Chinese learning

Daily learning flow

Usage note

”就是把东西给别人,然后收到钱。比如商店里的阿姨水果。

“mài” jiù shì bǎ dōngxi gěi biérén, ránhòu shōudào qián. Bǐrú shāngdiàn lǐ de āyí mài shuǐguǒ.

It means to give something to someone in exchange for money. It is often used when talking about shops or people who sell things.

Context note

是把东西给别人,然后收到钱。比如在商店里水果。

mài shì bǎ dōngxi gěi biérén, ránhòu shōudào qián. bǐrú zài shāngdiàn lǐ mài shuǐguǒ.

This word is used when someone gives an item to another person and receives money in return, like selling fruit in a shop.

5 examples

妈妈在苹果
mā ma zài mài píng guǒ
妈妈在卖苹果。
书赚钱
tā mài shū zhuàn qián
他卖书赚钱。
这家店玩具
zhè jiā diàn mài wán jù
这家店卖玩具。
我在网上旧手机
wǒ zài wǎng shàng mài jiù shǒu jī
我在网上卖旧手机。
他们水果给顾客
tā men mài shuǐ guǒ gěi gù kè
他们卖水果给顾客。

5 mini stories

奶奶在院子里自己种的西红柿。红红的西红柿很快完了。奶奶开心地笑了。
Nǎinai zài yuànzi lǐ mài zìjǐ zhòng de xīhóngshì. Hónghóng de xīhóngshì hěn kuài mài wán le. Nǎinai kāixīn de xiào le.
Grandma sells her homegrown tomatoes in the yard. The red tomatoes sold out quickly. Grandma smiled happily.
学校义会上,小明自己画的明信片。一位老师买了两张。小明把赚的钱放进了捐款箱。
Xuéxiào yìmài huì shàng, Xiǎomíng mài zìjǐ huà de míngxìnpiàn. Yī wèi lǎoshī mǎi le liǎng zhāng. Xiǎomíng bǎ zhuàn de qián fàng jìn le juānkuǎn xiāng.
At the school charity sale, Xiaoming sells postcards he drew. A teacher bought two. Xiaoming put the money he earned into the donation box.
路边有个老爷爷彩色风车。风吹过来,风车呼呼地转。小美选了一个彩虹色的。
Lùbiān yǒu gè lǎo yéye mài cǎisè fēngchē. Fēng chuī guòlái, fēngchē hūhū de zhuàn. Xiǎoměi xuǎn le yī gè cǎihóng sè de.
An old grandpa sells colorful pinwheels by the roadside. The wind blew, and the pinwheels spun with a whir. Xiaomei chose a rainbow-colored one.
妈妈带小乐去跳蚤市场旧玩具。小乐把玩具摆得整整齐齐。一个小弟弟买走了他的小火车。
Māma dài Xiǎolè qù tiàozǎo shìchǎng mài jiù wánjù. Xiǎolè bǎ wánjù bǎi de zhěngzhěngqíqí. Yī gè xiǎo dìdi mǎi zǒu le tā de xiǎo huǒchē.
Mom took Xiaole to the flea market to sell old toys. Xiaole arranged the toys neatly. A little brother bought his little train.
书店门口立着一块牌子,上面写着“今日特价绘本”。小安拉着爸爸进去,挑了一本关于恐龙的书。
Shūdiàn ménkǒu lì zhe yī kuài páizi, shàngmiàn xiě zhe “jīnrì mài tèjià huìběn”. Xiǎo Ān lā zhe bàba jìnqù, tiāo le yī běn guānyú kǒnglóng de shū.
A sign stood at the bookstore entrance, reading 'Special-priced picture books on sale today.' Xiao An pulled her dad inside and picked a book about dinosaurs.

Mini dialogue

卖水果

A
这个商店什么?
Zhège shāngdiàn mài shénme?
What does this shop sell?
B
这个商店水果。
Zhège shāngdiàn mài shuǐguǒ.
This shop sells fruit.

卖完了

A
还有面包吗?
Hái yǒu miànbāo ma?
Is there any bread left?
B
对不起,面包完了。
Duìbuqǐ, miànbāo mài wán le.
Sorry, the bread is sold out.

Related words and contrasts

opposite
mǎi
to buy

卖 means to sell, 买 means to buy. They are opposite actions.

similar
shòu
to sell

售 is a more formal word for selling, often seen in shops.

Explore more words