竞买 (jìng mǎi) — to bid (at an auction); to make a bid to purchase

Definition

竞买 (jìngmǎi) means 'to bid at an auction' — the verb for a buyer actively competing through successive bids, not just observing. Pairs with 拍卖 (auction).

verb
to bid (at an auction)to make a bid to purchase

Examples

  • 竞买。
    Tā zài pāi mài huì shàng jìng mǎi le yì fú míng huà.
    He bid on a famous painting at the auction.
  • 竞买，。
    Dì yī cì jìng mǎi shí, tā yǒu diǎn jǐn zhāng.
    She was a bit nervous when she first made a bid.
  • 竞买。
    Zhè ge wǎng zhàn yǔn xǔ yòng hù zài xiàn jìng mǎi shāng pǐn.
    This website allows users to bid on products online.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

竞jìngcompete
买mǎibuy

'竞' means compete and '买' means buy, describing buying through competitive bidding.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 競; 竞 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 競 shows 誩 (argument) above two 儿 (men), as two individuals debating vigorously; the simplified 竞 is a later abbreviation.

Open 竞 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 買; 买 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 買, 网 is a net and 貝 is a money cowrie.

Open 买 →

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