매입하다 in 30 Seconds
- A formal Korean verb meaning to purchase or buy-in, primarily used in business, real estate, and accounting contexts rather than personal daily shopping.
- Combines the Hanja for 'buy' (매) and 'enter' (입), implying the acquisition of goods to be brought into a company's inventory or assets.
- Commonly found in news reports, financial documents, and on signs for businesses like used car dealerships or pawn shops that buy items from the public.
- It is the formal counterpart to '사다' and should be used when discussing commercial procurement, government acquisitions, or professional investment activities.
The Korean verb 매입하다 (買入하다) is a formal term primarily used in business, accounting, and official transactions to describe the act of purchasing goods, materials, or assets. While the basic English translation is 'to buy' or 'to purchase,' it carries a specific nuance of acquiring items for the purpose of business operations, resale, or as an investment. Unlike the common word '사다,' which you would use for buying a snack or a shirt for yourself, 매입하다 suggests a more structured or professional transaction. It is composed of the Hanja characters '매' (買 - to buy) and '입' (入 - to enter), literally meaning 'to buy and bring into the inventory or possession.'
- Business Context
- This word is the standard term in accounting for recording the purchase of stock or inventory. If a grocery store buys apples from a farm to sell to customers, the store is '매입'ing those apples.
- Real Estate & Assets
- When a company or a government entity acquires land or buildings, '매입하다' is used to denote the formal acquisition process.
우리 회사는 원자재를 대량으로 매입했다.
Understanding the distinction between '매입' and other 'buying' words is crucial for achieving natural fluency. In professional settings, using '사다' might sound too casual or simplistic, whereas using '매입하다' shows an understanding of commercial terminology. It is frequently paired with words like '원가' (cost), '세금계산서' (tax invoice), and '채무' (debt/liability). For instance, '매입 원가' refers to the purchase cost or the cost of goods sold. You will also see it often in financial news when discussing the government's '국채 매입' (purchase of government bonds) to stabilize the economy.
정부는 시장 안정을 위해 국채를 매입하기로 결정했습니다.
In everyday life, you might encounter this word at a second-hand shop. A sign that says '중고차 매입' means the shop is looking to buy used cars from people. Here, the shop is the '매입자' (purchaser/buyer). It implies a professional valuation and a transfer of ownership for commercial purposes. Furthermore, in the world of finance, it is a key term in the '매입-매도' (buy-sell) spread, though '매수' is more common for stocks. '매입' focuses more on the physical or accounting entry of the goods into your system.
- Inventory Management
- 재고 매입 (Purchasing inventory) is a fundamental part of the supply chain cycle.
그 가게는 중고 도서를 매입하여 다시 판매합니다.
Using 매입하다 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as an active verb. It typically follows the structure: [Purchaser] + [Subject Particle 가/이] + [Object 을/를] + [매입하다]. Because it is a formal word, it is most frequently used with the polite '-습니다' or '-어요' endings, or in its written form in reports and news articles. It is rarely used in casual, spoken Korean between friends unless they are discussing business or investments.
- Subject-Object Agreement
- The subject is usually an organization, a business person, or a government. The object is usually a bulk commodity, real estate, or business assets. You wouldn't say 'I 매입'ed a cup of coffee.
대기업이 그 부지를 비싼 가격에 매입했습니다.
When describing a continuous action or a planned action, you can use forms like '매입하고 있다' (is purchasing) or '매입할 계획이다' (plan to purchase). In accounting documents, you will often see the noun form '매입' used alone or in compounds like '매입처' (the place from which one buys/supplier). This highlights the word's utility in describing the 'input' side of a business ledger.
회사는 다음 달에 새로운 장비를 매입할 예정입니다.
Another common usage is in the passive-like sense of 'being purchased' by using the noun form with '이루어지다' (to be made/to take place), such as '매입이 이루어지다'. However, the active form '매입하다' is far more prevalent. When you want to emphasize the purpose of the purchase, you can add '-기 위해' (in order to). For example, '시세 차익을 얻기 위해 건물을 매입했다' (Purchased a building to gain profit from market price differences).
