购

• Pinyin: gòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 购 = 贝 (cowrie shell/currency symbol) + 冓 (interlocking framework) — conducting a structured exchange using currency

Meaning

To purchase; to buy. The formal written counterpart of 买, used in official, commercial, and administrative contexts, typically as part of compound verbs.

购 is rarely used as a standalone verb in spoken Chinese but appears extensively in compound words: 购买 (to purchase), 采购 (to procure), 网购 (online shopping), 购置 (to acquire), 购房 (property purchase). Its formal register makes it standard in government documents, financial reports, and commercial contracts.

Examples

1. 本公司已于上月通过公开招标程序采购一批医疗设备，总金额逾五百万元。 Our company procured a batch of medical equipment through an open bidding process last month, with a total value exceeding 5 million yuan.
2. 政府出台政策鼓励市民购置新能源汽车，并提供相应的财政补贴。 The government introduced policies to encourage residents to purchase new-energy vehicles and provide corresponding financial subsidies.
3. 他计划在海外留学期间，利用当地的优惠价格购入几件高端数码产品。 He plans to take advantage of favorable local prices while studying abroad to buy a few high-end digital products.

Usage Guide

Context: commerce, government, finance, procurement

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 公司今年计划购置两套自动化生产设备，以提升整体生产效率。(The company plans to acquire two sets of automated production equipment this year to improve overall production efficiency.)
• 该政策规定，个人每年通过正规渠道购汇金额不得超过等值五万美元。(The policy stipulates that individuals may not purchase foreign exchange exceeding the equivalent of USD 50,000 per year through official channels.)

Don't Say

• 将'购'单独用于口语对话 — in casual spoken Chinese use 买 instead; 购 functions mainly as a formal morpheme in compound words and written language

Origin & History

购 = 贝 (cowrie shell, symbol of currency) + 冓 (interlocking/structural) — to acquire through a structured monetary exchange.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal