Chinese Conversation · Level 5
89 words
Chinese word
卖
Pronunciation
Pinyinmài
Meaning
- verbsell
Example
这家店不再卖旧衣服。zhè jiā diàn bú zài mài jiù yī fú
This store no longer sells used clothes.
More examples
孩子们在学校门口卖东西。hái zi men zài xué xiào mén kǒu mài dōng xī
The children are selling things at the school gate.
Core concept
The outward half of a trade, sending goods or services away while receiving payment.
Common phrases
卖东西mài dōng xī
sell things
卖衣服mài yī fú
sell clothes
Similar words
买mǎi: Buy something by giving money in return.
出售chū shòu: Sell goods or items using formal or written language.
卖完mài wán: Sell everything available so that nothing remains.
卖给mài gěi: Sell an item directly to a particular recipient.
Definition in Chinese
将物品或服务转让给他人并取得报酬的过程或动作。jiāng wù pǐn huò fú wù zhuǎn ràng gěi tā rén bìng qǔ dé bào chóu de guò chéng huò dòng zuò
Word origin
卖 (mài, "sell") is the simplified form of an older character that included 貝 (bèi, "shell; money"), an element associated with valuables and trade.
Usage tips
- Chinese often places a short result word after this verb to show whether the goods are sold out or the sale is complete, a detail that English often leaves to context.