Japanese word

買い

Pronunciation

Romajikai

Meaning

  • nounbuying

Example

今月は買いを控えます。kon getsu wa ka i o hika e ma su

I am holding off on buying this month.

Illustration for 買い (buying)

More examples

今月は出費が多いので、無駄な物の買いを控えています。kon getsu wa shup pi ga ō i no de mu da na mono no ka i o hika e te i ma su

I have been holding off on buying unnecessary things because I have many expenses this month.

Core concept

買い (kai) centers on obtaining goods through payment, with attention on the act of buying rather than merely browsing.

Common phrases

  • 買いに行くka i ni i ku

    go to buy

  • 買いに来るka i ni ku ru

    come to buy

  • 買いを控えるka i o hika e ru

    hold off on buying

Similar words

購入kōnyū: The act of obtaining something by paying money for it.
買い物kaimono: An activity centered on choosing and buying goods.

Definition in Japanese

商品や物を代金を支払って手に入れること。shō hin ya mono o dai kin o shi hara tte te ni i re ru ko to

Word origin

As a native Japanese word, 買い (kai, "buying") comes from 買う (kau, "to buy") in the verb's continuative form, which lets the action function as a noun.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate shopping with browsing, but 買い (kai) points more directly to the purchase itself, so it can describe the purpose of an outing without implying a long shopping trip.

Other meanings

  • shoppingnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word