A2 verb #2,000 가장 일반적인 10분 분량

买菜

To buy groceries.

maicai
At the A1 level, '买菜' (mǎi cài) is one of the first functional phrases you learn. It combines the verb '买' (to buy) and the noun '菜' (vegetables/food). At this stage, you use it to describe simple daily routines. You might say '我去买菜' (I go to buy food) or '妈妈买菜' (Mom buys food). The focus is on the basic S-V-O structure. You learn that '菜' here represents the ingredients for a meal. It's a vital part of the 'Daily Life' vocabulary module. You might also learn to pair it with places like '超市' (supermarket) or '市场' (market). The goal is to be able to state that you are performing this basic survival task.
At the A2 level, you begin to use '买菜' in more complex sentences involving time, location, and simple descriptions. You can say '我下午三点去超市买菜' (I go to the supermarket at 3 PM to buy groceries). You also start to use the separable nature of the verb, adding '点儿' (a little) to say '买点儿菜'. You can handle simple interactions at the market, such as asking '这些菜多少钱?' (How much are these vegetables?). You understand that '买菜' is a specific type of shopping, distinct from buying clothes. You can also use basic aspect markers like '了' to indicate the completion of the task: '我买完菜了'.
At the B1 level, '买菜' is used to discuss habits, preferences, and more detailed plans. You can compare different ways of '买菜', such as '网上买菜' (online) versus '去市场买菜' (going to the market). You can use more sophisticated grammar, like '一边...一边...' (doing two things at once): '我一边买菜一边和邻居聊天' (I chat with neighbors while buying groceries). You also start to understand the cultural significance of the '菜市场' as a social hub. You can describe the quality of the '菜' you are buying using more adjectives like '新鲜' (fresh), '有机' (organic), or '便宜' (cheap). You can also discuss the 'cost of living' (生活费) in relation to '买菜'.
At the B2 level, you can use '买菜' to engage in discussions about lifestyle choices, health, and urban development. You might debate the pros and cons of traditional wet markets versus modern supermarkets or delivery apps. You can use the term in hypothetical situations: '如果我不去买菜,我们就没饭吃了' (If I don't go buy groceries, we'll have nothing to eat). You understand more idiomatic uses and can handle complex resultative complements like '买不到菜' (unable to find/buy groceries). You can also discuss the environmental impact of '买菜', such as the use of plastic bags (塑料袋) or the carbon footprint of imported produce.
At the C1 level, '买菜' becomes a jumping-off point for analyzing social trends and economic shifts. You can discuss the 'digital divide' affecting the elderly who struggle with '手机买菜' (mobile grocery shopping). You can use the term in formal essays about food security or urban planning. Your vocabulary around the act is much richer, using terms like '供应链' (supply chain) or '物价波动' (price fluctuations). You understand the nuance of '买菜' as a reflection of '烟火气' (the spirit of everyday life) in literature. You can express subtle attitudes through your choice of words, perhaps using '采购' for a more clinical tone or '采买' for a traditional, rhythmic feel.
At the C2 level, '买菜' is a simple term that you can weave into complex socio-political or philosophical discourses. You might analyze the 'wet market' as a cultural heterotopia or discuss the impact of globalized food systems on the local '买菜' experience. You can interpret the term in classical or dialectal contexts if necessary. You are fully aware of the linguistic history of '菜' and how '买菜' has evolved from a survival necessity to a lifestyle choice for some and a digital interaction for others. You can use the phrase with perfect native-like prosody, understanding all its pragmatic implications in various social strata and regional dialects.

买菜 30초 만에

  • 买菜 (mǎi cài) is the standard Chinese phrase for grocery shopping, specifically for fresh ingredients.
  • It is a Verb-Object compound, meaning it is separable (e.g., 买点菜, 买完菜).
  • The phrase is deeply rooted in the daily ritual of visiting wet markets or supermarkets.
  • In the modern era, it also covers using mobile apps for fresh food delivery.

