About
The character for "to buy" originates from an early conceptualization of trade, where its traditional form 買 combines a net component over a shell symbol, the latter representing cowrie currency used in ancient transactions, thus etymologically conveying the idea of capturing goods through payment. This structural composition emphasizes the act of obtaining items in exchange for value, a meaning that has remained primarily stable throughout its history. Over time, the graphic form was gradually abbreviated in everyday handwriting, yielding the simplified variant 买, which distills the original notion into a more abstract and efficient configuration while retaining the fundamental sense of purchase.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我去买东西
他买一本书
我们买新房子了
她喜欢买漂亮衣服
明天我要去买菜
他决定购买一辆汽车
为了健康她只买有机食品
在网上买东西非常方便