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March 24, 2026
采购(採購)cǎigòu(cai3gou4)
采购 (cǎi gòu) refers to the act of procuring or purchasing goods, often in a business or commercial context. It implies a systematic process of acquiring items necessary for an organization, which can include sourcing, negotiation, and purchasing. This term is commonly used in supply chain management and corporate settings.
Frequency#12460DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese businesses, 采购 is often part of a larger procurement strategy influenced by guanxi (关系), or relationships, emphasizing the importance of trust and networks in successful purchasing decisions.
Memory Tip
Think of 采购 as 'buying the goods you need to thrive.' The character 采 (cǎi) can be visualized as picking flowers, representing the act of selecting items, while 购 (gòu) sounds like 'go' in 'go shopping.' Together, picture a busy market where a savvy shopper is picking what to buy.
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AI Study Notes for 采购
Quick Contrast
采购 (cǎigòu) vs 购买 (gòumǎi) — use 采购 for formal business contexts and systematic acquisition, while 购买 is more general and informal.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 采购 as 'buying the goods you need to thrive.' The character 采 (cǎi) can be visualized as picking flowers, representing the act of selecting items, while 购 (gòu) sounds like 'go' in 'go shopping.' Together, picture a busy market where a savvy shopper is picking what to buy.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 采购 with 买 (mǎi), which simply means 'to buy.' 采购 is more formal and specific to business contexts, while 买 is more casual. A common collocation is 采购经理 (cǎi gòu jīng lǐ), meaning 'procurement manager.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 采购 connects with other business-related vocabulary at this level, such as 合同 (hé tòng, contract) and 供应链 (gōng yìng liàn, supply chain). Focus on using 采购 in sentences that involve business transactions or corporate discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese businesses, 采购 is often part of a larger procurement strategy influenced by guanxi (关系), or relationships, emphasizing the importance of trust and networks in successful purchasing decisions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 采购 with 买, using it in casual contexts. For example, saying '我去采购一些水果' (wǒ qù cǎi gòu yīxiē shuǐguǒ) for 'I'm going to buy some fruit' is incorrect; it should be '我去买一些水果.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 采购
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Grammar Patterns of 采购
采购 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I must sally forth into town and buy my week's food.
Cultural Notes for 采购
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese businesses, 采购 is often part of a larger procurement strategy influenced by guanxi (关系), or relationships, emphasizing the importance of trust and networks in successful purchasing decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 采购
Yes, 采购 is primarily used in formal business contexts, while you might use 买 for everyday purchases.
It's not common; 采购 is specific to organizational buying, whereas 买 is more appropriate for personal use.
采购 refers to the procurement process, while 进货 (jìn huò) means 'to restock' or 'to receive goods,' focusing more on inventory management.
