Kanji 購: subscription, buy

Key takeaways

Kanji 購: subscription, buy. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

購

Meaning

subscriptionbuy

On reading

コウ

Radical

貝

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 購

subscription, buy

Kanji structure breakdown

購

Structure breakdown

貝 + 冓

Mnemonic story

The shell (貝) represents money in ancient times. This kanji combines money with the idea of things intertwining (冓), representing the exchange of money for goods in a 'purchase' or 'subscription'.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

コウ

購読こうどく
subscription (e.g. magazine)
購入こうにゅう
purchase / buy
購買こうばい
purchase / buying

Commonly used words

購読
こうどく
subscription (e.g. magazine)
購入
こうにゅう
purchase / buy
購買
こうばい
purchase / buying

Example sentences

Example 1

新聞を購読しています。

Translation

I subscribe to the newspaper.

Example 2

雑誌の購読をやめた。

Translation

I canceled the magazine subscription.

Example 3

新しいパソコンを購入した。

Translation

I purchased a new computer.

Example 4

インターネットで本を購入する。

Translation

I buy books on the internet.

Kanji 購: subscription, buy

Kanji at a glance

Core meaning / core image

Kanji structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

Commonly used words

Example sentences

購読 (こうどく): meaning and examples

購入 (こうにゅう): meaning and examples

購買 (こうばい): meaning and examples