What does “kau” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “kau” to mean ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is often used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “kau” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “kau”
- Kawanai: the nai form of “kau”
- Kaou: the volitional form of “kau”
- Kaimasu: the masu form of “kau”
- Katta: the ta form of “kau”
- Katte: the te form of “kau”
- Kaeba: the ba form of “kau”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “kau”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kau”.
- kau – 買う (かう) : a verb meaning ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese.
The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “buy” in Japanese
tokidoki boku wa ringo wo kau – 時々僕は林檎を買う (ときどきぼくはりんごをかう)
Sometimes I buy apples.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- ringo – 林檎 (りんご) : a noun meaning ‘apple’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “ringo” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “kau”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. This usage is worth knowing, I think. When we want to mean ‘to buy’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “kau”. The first one is “kawanai”.
Kawanai: the nai form of “kau”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kawanai”.
- kawanai – 買わない (かわない) : the nai form of “kau”, which means ‘not to buy’ or ‘not to purchase’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kawanai” consists of the following two parts:
- kawa – 買わ (かわ) : one conjugation of “kau”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kawanai” is literally the nai form of “kau” and means ‘not to buy’ or ‘not to purchase’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t buy” in Japanese
boku wa kono mise de okome wo kawanai – 僕はこの店でお米を買わない (ぼくはこのみせでおこめをかわない)
I don’t buy rice at this store.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “mise” to say “this store” in Japanese.
- mise – 店 (みせ) : a noun meaning ‘store’, ‘shop’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kono mise” to say where the speaker doesn’t buy rice.
- okome – お米 (おこめ) : a noun meaning ‘rice’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “kawanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to buy’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Kaou: the volitional form of “kau”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kaou”.
- kaou – 買おう (かおう) : the volitional form of “kau”, which expresses volition to buy or purchase.
Grammatically, “kaou” consists of the following two parts:
- kao – 買お (かお) : one conjugation of “kau”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kaou” is literally the volitional form of “kau” and expresses volition to buy or purchase. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s buy” in Japanese
ano kuruma wo kaou – あの車を買おう (あのくるまをかおう)
Let’s buy that car!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “kuruma” to say “that car” in Japanese.
- kuruma – 車 (くるま) : a noun meaning ‘car’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kaou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s buy” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Kaimasu: the masu form of “kau”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kaimasu”.
- kaimasu – 買います (かいます) : the masu form of “kau”, which means ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kaimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- kai – 買い (かい) : one conjugation of “kau”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kaimasu” is literally the masu form of “kau” and means ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “buy” politely in Japanese
boku wa tamani ichigo wo kaimasu – 僕はたまに苺を買います (ぼくはたまにいちごをかいます)
I occasionally buy strawberries.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.
- ichigo – 苺 (いちご) : a noun meaning ‘strawberry’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kaimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “buy” or “purchase” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Katta: the ta form of “kau”
Below are the definition and meanings of “katta”.
- katta – 買った (かった) : the ta form of “kau”, which means ‘bought’ or ‘purchased’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “katta” consists of the following two parts:
- kat – 買っ (かっ) : one conjugation of “kau”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “katta” is literally the ta form of “kau” and means ‘bought’ or ‘purchased’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “bought” in Japanese
kare wa kyonen ie wo katta – 彼は去年家を買った (かれはきょねんいえをかった)
He bought a house last year.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
- kyonen – 去年 (きょねん) : a noun meaning ‘last year’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “last year” in Japanese.
- ie – 家 (いえ) : a noun meaning ‘house’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “katta”. When we want to say “bought” in Japanese, this ta form is a good option.
Katte: the te form of “kau”
Below are the definition and meanings of “katte”.
- katte – 買って (かって) : the te form of “kau”, which means ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “katte” consists of the following two parts:
- kat – 買っ (かっ) : one conjugation of “kau”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “katte” is literally the te form of “kau”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “katte” is very useful when we want to use “kau” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “buy and” in Japanese
boku wa yoku yasai wo katte taberu – 僕はよく野菜を買って食べる (ぼくはよくやさいをかってたべる)
I often buy vegetables and eat them.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- yoku – よく : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘often’ in Japanese.
- yasai – 野菜 (やさい) : a noun meaning ‘vegetable’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- taberu – 食べる (たべる) : a verb meaning ‘to eat’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “katte”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “taberu”. When we want to use “kau” in front of another verb, its te form is very useful.
Kaeba: the ba form of “kau”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kaeba”.
- kaeba – 買えば (かえば) : the ba form of “kau”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kaeba” consists of the following two parts:
- kae – 買え (かえ) : one conjugation of “kau”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kaeba” is literally the ba form of “kau”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kaeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if buy” in Japanese
ima kore wo kaeba, are mo tsuke masu – 今これを買えば、あれも付けます (いまこれをかえば、あれもつけます)
If you buy this now, I’ll give you that, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
- kore – これ : a demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘this’ in Japanese.
- are – あれ : a demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘that’ in Japanese.
- mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “are” to make the object with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
- tsuke – 付け (つけ) : one conjugation of the verb, “tsukeru”, which means ‘to add’, ‘to attach’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
This is a typical usage of “kaeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ima kore wo kaeba”, which means ‘if you buy this now’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to buy’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained “kau” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- kau – 買う (かう) : a verb meaning ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese.
- kawanai – 買わない (かわない) : the nai form of “kau”, which means ‘not to buy’ or ‘not to purchase’ in Japanese.
- kaou – 買おう (かおう) : the volitional form of “kau”, which expresses volition to buy or purchase.
- kaimasu – 買います (かいます) : the masu form of “kau”, which means ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ politely in Japanese.
- katta – 買った (かった) : the ta form of “kau”, which means ‘bought’ or ‘purchased’ in Japanese.
- katte – 買って (かって) : the te form of “kau”, which means ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese.
- kaeba – 買えば (かえば) : the ba form of “kau”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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