaning to buy, is the simplified form of the traditional character "買", which etymologically combines "罒" as a net symbol and "貝" for cowrie shell currency, reflecting an exchange of valuables. This structure evolved through clerical and cursive script practices that streamlined the bottom "貝" component, leading to the current form "买" with a simplified bottom. While the core sense of purchasing has remained constant, its application has broadened in compounds to encompass various forms of acquisition.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我去东西

Wǒ qù mǎi dōngxi.

I go to buy things.

一本书

Tā mǎi yì běn shū.

He buys a book.

我们新房子了

Wǒmen mǎi xīn fángzi le.

We bought a new house.

她喜欢漂亮衣服

Tā xǐhuān mǎi piàoliang yīfu.

She likes to buy beautiful clothes.

明天我要去

Míngtiān wǒ yào qù mǎi cài.

Tomorrow I will go to buy groceries.

他决定购一辆汽车

Tā juédìng gòumǎi yí liàng qìchē.

He decided to purchase a car.

为了健康她只有机食品

Wèile jiànkāng tā zhǐ mǎi yǒujī shípǐn.

For health, she only buys organic food.

在网上东西非常方便

Zài wǎngshàng mǎi dōngxi fēichāng fāngbiàn.

Buying things online is very convenient.