우리는 품질 좋은 원두를 직접 매입하여 커피를 볶습니다.
- Common Verb Endings
- 매입합니다 (Formal Polite), 매입해요 (Polite), 매입했다 (Past), 매입하는 (Adjective form/Present Progressive).
투자자들은 저평가된 주식을 적극적으로 매입하고 있습니다.
You will encounter 매입하다 in several distinct professional and public environments. The most common is within the financial and business news. When a news anchor reports on a company acquiring another company's shares or a city council purchasing land for a new park, they will invariably use '매입하다'. It conveys a sense of legality and scale. In the corporate world, employees in the procurement (구매) or accounting (회계) departments use this word daily to describe the acquisition of inventory or supplies from vendors.
- The Financial Market
- Stock market analysts often talk about '자기주식 매입' (treasury stock purchase/buyback). This is when a company buys its own shares back from the market to increase share value.
- Real Estate Offices
- If you are looking to sell your house to a developer, the developer's agent will talk about the '매입 조건' (purchase conditions) and '매입 가격' (purchase price).
뉴스: 삼성전자가 자사주 매입을 통해 주주 가치를 제고하기로 했습니다.
Another place you will see this word is on physical signage in Korea. Pawn shops, used car dealerships, and gold buyers often have large signs saying '최고가 매입' (Purchasing at the highest price). This is a direct appeal to consumers who want to sell their belongings. In this context, '매입' functions as a promise of a professional transaction. You might also hear it in academic settings, specifically in economics or business administration lectures, when discussing the '매입 채무' (accounts payable) or the '매입 세액' (input tax) in the VAT system.
중고차 매장 광고: 사고 차, 노후 차 모두 매입합니다!
Finally, in the legal world, '매입하다' is the term used in contracts. If a contract specifies that Party A will buy assets from Party B, the verb used will be '매입하다' or its noun form '매입'. This ensures that the transaction is clearly defined as a commercial acquisition. If you ever work in a Korean office, especially in logistics or finance, you will need to distinguish '매입' (what the company buys to operate) from '매출' (what the company sells to make money).
- Academic/Professional Terms
- 매입 단가 (Unit purchase price), 매입 계약서 (Purchase agreement), 매입처 (Supplier/Vendor).
교수님: 이번 시간에는 기업의 매입 원가 계산법에 대해 배우겠습니다.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using 매입하다 in a casual, personal context. Because '매입하다' is translated as 'to purchase,' learners often think it can replace '사다' (to buy) in any sentence. However, saying "어제 시장에서 사과를 매입했어요" (I purchased an apple at the market yesterday) sounds extremely unnatural and almost robotic. It sounds as if you were buying the apple as a corporate entity to put into your commercial inventory. For personal shopping, always stick to '사다' or the slightly more formal '구매하다' or '구입하다'.
- Confusing with '매수하다'
- While both mean 'to buy,' '매수하다' (買收-) is specifically used for buying stocks, bonds, or bribing someone. '매입하다' is more general for goods and assets. While they overlap in finance, '매입' emphasizes the entry of goods into stock, whereas '매수' emphasizes the acquisition of rights or influence.
Wrong: 친구 생일 선물을 매입했어요. (X)
Right: 친구 생일 선물을 샀어요. (O)
Another mistake involves the direction of the transaction. Learners sometimes confuse '매입' (buying) with '매도' (selling) or '매출' (sales). Remember that the '입' (入) in '매입' means 'in,' so you are bringing something in. '매출' (賣出) has '출' (出), meaning 'out,' which refers to selling things out of your inventory. If you are an accountant and you mix these up, the balance sheet will be a disaster! Always verify the 'In' vs 'Out' Hanja to keep them straight.
Confusing Buy and Sell:
매입 (Buy In) vs. 매도 (Sell Out)
A third mistake is failing to use the correct particles. Since '매입하다' is a transitive verb, it must take the object particle '을/를'. Some learners try to use '에' or '에서' with the object, which is incorrect. You '매입' the *thing* (object), you don't '매입' *at* the thing. Also, be careful with the subject. If the subject is an individual buying something for personal use, '매입' is almost never the right choice unless that individual is a professional collector or investor acting in a business capacity.