The term 买菜 (mǎi cài) is a cornerstone of daily life in Chinese-speaking societies. At its most literal level, it translates to 'buying vegetables,' but its functional meaning is far broader, encompassing the entire act of grocery shopping for fresh ingredients. In the Chinese culinary tradition, the distinction between '主食' (zhǔshí - staple foods like rice or noodles) and '菜' (cài - dishes/non-staples) is fundamental. Therefore, when someone says they are going to '买菜', they are not just looking for greens; they are sourcing the proteins, aromatics, and produce necessary to construct a complete meal. This phrase evokes the image of the traditional wet market (菜市场), a vibrant, often loud environment where freshness is paramount and prices are negotiated. Unlike the Western concept of a weekly supermarket haul, '买菜' often implies a daily ritual, ensuring that the ingredients are as fresh as possible for the day's lunch or dinner.

Literal Breakdown
买 (mǎi) means 'to buy' or 'to purchase'. 菜 (cài) means 'vegetables', 'dishes', or 'food items'.
Cultural Nuance
It represents the 'earthy' side of life (烟火气), reflecting a person's care for their family's health and daily sustenance.
Grammatical Category
It is a Verb-Object (VO) compound, which influences how it interacts with aspect markers and duration.

“妈妈每天早上六点准时去买菜,为了让我们吃到最鲜嫩的蔬菜。” (Mom goes to buy groceries at 6 AM sharp every day to ensure we eat the freshest vegetables.)

In modern contexts, '买菜' has expanded to include online grocery shopping (手机买菜). With the rise of apps like Meituan Maicai or Dingdong Maicai, the physical act of walking to a market is being supplemented or replaced by digital clicks, yet the phrase remains the same. This evolution shows the resilience of the term; whether you are haggling over the price of bok choy in a damp alleyway or selecting organic kale on a smartphone, you are still '买菜'. The term also carries a sense of domesticity. A person who '买菜' is often the one who manages the household, making it a word deeply tied to family roles and responsibilities. It is rarely used for buying snacks or household items like detergent; for those, one would use '买东西' (mǎi dōngxi).

“今天超市的买菜区人特别多。” (The grocery section of the supermarket is very crowded today.)

Social Aspect
In older neighborhoods, '买菜' is a social activity where neighbors catch up on gossip.
Economic Indicator
The price of '买菜' is often used by locals to gauge inflation and the cost of living.

Furthermore, the phrase is used in various idiomatic or slang contexts. For instance, '不是你的菜' (not your vegetable/dish) means someone is not your type. While '买菜' itself remains literal, the word '菜' is incredibly versatile. In gaming, calling someone '菜' (cài) means they are a 'noob' or unskilled. However, when you are actually at the market, you want the '菜' to be high quality. The act of '买菜' requires a keen eye—checking the gills of a fish, the firmness of a tomato, or the color of pork. It is a skill passed down through generations, often from grandmothers to mothers, and now increasingly through social media 'hacks' for young professionals living in Tier 1 cities.

“由于下大雨,我打算在网上买菜。” (Since it's raining heavily, I plan to buy groceries online.)

Using 买菜 (mǎi cài) correctly requires an understanding of its structure as a Verb-Object (VO) compound. In Mandarin, many verbs are composed of a verb and its default object. This structure is 'separable,' meaning other words can be inserted between '买' and '菜'. For example, if you want to say 'buy some groceries,' you would say '买点菜' (mǎi diǎnr cài). If you have already finished the action, you would say '买完菜' (mǎi wán cài) or '买好了菜' (mǎi hǎo le cài). This flexibility is key to sounding natural. You should avoid treating it as a single, unbreakable unit like the English word 'shopping'.

Duration and Frequency
To express how long you spent, place the time between the verb and object: 买了一个小时的菜 (spent an hour buying groceries).
Specifying the Type
You can replace '菜' with specific items, but '买菜' remains the general umbrella term for the activity.

“你了什么?” (What groceries did you buy?)

When constructing sentences, '买菜' usually follows a 'Go + Place + Do' pattern. For instance, '我去菜市场买菜' (I go to the wet market to buy groceries). Note that you don't need a preposition like 'for' in this structure. Another common pattern is using it as a gerund or a subject: '买菜是一件辛苦的事' (Buying groceries is a hard task). In casual conversation, it's often used to explain one's whereabouts or plans. If a friend calls and asks what you're doing, '我在买菜呢' (I'm buying groceries) is a standard response that implies you are busy with domestic errands and might be in a noisy environment.

