En 15 secondes
- 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.
Signification
This phrase describes a situation where three people are making a purchase, usually together as a group or as a count of customers.
Exemples clés
3 sur 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!
Contexte culturel
Group activities are highly valued. Sharing costs is common.
Particle usage
Always use 'de' for group actions.
En 15 secondes
- 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.
Notes d'usage
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.
Particle usage
Always use 'de' for group actions.
Exemples
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-toi
Choose the correct particle.
{三人|さんにん} ___ {買|か}う。
'De' marks the group performing the action.
🎉 Score : /1
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
1 exercices{三人|さんにん} ___ {買|か}う。
'De' marks the group performing the action.
🎉 Score : /1
Questions fréquentes
1 questionsYes, just change to {四人|よにん}で{買|か}う.
Expressions liées
{三人|さんにん}で{行|い}く
similarGoing as a group of three
