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March 24, 2026
卖(賣)mài(mai4)
The character 卖 (mài) primarily means 'to sell.' It is commonly used in commercial contexts, such as in shops and markets. Additionally, it can imply showing off or flaunting something, often in a more informal or colloquial setting.
Strokes8Radical十Frequency#448DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of selling goes beyond mere transactions; it often reflects social status. For example, successful vendors at local markets are seen as resourceful and savvy, contributing to community dynamics.
Memory Tip
Imagine a market stall where a vendor is proudly selling (卖) their goods. The character 卖 resembles a person standing next to a stack of items for sale, with the '人' (rén) radical representing the seller's presence.
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AI Study Notes for 卖
Quick Contrast
买 (mǎi) — use 卖 (mài) when referring to selling something, not buying it.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a market stall where a vendor is proudly selling (卖) their goods. The character 卖 resembles a person standing next to a stack of items for sale, with the '人' (rén) radical representing the seller's presence.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 卖 (mài) with 买 (mǎi), which means 'to buy.' This can lead to misunderstandings in conversations about transactions. 卖 is typically used in informal contexts when discussing sales, while more formal terms might be used in business settings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 卖 is essential for students to master basic commerce-related vocabulary. Focus on using it in sentences related to shopping or selling items, and practice common phrases like '我想卖这个' (I want to sell this).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of selling goes beyond mere transactions; it often reflects social status. For example, successful vendors at local markets are seen as resourceful and savvy, contributing to community dynamics.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 卖 (mài) and 买 (mǎi), leading to sentences like '我想买这个' (I want to sell this) instead of the correct '我想卖这个.' Practice distinguishing the two to avoid confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 卖
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Grammar Patterns of 卖
卖 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The painting was sold for £665,000 — a record for the artist.
10
我去布鲁克斯兄弟专卖店给自己买了一件体面的衬衫。
wǒ qù bù lǔ kè sī xiōng dì zhuān mài diàn gěi zì jǐ mǎi le yī jiàn tǐ miàn de chèn shān。
I went to Brooks Brothers and bought myself a decent shirt.
Cultural Notes for 卖
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of selling goes beyond mere transactions; it often reflects social status. For example, successful vendors at local markets are seen as resourceful and savvy, contributing to community dynamics.
Word Family of 卖
Compounds10
续xu4to continue
读dou4comma
赎shu2ransom; to buy; to redeem
渎du2ditch, sluice, gutter, drain
窦Dou4sinuses; corrupt; surname
犊du2calf; sacrificial lamb
牍du2writing tablet; documents, books
黩du2to dishonor, to defile, to corrupt; soiled
椟du2cabinet, closet, wardrobe
觌di2audience, interview; face-to-face meeting
Words Containing This Character20
卖màito sell賣
买卖mǎimaibusiness買賣
拍卖pāimàito auction拍賣
出卖chūmàito sell出賣
卖出to sell賣出
贩卖fànmàito sell販賣
拍卖会auction拍賣會
卖淫prostitution賣淫
专卖店zhuānmàidiànspecialty store專賣店
卖力to really put out energy for賣力
专卖monopoly專賣
卖命to throw one's life in for賣命
倒卖dǎomàito speculate倒賣
外卖wàimàito go外賣
卖弄màinongto show off賣弄
卖方seller (in contracts)賣方
义卖charity bazaar義賣
叫卖to peddle叫賣
变卖to sell off (one's property)變賣
小卖部kiosk小賣部
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 续 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 卖
卖 means 'to sell,' while 买 means 'to buy.' These are opposites, so be sure to use them in the correct context.
Generally, 卖 is more informal. In formal business contexts, you might encounter terms like 销售 (xiāoshòu) for 'sales.'
You can say '我在市场上卖水果' (I sell fruit at the market) to practice using 卖 in context.
