大人買い
Meaning: Buying in bulk or splurging on things you couldn't afford as a child, using adult purchasing power.
A satisfying term for the experience of using adult income to buy entire sets of manga, boxes of trading cards, or collections of toys that were once out of reach. It captures a specific kind of nostalgia-driven consumer behaviour where adults indulge their inner child. Common in otaku culture and among anyone revisiting childhood hobbies with an adult budget.
Examples
- ボーナス入ったからワンピース全巻大人買いした。 发了奖金,把《海贼王》全套漫画一口气买了。Me llegó la paga extra y me compré todos los tomos de One Piece de golpe.보너스 들어와서 원피스 전권 어른 사기했어.
- コンビニのスイーツ全種類大人買いしたい衝動に駆られた。 好想把便利店的甜品全种类都大人买一遍。Me entraron unas ganas irresistibles de comprar todos los dulces del konbini de una vez.편의점 디저트 전 종류 어른 사기하고 싶은 충동에 휩싸였어.
- 子供の頃買えなかったガンプラを大人買いするのが夢だった。 小时候买不起的高达模型,大人买一直是我的梦想。Mi sueño era poder comprarme a lo loco los Gunpla que no podía permitirme de pequeño.어릴 때 못 사던 건프라를 어른 사기하는 게 꿈이었어.
Pronunciation
/o.to.na.ga.i/
Usage Guide
Context: shopping, social media, friends
Tone: indulgent, triumphant
✓ Do Say
- ポケカ全部大人買いしちゃった (I went and adult-bought all the Pokemon cards)宝可梦卡牌全部大人买了(I went and adult-bought all the Pokemon cards)Me compré todas las cartas de Pokémon a lo bestia (I went and adult-bought all the Pokemon cards)포켓몬 카드 전부 어른 사기해 버렸어 (포켓몬 카드 다 질러 버렸어)
- 大人買いできる年齢になったの嬉しい (I'm happy I'm old enough to do adult buying)到了能大人买的年纪真开心(I'm happy I'm old enough to do adult buying)Me alegra tener la edad para poder darme estos caprichos (I'm happy I'm old enough to do adult buying)어른 사기할 수 있는 나이가 된 게 행복해 (어른 사기할 나이가 되어서 기뻐)
✗ Don't Say
- 経済的に苦しい人の前で「大人買いした」と自慢しない (Don't brag about your adult haul in front of people who are financially struggling)不要在经济拮据的人面前炫耀'我大人买了'(Don't brag about your adult haul in front of people who are financially struggling)No presumas de tus compras compulsivas delante de gente con dificultades económicas (Don't brag about your adult haul in front of people who are financially struggling)경제적으로 어려운 사람 앞에서 '어른 사기했다'고 자랑하지 않는다 (형편이 어려운 사람 앞에서 대량 구매 자랑을 하면 안 된다)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 大人買い only applies to children's items — it can refer to any impulsive bulk purchase
- Using it for regular grocery shopping — it specifically implies indulgence or nostalgia
Origin & History
Emerged in the 2000s consumer culture as a term for adults who used their disposable income to indulge in childhood favourites. E-commerce and online shopping made bulk purchasing easier, accelerating the trend.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s consumer culture, boosted by e-commerce
Generation: Adults 20s-40s, especially otaku culture
Social background: Middle class with disposable income
Regional notes: Used nationwide. Especially common in conversations about manga, toys, and collectibles.
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