How to say "buy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 買うかうgodan verb, transitive verbThe all-purpose word for buying or purchasing something, with no special nuance; use it for ordinary purchases such as food, clothes, tickets, or a car.
- 仕入れるしいれるichidan verb, transitive verbBuying in the sense of stocking up: purchasing goods, materials, or supplies for a business to sell or use, as when a shop owner buys merchandise from a wholesaler.
- 買い取るかいとるgodan verb, transitive verbBuying something from someone and taking it over, as when a dealer buys a used car from its owner; it also covers 'buy out' in the sense of acquiring a business or someone's share.その家は買い取られた。↗The house has been bought.
- 買い求めるかいもとめるichidan verb, transitive verbBuying something you want or have been looking for; it carries a nuance of seeking an item out and obtaining it, as when fans buy a newly released record.
- godan verb, transitive verbHumble language for receiving or accepting something; its 'buy' sense is the polite 'I'll take this' said when accepting the item you are buying, so it is seldom the word you want for buying itself.
Choose 「買う」 for buying in general, 「仕入れる」 for laying in stock or materials, 「買い取る」 for buying from someone or buying out, 「買い求める」 for buying something you have been seeking, and 「いただく」 only as humble 'I'll take it'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 買うかうto buy
- 仕入れるしいれるto buy (stock, materials, etc.)
- 買い取るかいとるto buy
- 買い求めるかいもとめるto buy
- いただくto receive
- 買い上げるかいあげるto buy (of a government, public agency, etc. from a private citizen)
- おごるto treat (someone) to (something)
- 買い揃えるかいそろえるto buy (a set of items)
- 購うあがなうto buy
- 譲り受けるゆずりうけるto buy
- 整えるととのえるto get ready
- 取るとるto subscribe to (e.g. a newspaper)
- 求めるもとめるto purchase
- 召すめすto buy
- 召されるめされるto buy
See also
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