買う

• Reading: かう
• Romaji: kau
• Kanji breakdown: 買 (bai/ka) — to buy, to purchase
• Pronunciation: /ka.ɯ/

Meaning

To buy; to purchase. The fundamental verb for shopping and transactions.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with a う stem. Te-form is 買って (note the っ). One of the first verbs learners encounter in shopping scenarios. を marks the item purchased, で marks the location or means of purchase. The opposite is 売る (uru, to sell).

Examples

1. スーパーで牛乳を買いました。 I bought milk at the supermarket.
2. 新しい靴を買いたいです。 I want to buy new shoes.
3. 誕生日のプレゼントを買ってきます。 I'll go buy a birthday present.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, daily life, gifts

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 買 originally contained 貝 (cowrie shell) at its base, reflecting the ancient use of shells as currency in trade.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal