購入

• Reading: こうにゅう
• Romaji: kounyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 購 (kō) — buy, subscribe; 入 (nyū) — enter, put in
• Pronunciation: /koː.ɲɯː/

Meaning

Purchase; buying; the act of acquiring goods or services by paying for them.

A noun (also used as する verb: 購入する) that is the formal equivalent of 買う (to buy). Commonly seen in business documents, online shopping, contracts, and official communications. More formal than 買い物 (shopping) or 買う (to buy). Common phrases: 購入する (to purchase), 購入者 (purchaser), 購入価格 (purchase price).

Examples

1. オンラインで新しいパソコンを購入した。 I purchased a new computer online.
2. この商品は購入後の返品ができません。 This product cannot be returned after purchase.
3. 住宅の購入を検討しているが、まだ決められない。 I'm considering purchasing a home, but I still can't make up my mind.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, business, contracts

Tone: professional

Origin & History

Compound of 購 (subscribe, buy) + 入 (enter, put in). The character 購 originally meant to exchange goods, and combined with 入 forms the concept of acquiring through payment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal