三人買う
three people buy
Use `三人で買う` to say three people are buying something together as a group.
Em 15 segundos
- Refers to three people making a purchase together.
- Usually requires the particle 'de' to mean 'as a group'.
- Essential for splitting bills or group shopping trips.
Significado
This phrase describes a situation where three people are making a purchase, usually together as a group or as a count of customers.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Splitting a pizza with two friends
三人でピザを買う。
The three of us are buying a pizza.
Buying a gift for a teacher
私たちは三人でプレゼントを買います。
The three of us will buy a present.
Texting a friend about a group deal
三人買うと安いよ！
It's cheap if three people buy it!
Contexto cultural
The concept of 'Warikan' (splitting the bill) is deeply ingrained in Japanese social life. Buying things as a group of three often triggers group discounts in karaoke or izakayas. The number three is generally considered lucky or balanced in Japanese culture, often appearing in folk tales and proverbs.
Don't Buy the People!
Always use `三人で買う` (buy as three) or `三人分買う` (buy for three). If you say `三人を買う`, it literally means you are purchasing three human beings!
The Magic 'De'
Adding `で` after any number of people is the secret sauce for group activities. `二人で` (as two), `五人で` (as five), etc.
Em 15 segundos
- Refers to three people making a purchase together.
- Usually requires the particle 'de' to mean 'as a group'.
- Essential for splitting bills or group shopping trips.
What It Means
At its heart, 三人買う is a simple combination of a number and an action. 三人 (sannin) means three people, and 買う (kau) means to buy. When you put them together, you are stating that a trio is doing the shopping. It is a building block of Japanese grammar. It helps you describe group activities or count how many people are participating in a sale. Think of it as the 'who' and the 'what' of a shopping trip.
How To Use It
To make this sound natural, you usually need a tiny bridge called a particle. If you are buying something *together* as a group, you say 三人で買う (sannin de kau). The で acts like the word 'as' or 'by means of.' If you are just reporting that three people bought something separately, you might say 三人が買う (sannin ga kau). In a text to a friend, you might just say 三人で買おう！ (Let's buy it as a trio!). It is very flexible and works with any item you can imagine.
When To Use It
Use this when you are splitting the cost of a pizza with two roommates. It is perfect for when you and two friends are chip-in for a teacher's retirement gift. You will also hear it at ticket counters. If you are standing in line for a movie, the staff might use this to confirm your group size. It is also common when discussing group discounts. 'If three people buy, it is cheaper!' is a classic marketing line you might see in Tokyo.
When NOT To Use It
Be careful not to mix up your counters! If you mean to buy three *items* (like three apples), do not use 三人. Use 三つ (mitsu) or 三個 (sanko) instead. If you say 三人買う, it sounds like you are purchasing the people themselves! That would lead to a very awkward conversation with a shopkeeper. Also, avoid using it in very formal business reports without adding polite endings like 買います (kaimasu).
Cultural Background
Japan has a strong culture of 'Warikan' (splitting the bill). Group harmony is key, so doing things together as a set of three is very common. There is also a famous Japanese proverb: 'Sannin yoreba monju no chie.' It means 'When three people meet, they have the wisdom of Monju (the God of Wisdom).' This highlights how much Japanese culture values the power of a trio. Buying things together is just another way to strengthen those social bonds.
Common Variations
As an A1 learner, you will mostly see 三人で買います (sannin de kaimasu) which is the polite version. You might also see 三人分買う (sannin-bun kau), which means 'buying enough for three people.' This is what you say at a bakery when you are picking up treats for your friends back at the office. If you are looking for a bargain, look for 三人数限定 (sannin-zu gentei), meaning a limit of three people can buy the item.
Notas de uso
In casual speech, the particle `で` is almost always included (`三人で買う`) to clarify that the action is collective. Without a particle, it sounds like a headline or a very clipped observation.
Don't Buy the People!
Always use `三人で買う` (buy as three) or `三人分買う` (buy for three). If you say `三人を買う`, it literally means you are purchasing three human beings!
The Magic 'De'
Adding `で` after any number of people is the secret sauce for group activities. `二人で` (as two), `五人で` (as five), etc.
Warikan Culture
In Japan, even if one person pays the full amount at the register, it's assumed the 'three people buy' logic applies and you'll settle up later via app or cash.
Exemplos
6三人でピザを買う。
The three of us are buying a pizza.
The particle `で` shows the group is acting together.
私たちは三人でプレゼントを買います。
The three of us will buy a present.
Polite form `買います` is used for a respectful context.
三人買うと安いよ！
It's cheap if three people buy it!
Short, punchy sentence used in casual texting.
チケットを三人分買います。
I will buy tickets for three people.
Adding `分` (bun) means 'portion' or 'for'.
えっ、三人でこれを買うの？
Wait, the three of us are buying *this*?
Used when the item is weird or unexpected for a group.
三人で花を買いました。
The three of us bought flowers.
Past tense `買いました` for a completed action.
Teste-se
Choose the correct particle to say 'Buying together as three people.'
三人___買う。
The particle `で` indicates the manner or group size performing an action.
How do you say 'Three people bought it' in the past tense?
三人が___。
`買った` is the plain past tense of `買う`.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality of 'Buying as Three'
Talking to friends or family.
三人で買う。
Standard polite conversation.
三人で買います。
Business or very respectful settings.
三名で購入いたします。
When to use 'Sannin de kau'
Pizza Night
Splitting the cost of dinner.
Gifting
Buying a group wedding present.
Travel
Purchasing group train tickets.
Shopping
Using a 'Buy 3' group discount.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, 三人 specifically refers to three people. To buy three items, you should use 三つ買う (mitsu kau).
It is a grammatically correct phrase, but in conversation, you usually say 三人で買います to be more natural and polite.
Yes! If you and your two siblings are buying a gift, 三人で買う is perfect.
三人が just means 'three people (are the ones who) buy,' while 三人で means 'as a group of three.'
Just change the number: 四人買う (yonin kau). Note that four is よにん, not よんにん.
In business, you would use more formal words like 三名で購入します (san-mei de kounyuu shimasu).
No, 人 (nin) is only for humans. For animals, you would use 三匹 (san-biki).
Yes, if you're telling the waiter how many people are ordering a shared dish, you can say 三人でこれを買います (though 注文します for 'order' is more common).
Use 三人分買う (sannin-bun kau). The 分 (bun) means 'portion' or 'share'.
No, it is always pronounced さんにん (san-nin) when counting people.
Frases relacionadas
三人で
as a group of three / together with three people
三つ買う
to buy three things
割り勘
splitting the bill (warikan)
三人分
portion for three people
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