godan verb (-u), transitive verb
The basic everyday meaning: to pay money and get something. This is a transitive verb, typically used as Xを買う.
駅前でお土産を買った。
I bought souvenirs near the station.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
value highly; think highly of; appreciate
Used when someone recognizes and values a person's ability, qualities, experience, or potential. Common in forms such as 才能を買う and 実力を買われる.
社長は彼の営業力を買っている。
The company president thinks highly of his sales ability.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
incur; invite; arouse; win favor
Used with an emotional or social reaction as the object. It is often negative, as in 怒りを買う, 反感を買う, ひんしゅくを買う, or 失笑を買う, but can also be positive in phrases such as 歓心を買う.
不用意な発言が客の怒りを買った。
The careless remark incurred the customer's anger.
彼はお世辞で上司の歓心を買おうとした。
He tried to win his boss's favor with flattery.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
Limited idiomatic use for accepting or taking up something offered, especially a provocation or challenge. Do not use it as a general replacement for 受ける or 引き受ける.
売られた喧嘩を買うな。
Don't take up a fight someone is trying to pick with you.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
pay for a prostitute; hire a geisha
Adult and blunt use for paying for sexual services, especially in 女を買う. The geisha-related use is old-fashioned or historical in feel.
彼は金で女を買うようなまねはしない。
He would never do something like pay for a woman.
古い小説には「芸者を買う」という表現が出てくる。
The expression “hire a geisha” appears in old novels.