Character Familiestop / bottom

买mǎi

to buy; to purchase; to bring on oneself (买祸)

买 is to buy — trading money for things; the simplified shape is taught whole, since the older pieces are gone.

GF0025–2021 character list · 一级
One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.

top / bottom

ZDIC marks the formation as originally 会意 for the older 買; the simplified form keeps no readable trace of those pieces, so the modern split is a visual aid only.

top / bottom · 买

WHOLE CHARACTER

买mǎi

to buy; to purchase; to bring on oneself (买祸)

买 is to buy — trading money for things; the simplified shape is taught whole, since the older pieces are gone.

ZDIC marks the formation as originally 会意 for the older 買; the simplified form keeps no readable trace of those pieces, so the modern split is a visual aid only.

TOP HOOK-COVER STROKE PIECE

乛

Notice this part of the shape; it is not taught as a separate word in this lesson.

In 买: top hook-cover stroke piece A stroke-shaped top piece with no claimed meaning.

头-SHAPED LOWER PIECE

头tóu

head

Shown as the lower piece in 买 as a visual aid only; the historical account belongs to the older 買.

In 买: 头-shaped lower piece Shown as a visual memory aid; the standalone meaning of 头 is not claimed here.

mǎiTone 3
  • to buy; to purchase
  • to bring on oneself (买祸)
  • 买东西mǎidōngxito go shopping
  • 购买gòumǎito purchase

Checking for a Mandarin voice…