In professional or formal writing, you might see '采购食材' (cǎigòu shícái - purchasing ingredients), but in 99% of daily life, '买菜' is the preferred term. It is also used in the context of 'buying for others'. For example, '帮我买点菜' (help me buy some groceries). Because it's a daily necessity, it often appears with '要' (yào - need/want) or '打算' (dǎsuàn - plan). '我下午要买菜' (I need to buy groceries this afternoon). It's also worth noting that in different regions, the '菜' in '买菜' might imply different things; in the North, it might imply buying in bulk for the winter (囤菜), while in the South, it's more about small, daily purchases.

You will encounter 买菜 (mǎi cài) in several distinct environments, each with its own atmosphere. The most traditional is the 菜市场 (cài shìchǎng) or wet market. Here, the phrase is shouted by vendors, discussed by elderly residents, and used in the rhythmic dance of bargaining. You'll hear phrases like '来买菜啊?' (Coming to buy groceries?) as a greeting from familiar vendors. The sounds of chopping, weighing, and the rustle of plastic bags provide the acoustic backdrop to this phrase. It is the heart of the neighborhood, where the language is raw, fast, and local.

“王奶奶,又来买菜啦?今天的青菜很新鲜!” (Grandma Wang, buying groceries again? Today's greens are very fresh!)

In contrast, the 超市 (chāoshì) or supermarket offers a more sterile environment where '买菜' is a quieter affair. You'll see signs for the '蔬菜区' (shūcài qū - vegetable area) or hear announcements about discounts on '生鲜' (shēngxiān - fresh produce). Young professionals are more likely to '买菜' here after work. Furthermore, the digital space is now a primary location for this term. Apps like 盒马 (Hema) or 美团 (Meituan) have sections explicitly labeled '买菜'. You'll see delivery drivers with thermal bags labeled with these characters, and you'll hear the 'ding' of notifications telling you your '菜' has arrived.

Finally, you'll hear it constantly within the 家庭 (jiātíng) or home. Family members will ask, '谁去买菜?' (Who is going to buy groceries?) or '今天买了什么菜?' (What did you buy today?). It's a fundamental part of the 'What's for dinner?' conversation. In TV dramas or movies depicting everyday life (生活剧), '买菜' scenes are used to establish a character's groundedness or to show the tensions and joys of domestic life. It's a word that bridges the gap between the public marketplace and the private kitchen, making it one of the most 'lived' phrases in the Chinese language.

One of the most frequent errors for learners is the over-generalization of '买菜'. Beginners often use it to mean 'shopping' in general. If you go to a mall to buy a T-shirt, you cannot say '我去买菜'. This sounds like you are planning to wear a cabbage. For general shopping, use 买东西 (mǎi dōngxi) or 购物 (gòuwù). '买菜' is strictly for food ingredients intended for cooking. Another mistake is the placement of quantity. Because it's a VO compound, you should say '买三斤菜' (buy three jin of food) rather than '买菜三斤'. The object '菜' must come after the quantity and measure word.

Mistake: '买菜' vs '买饭'
'买菜' is for raw ingredients. '买饭' (mǎi fàn) usually means buying a prepared meal or takeout.
Mistake: Negation Placement
To say you didn't buy groceries, use '没买菜' (méi mǎi cài), not '不买菜' (unless you are stating a habit or refusal).

Incorrect: 我去超市买菜衣服。
Correct: 我去超市买菜和衣服。

Another nuance involves the word '菜' itself. In a restaurant, '点菜' (diǎn cài) means to order dishes from a menu. Learners sometimes confuse '买菜' with '点菜'. You '买菜' at a market to cook at home; you '点菜' at a restaurant to be served. Also, be careful with the aspect marker '了' (le). '我买菜了' can mean 'I bought groceries' or 'I'm going to buy groceries now' (change of state). To be clear about the past, '我买完菜了' is often better. Lastly, don't confuse '买菜' with '卖菜' (mài cài - to sell vegetables). The only difference is the tone: mǎi (3rd tone) vs mài (4th tone). Mispronouncing this can lead to confusing situations where you sound like a vendor instead of a customer!

