购买 gòumǎi to purchase
to purchase; to buy
How to remember 购买: 购 to buy + 买 to buy = to purchase.
Characters
How it is used
- The formal, written twin of 买 - same meaning, higher register.
- Shows up in contracts, ads, official notices: 购买保险 (purchase insurance), 购买力 (purchasing power).
- Sounds stiff in casual talk - telling a friend 我购买了一件衣服 is odd; say 我买了 instead.
- Reach for 购买 in writing or formal speech, 买 in everyday conversation.
Example sentences
- 您现在不必购买任何东西。 Nín xiànzài búbì gòumǎi rènhé dōngxī.You don't have to buy anything right now.
- 我购买一本书花费了三十美元。 Wǒ gòumǎi yī běnshū huāfèi le sānshí měiyuán.I spent thirty dollars on a book.