买 (mǎi)

Etymology

Pictograph of money (貝) coming out of a netted bag (网). The simplified character 买 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 買.

Components

• 网 (iconic, simplified)
• 头 (simplified) — Shorthand for the 貝 component in the traditional character 買. Shells were used as currency in ancient China.

Example sentences

1. 我买了。 — I'm buying.
2. 我没买。 — I didn't buy that.
3. 我买花。 — I buy flowers.
4. 我想买。 — I want to buy.
5. 我买了单。 — I paid the bill.

View all 50 example sentences for 买 →