买 mǎi to buy
How to remember 买: 乛 cap + 头 head = to buy. The teenager tries a baseball cap on his head in the mirror and begs his mum for the money to buy it.
Component breakdown
会意 · Meaning + meaning
originally 网 + 貝
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
买 = 乛 cap + 头 head
- 乛 cap shape only
- 头 head shape only
The teenager tries a baseball cap on his head in the mirror and begs his mum for the money to buy it.
How it came to be
The bronze form is a net above a cowrie shell, the shell that served as money.
How it is used
- 'To buy': 买东西 (mǎi dōngxi) go shopping, 买票 (mǎi piào) buy a ticket.
- Watch it against near-twin 卖 (mài, 4th tone) 'to sell'; together 买卖 (mǎimai) means business / trade.
Characters built with 买
Words with 买
Example sentences
- 我买了三本书。 Wǒ mǎile sān běn shū.I bought three books.
- 我买了一本书。 Wǒ mǎile yì běn shū.I bought a book.
- 他买了一瓶饮料。 Tā mǎile yì píng yǐnliào.He bought a bottle of something to drink.
- 妈妈买了一瓶香水。 Māma mǎile yì píng xiāngshuǐ.Mom bought a bottle of perfume.