Chinese Character: 买
1. Character Basics
Radical: 乙 (yǐ) or 贝 (bèi) - Traditionally classified under shell/valuable radical
Stroke Count: 6 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Mǎi (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: To buy; to purchase
4. Common Words
- 买菜 (mǎi cài) - To buy vegetables
- 购买 (gòu mǎi) - To purchase
- 买卖 (mǎi mài) - Buying and selling; business
- 买单 (mǎi dān) - To pay the bill
5. Grammar & Usage
The verb "买" is commonly used with an object (the item being purchased). It can be used in various sentence structures and is one of the most frequently used verbs in daily life.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of buying has evolved significantly with economic development. The character "买" has been used for thousands of years and reflects the long history of commercial activities in Chinese society.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 我去超市买东西。
Pinyin: Wǒ qù chāo shì mǎi dōng xī.
English: I'm going to the supermarket to buy things.
8. Memory Tips
The character "买" looks like a person (represented by the top part) holding something valuable (represented by the bottom part). You can remember it as "a person obtaining something valuable," which represents the action of buying.