- Register Mismatch
- Using this word in a K-drama style romantic confession would be hilarious. "I purchased (매입했다) your heart" sounds like a hostile corporate takeover, not a romantic gesture.
Incorrect Logic: "I want to sound smart, so I'll use 매입하다 instead of 사다."
Result: You sound like a textbook or a lawyer, not a natural speaker.
Korean has a rich variety of words for 'buying,' each with its own specific context. Understanding the nuances between 매입하다 and its alternatives is key to sounding like a native speaker. The most common alternative is '사다,' which is the universal word for buying. Then there are '구매하다' and '구입하다,' which sit between '사다' and '매입하다' in terms of formality.
- 매입하다 vs. 사다
- '사다' is informal and general. '매입하다' is formal and business-oriented. You buy (사다) milk; a company purchases (매입하다) 1,000 gallons of milk for resale.
- 매입하다 vs. 구매하다 (購買-)
- '구매하다' is 'to purchase' in a general formal sense. It's used by consumers in online shopping or by companies. '매입' is more focused on the accounting and inventory aspect—buying things to bring into a business.
- 매입하다 vs. 구입하다 (購入-)
- '구입하다' is very similar to '구매하다' but often focuses more on the acquisition of a specific item or product for use. '매입' is more about the transaction and the inflow of goods.
Comparison:
1. 사다: Casual (Buy)
2. 구매/구입: Formal Consumer (Purchase)
3. 매입: Business/Accounting (Acquire/Buy-in)
In the financial world, you will also encounter '매수하다' (買收-). While '매입' and '매수' both mean buy, '매수' is the standard term for stocks, bonds, and corporate mergers. If you are 'buying' a whole company, you '매수' it. If you are 'buying' the inventory that the company sells, you '매입' it. Another related word is '습득하다' (to acquire/pick up), but this is usually for finding lost items or acquiring knowledge/skills, not for commercial purchases.
기업은 원자재를 매입하고, 투자자는 주식을 매수한다.
Finally, consider '채택하다' (to adopt/pick) or '확보하다' (to secure/procure). If a company is not just buying something but ensuring they have a steady supply, '확보하다' might be used. For example, '원자재를 확보하다' (To secure raw materials). However, if the focus is strictly on the financial transaction of buying, '매입하다' remains the most precise term. For very large scale government or international acquisitions, '조달하다' (to procure) is also common.
- Antonyms
- 매도하다 (to sell - formal), 매출하다 (to sell/make sales), 팔다 (to sell - casual).
그 회사는 자산을 매입한 지 1년 만에 다시 매도했다.
Examples by Level
가게가 과일을 매입합니다.
The store purchases fruit.
Simple subject-object-verb structure.
우리는 중고차를 매입해요.
We purchase used cars.
Polite '-해요' ending.
회사가 땅을 매입했습니다.
The company purchased land.
Past tense '-했습니다'.
그들은 금을 매입해요.
They purchase gold.
Present tense.
책을 매입하는 곳이 어디예요?
Where is the place that purchases books?
Noun-modifying form '-하는'.
이 물건을 매입하고 싶어요.
I want to purchase this item (as a business).
'-하고 싶다' expressing desire.
매입 가격이 얼마예요?
How much is the purchase price?
Using '매입' as a noun modifier.
사장님이 원자재를 매입했어요.
The boss purchased raw materials.
Honorific '-님' for the boss.
식당에서 신선한 채소를 대량으로 매입했다.
The restaurant purchased fresh vegetables in bulk.
Adverb '대량으로' (in bulk).
회사는 사무실을 새로 매입하기로 했습니다.
The company decided to purchase a new office.
'-하기로 하다' (decided to).
중고 서점은 헌 책을 싸게 매입합니다.
Used bookstores purchase old books cheaply.