While 买菜 (mǎi cài) is the most common term, several synonyms and related terms exist depending on the context and level of formality. 购物 (gòuwù) is the broad term for 'shopping'. It is more formal and is often used for retail therapy or mall shopping. 买东西 (mǎi dōngxi) is the colloquial equivalent of 'buying things'. If your shopping trip includes both food and a new lightbulb, '买东西' is the safer, more inclusive choice. For those looking for a more 'food-specific' but slightly more modern or professional term, 采买 (cǎimǎi) is often used, especially when purchasing in larger quantities or for an organization.

采购 (cǎigòu)
This means 'to procure' or 'to purchase' in a professional or bulk context. A chef '采购' ingredients for a restaurant.
囤菜 (tún cài)
Specifically means 'to hoard' or 'to stock up on' vegetables, often heard before a lockdown or a big storm.

“我们需要为明天的宴会采购大量的食材。” (We need to procure a large amount of ingredients for tomorrow's banquet.)

Another interesting comparison is with 逛街 (guàngjiē). While '买菜' is a chore with a specific goal, '逛街' (strolling the streets/window shopping) is for leisure. You might '逛' (stroll) a '菜市场', but the goal is still '买菜'. In the digital age, 网购 (wǎnggòu) is the umbrella for online shopping, while 生鲜电商 (shēngxiān diànshāng) refers to the fresh food e-commerce industry that facilitates '网上买菜'. Understanding these distinctions helps you choose the right word for the right 'vibe'—whether you're a busy parent doing a daily chore or a professional procurement officer managing a supply chain.

How Formal Is It?

격식체

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난이도

알아야 할 문법

수준별 예문

1

我去买菜。

I go to buy groceries.

Simple Subject + Verb + Object.

2

妈妈在买菜。

Mom is buying groceries.

Using '在' for continuous action.

3

你要买菜吗?

Do you want to buy groceries?

Question with '吗'.

4

我不买菜。

I don't buy groceries.

Negation with '不'.

5

他在超市买菜。

He is buying groceries at the supermarket.

Location '在超市' before the verb.

6

这里可以买菜。

You can buy groceries here.

Using '可以' for possibility.

7

买菜很累。

Buying groceries is tiring.

The phrase '买菜' acting as a subject.

8

我想去买菜。

I want to go buy groceries.

Using '想' for desire.

1

我们一起去买菜吧。

Let's go buy groceries together.

Using '吧' for suggestion.

2

我买了很多菜。

I bought a lot of groceries.

Using '了' for completed action.

3

你什么时候去买菜?

When are you going to buy groceries?

Question word '什么时候'.

4

我买完菜就回家。

I'll go home as soon as I finish buying groceries.

Structure '...完...就...'.

5

这里的菜市场买菜很方便。

Buying groceries at this wet market is very convenient.

Topic-comment structure.

6

我帮奶奶去买菜。

I help grandma go buy groceries.

Using '帮' (help).

7

他买菜买了一个小时。

He spent an hour buying groceries.

Verb reduplication for duration.

8

别忘了买菜!

Don't forget to buy groceries!

Imperative '别忘了'.

1

比起超市,我更喜欢去菜市场买菜。

Compared to supermarkets, I prefer going to wet markets to buy groceries.

Comparison '比起...更喜欢...'.

2

网上买菜虽然方便,但菜不一定新鲜。

Although buying groceries online is convenient, the food isn't necessarily fresh.

Conjunction '虽然...但...'.

3

为了省钱,她总是去批发市场买菜。

To save money, she always goes to the wholesale market to buy groceries.

Purpose clause '为了...'.

4

买菜的时候,要注意看生产日期。

When buying groceries, pay attention to the production date.

'...的时候' (when).

5

我还没想好今天去哪儿买菜。

I haven't decided where to go buy groceries today.

Potential complement '想好'.

6

他买菜非常有经验,总能挑到最好的。

He is very experienced in buying groceries and always picks the best.

Adverbial '非常有经验'.

7

如果你去买菜,顺便帮我买瓶酱油。

If you go to buy groceries, buy a bottle of soy sauce for me while you're at it.

Conditional '如果...就...' and '顺便'.

8

现在的年轻人越来越少去菜市场买菜了。

Young people nowadays go to wet markets to buy groceries less and less.

'越来越' (more and more).

1

由于疫情,很多人开始尝试手机买菜。

Due to the pandemic, many people started trying mobile grocery shopping.

