购物 (gòu wù) — to go shopping | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

购物 (gòuwù) is the activity of shopping / going shopping — broader than 买 ('to buy' one thing). 购买 is the more formal written equivalent.

verb

to go shopping

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

购物 pairs 购 'buy' with 物 'goods', giving the idea of shopping.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 購; 购 is its simplified writing.

貝冓購

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèishellfish

Sound part声符shēngfú

冓

冓gòu購gòu

Same sound today

The traditional form 購 pairs 貝, a shellfish, with 冓, which gives the sound; the simplified 购 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Appears in