Japanese · Daily Life
買い物
kaimono
Shopping
Beginnernoun
Definition
The activity of buying goods. Japan is renowned for its shopping culture, with everything from luxury department stores (百貨店 hyakkaten) to vibrant open-air markets.
Example
週末に友達と買い物に行きます。
I am going shopping with friends on the weekend.
Etymology
The term 買い物 (kaimono) comes from 買い (kai), meaning 'to buy,' and 物 (mono), meaning 'thing' or 'object.' The compound word has evolved to signify the act of purchasing goods.
How & Where It’s Used
買い物 is commonly used in everyday conversation and is informal and spoken in nature. It refers to all types of shopping experiences, from grocery shopping to retail. There may be variations in terminology based on regional practices.