The Chinese word for purchasing,...

This was beautiful.
I learned something new today,...can't believe I never knew this one!:

Traditionally the Chinese word for purchasing something is gū. Literally this means to buy or sell something. The origins of the modern Chinese word for buying something can be traced back to influences from western traders. Trade between the Chinese and the Westerners was often completed using sign language and role playing, with very little verbal communication. For example during negotiations the western traders would hold a bag of seed in one hand, and two bags of Chinese tea in the other, and say "My bag for two bags." The Chinese traders would do the opposite and hold a bag of their tea in one hand and two bags of the foreigner's seed in the other, and copy the Westerners by saying "My bag for two bags." Thus the word "My" was interpreted as "trade" or "swap" and it found its way into the Chinese vocabulary . Today it is acceptable to use either the traditional "gū" or the modern " mǎi " when purchasing items in China.
Thank you very much to Troy Ellory for this story (and his Chinese teacher I guess!)
Type in "purchase" at www.zhongwen.com to see characters.