💻🛒

How to Say ‘I bought it online.’ in Simplified Chinese

在网上买的。

zài wǎng shàng mǎi de

[dzeye wǎng shahng my de]

🇨🇳 In China: Online shopping on Taobao and similar apps is so common that this answer is the default. Many people are happy to share the shop link if asked.

Phrase Breakdown

在网上

zài wǎng shàng

online

网上 (wǎngshang) means 'on the internet'. 在 (zài) means 'at' or 'on'.

Example

我在网上看电影。

I watch movies online.

Words in this phrase

在

zài

[dzeye]

at; in; located at

Indicates location or position.

Example

便利店在前面。

The convenience store is up ahead.

网

wǎng

[wǎng]

net; the internet

Means net or web; with 上 it refers to online.

Example

我喜欢在网上看电影。

I like watching movies online.

上

shàng

[shahng]

on; upon

Combined with 路 to form 路上, meaning 'on the way.'

Example

去餐厅的时候路上慢点。

Take it slow on the way when going to the restaurant.

买的。

mǎi de

bought (it).

买 (mǎi) means 'to buy', with a third tone. 的 (de) completes the 是…的 pattern describing a past action.

Example

这是昨天买的。

This was bought yesterday.

Words in this phrase

买

mǎi

[my]

to buy

Used when purchasing something.

Example

我想买这个。

I want to buy this.

的

[de]

(emphasis particle for past details)

Sentence-final particle stressing how or where a past action happened.

Example

这是朋友送的。

This was given by a friend.

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