買う vs 買い求める
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 買う
Listen to 買い求める
| 買う | 買い求める |
|---|---|
KA-u verb (transitive) | かいもとめる (kaimotomeru) verb (transitive) |
| to buy; to purchase | to seek to buy; to purchase after actively seeking or desiring something |
How they differ
買い求める emphasizes the act of seeking out or desiring to obtain something (often with effort or intention), whereas 買う is a neutral verb for the act of buying. 買い求める can sound slightly literary or expressive, highlighting the buyer's intention or eagerness.
When to use each
When to use 買う: Prefer 買う for simple statements about buying without any nuance of seeking or desire.
When to use 買い求める: Prefer 買い求める when you want to stress that someone went out of their way to obtain something or to add a slightly literary/expressive tone.
Side-by-side examples
- 彼は限定版のフィギュアを買った。
(He bought the limited-edition figurine.) - 多くのファンが発売日に限定版のフィギュアを買い求めた。
(Many fans sought to buy the limited-edition figurine on the release day.)
Register & nuance: 買い求める is somewhat more literary or emphatic than casual 買う and is used when emphasizing effort, desire, or intent.