Japanese symbol for “buy”

買う

かう

Romaji: kau

to buy; to purchase

In Japanese, buy is 買う, read かう (kau).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

v5u, vt to buy; to purchase
v5u, vt to value (highly); to think highly of; to have a high opinion of; to appreciate; to recognize
v5u, vt to incur (someone's anger, displeasure, etc.); to elicit (e.g. sneers); to invite (e.g. scorn); to evoke; to arouse; to win (someone's favour)
v5u, vt to accept; to take on; to take up
v5u, vt to pay for (a prostitute, geisha, etc.)

Kanji and stroke order

買

buy

on: バイ
kun: か.う

12 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “buy”

Word	Reading	Meaning
仕入れる	しいれる shiireru	to buy (stock, materials, etc.); to purchase; to lay in
買い取る	かいとる kaitoru	to buy; to purchase; to buy out
取る	とる toru	to subscribe to (e.g. a newspaper); to take; to buy
頂く	いただく itadaku	to receive; to get; to accept
買い求める	かいもとめる kaimotomeru	to buy

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
買取	かいとり kaitori	purchase; buying; buying out
買い物	かいもの kaimono	shopping; purchased goods
買収	ばいしゅう baishuu	acquisition (esp. corporate); buy-out; takeover
売買	ばいばい baibai	trade; buying and selling; trafficking (e.g. of humans, arms, drugs)
買い	かい kai	buying; shopping