选购 (xuǎn gòu) — to select and purchase, to shop for

Definition

选购 combines 选 ('select/choose') and 购 ('purchase'), so it emphasizes the deliberation of shopping for something specific, not just buying. It is more deliberate than 买 and more about comparing options than 购买.

verb

to select and purchaseto shop for

Examples

选购。
Wǒ zài wǎng shàng xuǎn gòu le yì tái xīn diàn nǎo.
I selected and bought a new computer online.
，选购。
Zhè jiā diàn de jiā diàn zhǒng lèi hěn duō, nǐ kě yǐ màn màn xuǎn gòu.
This store has many types of appliances; you can take your time choosing and buying.
，选购。
Wèi le mǎi dào hé shì de lǐ wù, tā xuǎn gòu le hěn jiǔ.
She spent a long time selecting and buying a suitable gift.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

选xuǎnchoose

购gòubuy

选 (choose) and 购 (buy) are parallel actions, so it means to shop for.

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 選; 选 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

止止zhǐ

Sound part声符shēngfú

巽

巽xùn選xuǎn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 選 combines 止 with 巽, which gives the sound xùn; its sense of choosing is explained as rejecting or sending someone back. Simplified 选 is a shorthand.

Open 选 →

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.

Open 购 →