买 (mǎi) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 买 (mǎi) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 买 (mǎi) means "to buy". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 6 strokes and the radical 大.

Q: How do you write 买 stroke by stroke?

买 has 6 strokes. The radical is 大. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 买 and 天?

买 (mǎi) and 天 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 买?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 大. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 买?

Common words containing 买 include: 买东西 (mǎi dōng xī) — to go shopping; 买菜 (mǎi cài) — to buy groceries; 买票 (mǎi piào) — to buy a ticket.

How to Write 买

The character 买 (mǎi) is written with 6 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 大 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

买 is pronounced mǎi in Mandarin Chinese. It means to buy.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 买 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 买

买东西 mǎi dōng xī

to go shopping

买菜 mǎi cài

to buy groceries

买票 mǎi piào

to buy a ticket

Example Sentences

周末我常去超市买东西。

zhōu mò wǒ cháng qù chāo shì mǎi dōng xī

I often go to the supermarket on weekends.

妈妈每天早上都去买菜。

mā mā měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu qù mǎi cài

Mom goes grocery shopping every morning.

请问在哪里可以买票？

qǐng wèn zài nǎ lǐ kě yǐ mǎi piào

Excuse me, where can I buy tickets?

Similar Characters

天 tiān

太 tài

夫 fu

Practice Writing 买 (mǎi)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 买 with real-time feedback.

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 买

What does 买 (mǎi) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 买 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 买 and 天?

What mistakes do learners make writing 买?

What common words use 买?

How to Write 买 (mǎi)