Onyomi: バイ · Kunyomi: か.う · Meanings: buy
Kanji for buy
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The kanji 買 combines the “shell/money” radical (貝) with a roof-like component above, symbolizing the act of exchanging money for goods. In ancient times, shells were used as currency, so 買 represented purchasing or buying items. It came to mean “buy” or “purchase,” capturing the concept of trade and exchange.
Money under a roof — 買 means to buy, exchange money for goods or services.
Imagine handing money under a roof to get something you need — that’s 買, the kanji for buying and trading.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 買い物 | かいもの | shopping, purchased goods | common JLPT-N5 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 買う | かう | to buy, to purchase | common JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'u' ending, Transitive verb |
| 買収 | ばいしゅう | acquisition (esp. corporate), buy-out, takeover, purchase | common Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 買い手 | かいて | buyer | common Noun |
| 買い占める | かいしめる | to buy up | common Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 買い | かい | buying, shopping | common Noun |
| 買い付け | かいつけ | buying (in large quantities), (wholesale) purchase, buying in | common Noun |
| 買い得 | かいどく | bargain, good buy | common Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 買い戻す | かいもどす | to buy back, to redeem | Godan verb with 'su' ending, Transitive verb |
| 買い込む | かいこむ | to buy in quantity, to buy a lot (of), to stock up (on), to lay in | Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Transitive verb |
| 買い取る | かいとる | to buy, to purchase | Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Transitive verb |
| 買い支え | かいささえ | buying support | Noun |
| 買い手市場 | かいてしじょう | a buyer's market | Noun |
| 買いかぶる | かいかぶる | to overestimate (someone), to overrate, to think too highly of, to make too much of, to give (someone) too much credit | Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Transitive verb |
| 買い物客 | かいものきゃく | shopper, customer | Noun |