Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "買います" vs "います"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
買います
かいます (kaimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
います
います (imasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 買います and います are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
買います (かいます (kaimasu)) represents "to buy" (Level: N5) and typically represents Polite form of 買う.
On the other hand, います (います (imasu)) translates to "to be, to exist (animate objects)" (Level: N5) and is used for Polite form of いる. Used for the existence of animate objects. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "買います"
新しい服をデパートで買います。
I will buy new clothes at the department store.
Bilingual Sentence for "います"
部屋に猫がいます。
There is a cat in the room.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "新しい服をデパートで ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I will buy new clothes at the department store.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "買います" fits here because it represents "to buy" in the context: "I will buy new clothes at the department store.".