Learn a Chinese Character - 购

1. Character Basics

Radical: 贝/贝 (bèi, shell/money, indicates related to money, value, or commerce)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gòu (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: To buy; to purchase; to shop

The character "购" primarily denotes the action of acquiring goods or services in exchange for payment. It represents the act of purchasing and is fundamental to commercial activities and daily transactions.

4. Common Words

• 购买 (gòu mǎi) - To buy; to purchase
  Example: 我需要购买一些日用品。(Wǒ xū yào gòu mǎi yī xiē rì yòng pǐn.) - I need to buy some daily necessities.
• 购物 (gòu wù) - Shopping
  Example: 她喜欢去购物中心。(Tā xǐ huan qù gòu wù zhōng xīn.) - She likes to go to the shopping mall.
• 采购 (cǎi gòu) - Procurement; purchasing
  Example: 公司派他去采购办公用品。(Gōng sī pài tā qù cǎi gòu bàn gōng yòng pǐn.) - The company sent him to purchase office supplies.
• 订购 (dìng gòu) - To order; to place an order
  Example: 我已经订购了一本书。(Wǒ yǐ jīng dìng gòu le yī běn shū.) - I have already ordered a book.
• 抢购 (qiǎng gòu) - To panic buy; to snap up
  Example: 顾客们在抢购打折商品。(Gù kè men zài qiǎng gòu dǎ zhé shāng pǐn.) - Customers are snapping up discounted goods.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb

Usage Patterns:

• As a verb: Often followed by objects (the items being purchased)
• Can be used in both formal and informal contexts

Common Collocations:

• 购买力 (gòu mǎi lì) - Purchasing power
• 购物车 (gòu wù chē) - Shopping cart; shopping trolley
• 购物清单 (gòu wù qīng dān) - Shopping list
• 网购 (wǎng gòu) - Online shopping
• 团购 (tuán gòu) - Group buying

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character "购" has evolved alongside the development of commerce and trade. The radical "贝" (bèi) at the left side of the character indicates its connection to money, as shells were used as currency in ancient China.

Throughout history, "购" has been an essential character reflecting economic activities. In contemporary China, with the rise of e-commerce, words containing "购" such as 网购 (wǎng gòu, online shopping) have become increasingly important in daily life.

The character also reflects changing consumer behaviors and economic patterns in Chinese society, from traditional marketplaces to modern digital commerce platforms.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Component Breakdown:

The character "购" consists of two parts:

• Left: 贝 (bèi) - shell/money (radical)
• Right: 勾 (gōu) - hook; to hook
• Think of "hooking onto something valuable" when buying.

2. Visual Association:

Imagine using money (贝) to hook (勾) or obtain goods you want to buy - this visual can help you remember the meaning of "购" (to buy, to purchase).

3. Memory Mnemonic:

"贝 (money) + 勾 (hook) = 购 (buy)": Using money to hook or obtain something.

4. Related Words Practice:

Practice writing and using words containing "购" such as 购买 (gòu mǎi), 购物 (gòu wù), and 网购 (wǎng gòu) to reinforce your memory of the character.