Adverb '싸게' (cheaply).
정부는 공원 부지를 매입할 계획입니다.
The government plans to purchase the park site.
'-할 계획이다' (plan to).
우리는 부품을 해외에서 매입하고 있어요.
We are purchasing parts from overseas.
Present progressive '-하고 있다'.
매입한 물건에 문제가 생겼어요.
A problem occurred with the purchased items.
Past noun-modifying form '-한'.
그 가게는 매일 아침 생선을 매입해요.
That shop purchases fish every morning.
Frequency adverb '매일 아침'.
건물을 매입하려면 돈이 많이 필요해요.
If you want to purchase a building, you need a lot of money.
'-하려면' (if you intend to).
기업들은 연말에 재고를 대규모로 매입하곤 합니다.
Companies often purchase inventory in large scales at the end of the year.
'-하곤 하다' (habitual action).
매입 원가를 낮추는 것이 경영의 핵심입니다.
Lowering the purchase cost is the core of management.
Gerund '-는 것' as a subject.
회사는 자사주 매입을 통해 주가를 관리합니다.
The company manages its stock price through treasury stock buybacks.
'-을 통해' (through/via).
우리는 신뢰할 수 있는 업체로부터 원재료를 매입합니다.
We purchase raw materials from reliable companies.
'-로부터' (from).
정부는 쌀 가격 안정을 위해 쌀을 매입하기 시작했다.
The government began purchasing rice to stabilize rice prices.
'-기 시작하다' (began to).
매입 세금계산서를 반드시 챙겨야 합니다.
You must make sure to take the purchase tax invoice.
'-해야 하다' (must).
그 투자자는 저렴한 빌라를 여러 채 매입했습니다.
That investor purchased several cheap villas.
Counter '채' for buildings.
수출용 제품을 만들기 위해 부품을 매입했어요.
I purchased parts to make products for export.
'-기 위해' (in order to).
부동산 시장이 침체되자 정부가 미분양 아파트를 매입했다.
As the real estate market stagnated, the government purchased unsold apartments.
'-자' (as/when).
회사는 사업 확장을 위해 경쟁사의 기술을 매입하기로 결정했다.
The company decided to purchase its competitor's technology for business expansion.
Noun '확장' (expansion).
매입 채무가 늘어나면 기업의 재무 상태에 부담이 됩니다.
If accounts payable increase, it puts a burden on the company's financial status.
'-면' (if).
중앙은행은 유동성 공급을 위해 국채를 대량 매입하고 있다.
The central bank is purchasing large amounts of government bonds to supply liquidity.
Noun '유동성' (liquidity).
매입 단가가 상승하면서 제품 가격 인상이 불가피해졌다.
As the unit purchase price rose, a product price hike became inevitable.
'-면서' (while/as).
그 기업은 전략적으로 핵심 부지를 미리 매입해 두었다.
The company strategically purchased the key site in advance.
'-해 두다' (to do something in advance for future use).
매입한 자산의 가치가 떨어져 손실이 발생했습니다.
Losses occurred because the value of the purchased assets fell.
Noun '손실' (loss).
납품 업체와의 계약에 따라 원자재를 매입합니다.
We purchase raw materials according to the contract with the supplier.
'-에 따라' (according to).
해당 법인은 조세 회피를 목적으로 해외 자산을 매입한 의혹이 있다.
The corporation is suspected of purchasing overseas assets for the purpose of tax evasion.
Noun '의혹' (suspicion).
지자체는 도시 재생 사업의 일환으로 노후 건물을 매입하고 있다.
The local government is purchasing old buildings as part of an urban regeneration project.
'~의 일환으로' (as part of).
매입 세액 공제를 받기 위해서는 적격 증빙 서류가 필요하다.
In order to receive an input tax deduction, qualified supporting documents are required.
Noun '증빙' (proof/verification).
공격적인 자사주 매입은 경영권 방어의 수단으로 활용되기도 한다.
Aggressive treasury stock buybacks are sometimes used as a means of defending management rights.
'-기도 하다' (sometimes does).
