HSK · Level 30
135 words
Chinese word
出卖
Pronunciation
Pinyinchū mài
Meaning
- verbsell
Example
他把旧书出卖了。tā bǎ jiù shū chū mài le
He sold the old books.
More examples
在审讯中，他不肯出卖任何同伙。zài shěn xùn zhōng tā bù kěn chū mài rèn hé tóng huǒ
During the interrogation, he would not betray any of his accomplices.
Core concept
Handing over what one controls to another party for gain, with the same idea covering goods and a person's trust.
Common phrases
出卖国家利益chū mài guó jiā lì yì
betray national interests
出卖情报chū mài qíng bào
sell information
出卖良心chū mài liáng xīn
sell one's conscience
Similar words
卖mài: Give goods to a buyer in exchange for money.
出售chū shòu: Put products or services on the market for formal sale.
出让chū ràng: Give up land, rights, or similar property to someone else for payment.
背叛bèi pàn: Betray people, a group, or a country by breaking trust or loyalty.
Definition in Chinese
把物品出售或将人、秘密等卖给对方以换取好处的动词，既可指一般的卖出，也可指出卖他人或利益的背叛行为。bǎ wù pǐn chū shòu huò jiāng rén mì mì děng mài gěi duì fāng yǐ huàn qǔ hǎo chù de dòng cí jì kě zhǐ yì bān de mài chū yě kě zhǐ chū mài tā rén huò lì yì de bèi pàn xíng wéi
Word origin
出 (chū, "out") + 卖 (mài, "sell") presents the sale as sending something out for payment, a meaning that extends from goods to a person or secret.
Usage tips
- For general conversation, this word often carries a stronger moral charge than a neutral description of a sale, especially in news, criticism, or discussions of loyalty.