kau3 mat6購物购物
Jyutpingkau3 mat6
Yalekau maht
Definition
To do shopping; to shop.
neutralshopping
How it's used
While 購物 is understood by everyone, it carries a slightly formal or commercial tone compared to the ubiquitous 買嘢. You will often see 購物 used in advertisements, mall signage, or when discussing shopping as a leisure activity or hobby. In casual, day to day conversation about the act of buying specific items, 買嘢 is almost always preferred.
Examples
I am off today, where should we go shopping later?
She loves shopping and is always buying lots of clothes.
Related words
Common phrases
shopping mall
shopaholic
shopping paradise
Common mistake
Avoid using 購物 when you simply mean buying groceries or daily necessities, as it sounds overly formal and slightly pretentious in that context. Stick to 買嘢 for routine errands.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