Cause and effect '由于...'.

2

买菜不仅仅是生活琐事,更是一种生活态度。

Buying groceries is not just a daily chore, but a lifestyle attitude.

'不仅仅是...更是...'.

3

他在买菜时总是斤斤计较,想多要几根葱。

He always haggles over every cent when buying groceries, trying to get a few extra scallions.

Idiom '斤斤计较'.

4

社区团购改变了我们传统的买菜方式。

Community group buying has changed our traditional way of buying groceries.

Subject-Verb-Object with abstract concepts.

5

即使下大雪,爷爷也要坚持去买菜。

Even if it snows heavily, Grandpa insists on going to buy groceries.

Concession '即使...也...'.

6

这家超市的买菜环境比旧市场好得多。

The grocery shopping environment in this supermarket is much better than the old market.

Comparison with '...得多'.

7

买菜时自带购物袋可以减少塑料污染。

Bringing your own shopping bag when buying groceries can reduce plastic pollution.

Gerund phrase as subject.

8

我习惯在周末把一周要用的菜都买好。

I am used to buying all the groceries needed for the week on the weekend.

The '把' construction.

1

买菜这一日常行为,折射出城市物价的波动。

The daily act of buying groceries reflects the fluctuations in urban prices.

Formal verb '折射' (reflects).

2

随着生鲜电商的崛起,传统菜市场的买菜功能正逐渐弱化。

With the rise of fresh food e-commerce, the grocery shopping function of traditional wet markets is gradually weakening.

Complex sentence with '随着' and '逐渐'.

3

老一辈人对买菜的执着,源于对食材新鲜度的极致追求。

The older generation's persistence in buying groceries stems from their ultimate pursuit of ingredient freshness.

Formal structure '源于...' (stems from).

4

在异国他乡,去当地市场买菜是融入社区的最佳途径。

In a foreign land, going to the local market to buy groceries is the best way to integrate into the community.

Prepositional phrase '在...下'.

5

买菜时的讨价还价,不仅是经济博弈,更是情感交流。

Bargaining while buying groceries is not just an economic game, but also an emotional exchange.

Parallelism '不仅是...更是...'.

6

政府通过补贴菜篮子工程,确保市民买菜的价格稳定。

The government ensures stable grocery prices for citizens by subsidizing the 'Vegetable Basket Project'.

Instrumental '通过...'.

7

他那种‘买菜式’的选才标准,让很多应聘者感到不适。

His 'grocery-shopping-style' talent selection criteria made many applicants feel uncomfortable.

Metaphorical use of '买菜'.

8

尽管数字化便利了买菜,但那种人情味却难以被取代。

Despite digitalization making grocery shopping convenient, that sense of human touch is hard to replace.

Concession '尽管...但...'.

1

买菜之于中国家庭,犹如纽带般维系着三餐的温情与琐碎。

Grocery shopping is to a Chinese family like a bond that maintains the warmth and minutiae of three meals a day.

Literary structure '...之于...,犹如...'.

2

在宏观经济叙事中,买菜的支出往往被视为衡量居民幸福感的微观指标。

In macro-economic narratives, expenditure on grocery shopping is often seen as a micro-indicator for measuring residents' sense of happiness.

Passive voice '被视为'.

3

这种‘即时买菜’模式的普及,标志着城市生活节奏的进一步提速。

The popularization of this 'instant grocery shopping' model marks a further acceleration in the pace of urban life.

Formal noun phrase '标志着'.

4

文学作品中对买菜场景的细腻描写,常能勾勒出时代变迁的轮廓。

Delicate descriptions of grocery shopping scenes in literary works can often outline the contours of era changes.

Abstract verb '勾勒' (outline).

5

买菜行为的去中心化,是互联网技术重塑传统商业逻辑的缩影。

The decentralization of grocery shopping behavior is a microcosm of how internet technology reshapes traditional business logic.

Philosophical term '缩影' (microcosm).

6

对于某些城市精英而言,亲自买菜已演变为一种对抗工业化食品体系的‘生活美学’。

For some urban elites, personally buying groceries has evolved into a 'lifestyle aesthetic' against the industrialized food system.

Complex prepositional phrase '对于...而言'.