기관 투자자들은 시장의 변동성을 틈타 주식을 저가 매입했다.
Institutional investors purchased stocks at low prices by taking advantage of market volatility.
'~을/를 틈타' (taking advantage of).
토지 매입 과정에서 보상금 문제로 갈등이 빚어졌다.
Conflicts arose due to compensation issues during the land purchase process.
'-로 갈등이 빚어지다' (conflict was caused by).
기업은 환율 변동 리스크를 줄이기 위해 외화를 선매입했다.
The company pre-purchased foreign currency to reduce exchange rate fluctuation risks.
Noun '선매입' (pre-purchase).
매입처 다변화를 통해 공급망의 안정성을 확보해야 한다.
Stability of the supply chain must be secured through the diversification of suppliers.
Noun '다변화' (diversification).
정부의 국채 매입은 시중 금리 하락을 유도하기 위한 통화 정책의 일환이다.
The government's purchase of government bonds is part of a monetary policy aimed at inducing a fall in market interest rates.
Noun '통화 정책' (monetary policy).
해당 기업은 수직적 통합을 위해 원료 산지를 직접 매입하는 전략을 취했다.
The company adopted a strategy of directly purchasing raw material production sites for vertical integration.
Noun '수직적 통합' (vertical integration).
부실 채권 매입을 통해 금융 시스템의 건전성을 제고하려는 시도가 이어지고 있다.
Attempts to enhance the soundness of the financial system through the purchase of non-performing loans are continuing.
Noun '부실 채권' (non-performing loan).
매입 가격의 왜곡은 시장 전체의 자원 배분 효율성을 저해할 수 있다.
Distortion of purchase prices can hinder the efficiency of resource allocation throughout the market.
Noun '왜곡' (distortion).
독과점 기업의 원자재 매입 독점은 공정 거래 질서를 위협하는 행위이다.
A monopoly on raw material purchases by a monopolistic enterprise is an act that threatens the fair trade order.
Noun '독과점' (monopoly/oligopoly).
탄소 배출권 매입은 기업의 환경적 책임을 이행하는 주요 방안 중 하나다.
Purchasing carbon credits is one of the main ways for companies to fulfill their environmental responsibilities.
Noun '탄소 배출권' (carbon credit).
매입 계약의 법적 효력에 관한 분쟁이 대법원 판결로 종결되었다.
The dispute over the legal effect of the purchase contract was concluded by a Supreme Court ruling.
Noun '법적 효력' (legal effect).
글로벌 공급망 재편에 따라 전략 물자의 매입처를 재검토할 필요가 있다.
There is a need to review the purchase sources of strategic materials in accordance with the reorganization of the global supply chain.
Noun '재편' (reorganization).
Summary
The word '매입하다' is your go-to term for 'professional buying.' While '사다' works for snacks, '매입하다' is essential for business reports, real estate deals, and accounting. Example: '회사가 원자재를 매입했다' (The company purchased raw materials).
- A formal Korean verb meaning to purchase or buy-in, primarily used in business, real estate, and accounting contexts rather than personal daily shopping.
- Combines the Hanja for 'buy' (매) and 'enter' (입), implying the acquisition of goods to be brought into a company's inventory or assets.
- Commonly found in news reports, financial documents, and on signs for businesses like used car dealerships or pawn shops that buy items from the public.
- It is the formal counterpart to '사다' and should be used when discussing commercial procurement, government acquisitions, or professional investment activities.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More business words
에 대한
A2Concerning or relating to; about, regarding.
~대하여
A2About, concerning, regarding.
대해서
A2Concerning or with regard to; about, regarding.
에 대해
A2About; regarding.
풍요롭다
A2To be abundant, prosperous, or rich.
관철하다
B2To carry through, achieve, or persist in one's will or goal until it is accomplished, despite difficulties.
~에 따라
B1According to, depending on; as stated by or determined by.
에 따라
A2According to; in accordance with.
에 의하면
B1According to; as stated by or reported by.
계좌번호
A2A unique identifier for a bank account.
