Nuance & Usage
買う is the basic verb for "to buy." It is a godan verb (う-verb), so its て-form is 買って (katte) and past form is 買った (katta). Related expressions: 買い物をする (kaimono o suru — to go shopping), 買い物客 (kaimonkyaku — shopper), 買い物袋 (kaimono bukuro — shopping bag). The polite request form 買ってください asks someone to buy something for you, while 買いに行く means "to go out to buy."
Common Mistakes
Don't confuse 買う (kau — to buy) with 飼う (kau — to keep/raise an animal) — same pronunciation! Context usually clarifies: ペットを飼う (keep a pet) vs. 本を買う (buy a book). Also, the て-form 買って is used in 買ってきて (go buy and bring back), a very common request pattern: コーヒーを買ってきてください (Please go buy some coffee).
Example Sentences (3)
スーパーで野菜を買いました。
すーぱーでやさいをかいました。
I bought vegetables at the supermarket.
この服を買ってもいいですか？
このふくをかってもいいですか？
Is it okay if I buy these clothes?
誕生日プレゼントを買いに行きましょう。
たんじょうびぷれぜんとをかいにいきましょう。
Let's go buy a birthday present.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 買う with 4 different question types.
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