gòu

buy

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
贝 meaning component

  Meaning component

bèi

  

sea shell

In ancient China, shells were used as currency.

勾 sound component

  Sound component

gōugòu

  

hook

Evolution

购 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
购 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
购 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
购 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

gòu

buy, purchase; hire; to buy; to purchase

Most common words with 购
Freq.
Word
Meaning

购物

shopping

购买

to buy

to buy

收购

to acquire (a company)

采购

to purchase