买菜
To buy groceries
Literally: Buy vegetables
Use `买菜` for any trip to get fresh ingredients for cooking, regardless of the specific items.
In 15 Seconds
- Covers all food shopping, not just vegetables.
- Essential for daily life and domestic conversations.
- Implies shopping for fresh ingredients for a meal.
Meaning
This is the go-to phrase for the act of shopping for fresh food. While it literally means 'buying vegetables,' it actually covers everything you'd need for a meal, like meat, eggs, and fruit.
Key Examples
3 of 6Telling a roommate your plans
我出门买菜，你想要什么吗？
I'm going out to buy groceries, do you want anything?
Explaining why you are busy
对不起，我现在在买菜，晚点打给你。
Sorry, I'm buying groceries right now, I'll call you later.
A polite greeting to a neighbor
王奶奶，您又去买菜啊？
Grandma Wang, are you going grocery shopping again?
Cultural Background
Traditionally, Chinese households value freshness above all else, leading to the daily ritual of visiting wet markets. The phrase reflects a culture where food is the center of family life and social connection. Even with the rise of e-commerce, 'buying vegetables' remains the ultimate symbol of domestic responsibility and 'living life' (生活气息).
It's not just greens!
Remember that `菜` in this context means 'ingredients for a meal.' You can say `买菜` even if you only plan to buy steak and eggs.
Don't use it for snacks
If you're just grabbing a bag of chips or a Coke, use `买零食` (buy snacks) or `买东西` (buy things) instead.
In 15 Seconds
- Covers all food shopping, not just vegetables.
- Essential for daily life and domestic conversations.
- Implies shopping for fresh ingredients for a meal.
What It Means
买菜 (mǎi cài) is one of the most grounded phrases in Chinese. It literally translates to 'buying vegetables.' However, in reality, it refers to the entire process of grocery shopping for fresh ingredients. If you are going to the market to get pork, fish, and some cilantro, you are 买菜. It is the heartbeat of daily life in China.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb-object construction. You can say 我去买菜 (I am going to buy groceries). You can also add a location, like 去菜市场买菜 (Go to the wet market to buy groceries). It is very flexible. You don't need to list every item you plan to buy. Just use this phrase to cover the whole mission. It’s like saying 'I’m hitting the store' but specifically for food.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you are heading out to prepare for a meal. It is perfect for casual morning chats with neighbors. You can use it when texting your partner to say you'll be home late. It works at the supermarket or the local outdoor market. It is a very 'real life' phrase. It shows you are taking care of your household.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use 买菜 if you are buying clothes or electronics. That would be 买东西 (mǎi dōng xi). Also, don't use it if you are only buying snacks or a bottle of soda. That feels too small for the 'mission' of 买菜. If you are going to a high-end department store for luxury goods, this phrase will sound very out of place. It’s for the kitchen, not the closet.
Cultural Background
In China, 买菜 is traditionally a daily ritual. Many people, especially the older generation, go every single morning. They want the freshest ingredients possible. The 'wet market' or 菜市场 (cài shì chǎng) is the social hub of the neighborhood. It’s where people haggle, gossip, and check the quality of the morning's harvest. Even in the age of delivery apps, the phrase remains the standard way to describe getting food.
Common Variations
You might hear 去小摊买菜 (buying from a street stall). Some people use 采购 (cǎi gòu) for a big, professional grocery haul, but that’s much more formal. If you are specifically buying fruit, you might say 买水果. But for a general trip to stock the fridge, 买菜 is your best friend. It’s simple, effective, and makes you sound like a local.
Usage Notes
The phrase is highly versatile and carries a sense of 'daily life' (生活化). It is neutral in formality, making it safe for almost any non-commercial situation.
It's not just greens!
Remember that `菜` in this context means 'ingredients for a meal.' You can say `买菜` even if you only plan to buy steak and eggs.
Don't use it for snacks
If you're just grabbing a bag of chips or a Coke, use `买零食` (buy snacks) or `买东西` (buy things) instead.
The 'Small Talk' Secret
In China, asking someone 'Are you going to buy groceries?' is a common way to say hello, similar to 'How are you?' in English.
Examples
6我出门买菜，你想要什么吗？
I'm going out to buy groceries, do you want anything?
A very common way to check in before heading to the market.
对不起，我现在在买菜，晚点打给你。
Sorry, I'm buying groceries right now, I'll call you later.
A valid and relatable excuse for being occupied.
王奶奶，您又去买菜啊？
Grandma Wang, are you going grocery shopping again?
A classic 'small talk' opener in Chinese neighborhoods.
我们需要安排一个人负责每天买菜。
We need to arrange for someone to be responsible for daily grocery shopping.
Using the phrase within a structured plan.
现在的菜价太贵了，我都快买不起菜了！
Vegetable prices are so high now, I almost can't afford groceries!
A common humorous exaggeration about inflation.
外面下雨了，我去买菜吧，你在家休息。
It's raining outside, let me go buy the groceries, you rest at home.
Shows affection through taking over a daily chore.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about daily chores.
妈妈每天早上六点去菜市场___。
The 'wet market' (菜市场) is specifically for groceries (买菜).
Which verb completes the action of going to get food?
我不喜欢下雨天去___。
The standard collocation for grocery shopping is 'buy' (买) + 'vegetables/food' (菜).
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum of Food Shopping
Texting a friend about a quick market run.
去买菜喽！
Standard daily conversation with family or neighbors.
我去买菜。
Discussing logistics or procurement.
负责食材采购。
Where to use 买菜
Wet Market
Bargaining for fresh fish.
Supermarket
Pushing a cart through the aisles.
At Home
Deciding who goes to the store.
On the Street
Greeting a neighbor with bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it refers to buying any fresh food ingredients for cooking, including meat, seafood, and eggs. For example, you can say 我去买菜 and come back with only chicken.
Yes, you can. While it's traditionally associated with wet markets, it's perfectly fine to use it for grocery shopping at a modern supermarket like Walmart or Hema.
It is neutral to informal. It's the standard term used in daily life between family, friends, and neighbors.
You can say 我去买菜 (Wǒ qù mǎi cài). It's simple and the most natural way to express the idea.
买菜 is specifically for food ingredients. 买东西 is a general term for buying anything, like clothes, books, or electronics.
Not really. It is a verb-object phrase. To describe the act as a noun, you might use 买菜这件事 (the matter of buying groceries).
The most common place is a 菜市场 (cài shì chǎng - wet market) or a 超市 (chāo shì - supermarket).
Only if you are literally talking about buying food for an office lunch. Otherwise, use more professional terms like 采购 (cǎi gòu) for procurement.
Absolutely. Even if they use apps like Meituan to order groceries, they might say 在网上买菜 (buying groceries online).
A common mistake is trying to be too specific, like saying 买蔬菜和肉. Just say 买菜, it covers everything!
Related Phrases
菜市场
Wet market / Food market
做饭
To cook a meal
买东西
To buy things / Shop
逛街
To go window shopping / Walk the streets
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