買 means “buy, purchase”

かう · kau

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かう

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

バイ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 2 · 12 strokes

The story

A net (罒) cast over a cowrie shell (貝): to capture something valuable. In ancient Japan, cowrie shells were currency, and 買う meant to claim treasure from a merchant's stall. Today, from ¥100 shops to Akihabara's electric town, 買い物 (kaimono, shopping) remains Japan's beloved pastime.

Used in 買い物 (kaimono, shopping), 購買 (koubai, purchasing), and 買い手 (kaite, buyer)

Words with 買

• 買物 (かいもの, kaimono): shopping

More from Commerce & Trade

• 売 sell
• 店 shop
• 銭 coin
• 品 goods
• 値 value
• 利 profit
• 商 commerce
• 税 tax
• 安 cheap
• 高 expensive
• 払 pay
• 収 income

Learn 買 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.