Use “buy” for 买 with physical objects, food, drinks, or devices. Time reference does not change the token form.
Learn This Word
- Included in: Common 100 Words · Lesson 3 Open Lesson Start Study
buy
买
To obtain an item by paying for it.
Standard Mapping
- Chinese
- 买
- Pinyin
- mǎi
- Meaning
- 用钱取得物品
- Note
- Broad physical-object purchase action.
Meaning and Usage
Mapping Boundary
Correct Mapping
Yesterday I buy phone → 昨天我买手机。
Incorrect Mapping or Split
Yesterday I bought phone as the Chinglish token sequence
Reason
Canonical tokens do not take English past-tense inflection.
Chinglish Examples
They buy many book
Chinese Sentence
他们买很多书。
Full Pinyin
tā men mǎi hěn duō shū
Natural English
They buy many books.
Mother buy food
Chinese Sentence
妈妈买食物。
Full Pinyin
mā ma mǎi shí wù
Natural English
Mother buys food.
Yesterday I buy phone
Chinese Sentence
昨天我买手机。
Full Pinyin
zuó tiān wǒ mǎi shǒu jī
Natural English
I bought a phone yesterday.
They buy water
Chinese Sentence
他们买水。
Full Pinyin
tā men mǎi shuǐ
Natural English
They buy water.