Learn a Chinese Character - 卖 (Mài - To sell; to vend; to betray)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 十 (shí) - Ten radical or 士 (shì) - Scholar radical

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Mài (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: To sell; to vend; to betray (in certain contexts)

4. Common Words

• 卖东西 (mài dōng xī) - To sell things
• 买卖 (mǎi mài) - Buying and selling; business
• 出售 (chū shòu) - To put up for sale; to sell
• 倒卖 (dǎo mài) - To resell; to speculate

5. Grammar & Usage

The verb "卖" is commonly used with an object (the item being sold). It can be used in various sentence structures and is one of the most frequently used verbs in commercial contexts.

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, selling has a long history dating back to ancient marketplaces. The character "卖" reflects the importance of commerce in Chinese society. However, the meaning "to betray" is considered negative and impolite in most contexts.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "卖" looks like a person (represented by the top part) holding something (represented by the middle part) and a hook (represented by the bottom part). You can remember it as "a person holding and hanging goods for sale," which represents the action of selling.