7

在后现代语境下,买菜甚至可以被解读为一种对‘附近’消失的微小抵抗。

In a postmodern context, grocery shopping can even be interpreted as a small resistance to the disappearance of the 'neighborhood'.

Academic term '语境' (context).

8

无论买菜的形式如何更迭,其核心始终是对‘家’这一概念的物质供养。

No matter how the form of grocery shopping changes, its core remains the material sustenance of the concept of 'home'.

Universal concession '无论...始终...'.

자주 쓰는 조합

去买菜
帮我买菜
网上买菜
天天买菜
买菜回来
买菜路上
买菜篮子
买菜车
买菜钱
买菜经验

자주 쓰는 구문

去市场买菜

买菜做饭

手机买菜

帮妈妈买菜

买了不少菜

买点新鲜菜

买完菜了

一起去买菜

买菜的阿姨

买菜的小贩

자주 혼동되는 단어

买菜 vs 买东西

General shopping for anything, not just food ingredients.

买菜 vs 点菜

Ordering dishes at a restaurant.

买菜 vs 卖菜

Selling vegetables (4th tone on 'mài').

관용어 및 표현

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혼동하기 쉬운

买菜 vs

买菜 vs

买菜 vs

买菜 vs

买菜 vs

문장 패턴

어휘 가족

관련

사용법

Not for meals

Don't use it for buying a sandwich or a burger (that's 买饭 or 买吃的).

Online vs Offline

Use '手机买菜' or '网上买菜' for apps.

자주 하는 실수
  • Using '买菜' for clothes shopping.
  • Saying '买菜三斤' instead of '买三斤菜'.
  • Confusing the tones of '买' (buy) and '卖' (sell).
  • Using '买菜' when you are actually ordering a cooked meal (点菜).
  • Forgetting that '菜' can mean both 'vegetables' and 'dishes'.

Separable Verb

Treat '买' and '菜' as two parts. Put '了' or '过' in the middle: 买过菜.

Morning is Best

If you go to a wet market, go before 9 AM for the best selection.

Be Specific

Once you are at the market, name the specific vegetables like '西红柿' (tomato).

Bargaining

Watch how locals bargain before you try it yourself to learn the 'rhythm'.

App Names

Look for '生鲜' (shēngxiān) in apps to find the '买菜' section.

Tone Change

Ensure '买' (3rd) doesn't sound like '卖' (4th).

Topic-Comment

Start with '买菜' as the topic: '买菜这件事,我不在行。'

Keywords

Listen for '斤' (jīn, 500g) as it's the standard weight unit when buying.

Wet Markets

Be careful of slippery floors in traditional wet markets!

Organic

Look for '有机' (yǒujī) if you want organic groceries.

암기하기

기억법

I 'buy' (买) the 'cabbage' (菜) to make a 'meal' (cài).

어원

문화적 맥락

The 'soul' of Chinese cooking; '买菜' must be done frequently.

Less common in supermarkets, but a skill in wet markets.

The new frontier of '买菜' for the younger generation.

The traditional heart of Chinese food culture.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

대화 시작하기

"你平时去哪儿买菜?"

"今天的菜贵吗?"

"你喜欢在网上买菜还是去市场?"

"帮我买点菜好吗?"

"你买菜有什么窍门吗?"

일기 주제

描述一次你在中国菜市场买菜的经历。

你觉得网上买菜会取代传统的菜市场吗?为什么?

如果你去买菜,你一定会买的三个食材是什么?

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Yes, colloquially it covers general grocery shopping including fruit, though '买水果' is more specific.

No, it is very informal and used in daily conversation. Use '采购' for formal documents.

'买菜' is specifically for food ingredients; '购物' is general shopping, often for clothes or luxury items.

Yes, '了' can indicate an imminent action or a change of state.

You should say '我买完菜了' or '我买好菜了'.

Yes, it is very common for both men and women to buy groceries, especially in cities.

It refers to using apps like Meituan or Hema to have groceries delivered to your home.

In wet markets, it's common but not always required. In supermarkets, prices are fixed.

It's a slang expression meaning 'You are my type' (romantically).

It comes from '菜鸟' (càiniǎo), meaning a beginner or someone who is weak like a vegetable.

셀프 테스트 180 질문

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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