買い物

• Reading: かいもの
• Romaji: kaimono
• Kanji breakdown: 買 (kai) — to buy; 物 (mono) — thing, object
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.mo.no/

Meaning

Shopping; the act of buying things. Also refers to purchased goods or items bought.

A noun formed from the verb 買う (kau, to buy) and 物 (mono, thing). Functions as a する verb: 買い物する or 買い物をする means 'to go shopping.' One of the most commonly used words when talking about errands, grocery runs, or retail outings.

Examples

1. 週末にデパートで買い物をしました。 I went shopping at the department store over the weekend.
2. 母は毎日スーパーで買い物をします。 My mom goes grocery shopping at the supermarket every day.
3. 買い物が多くて荷物が重いです。 I bought so much stuff that my bags are heavy.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, errands, retail

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 買い (buying, from the verb 買う) and 物 (thing, object). The kanji 買 depicts a net (罒) above a shell/money (貝), representing capturing goods with currency.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal