HanziGuru.賣 · mài
賣
mài[mai4]Tone 4

to sell

HSK 2
View Simplified FormSwitch to Simplified
卖
Guru Deep Dive

English · to sell

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Top-bottom
Strokes:8
Writing Balance Rule: Keep the top crown compact and wide, while the bottom box-like structure (贝) is balanced squarely underneath with an elongated final dot stroke.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 賣 features a complex top part over 出 and 貝. Simplified to 卖, the top part is simplified to a flat horizontal crown with a short vertical hook, and the bottom simplifies to 贝.
1. Meaning

to sell

to betrayto spare no effortto show off or flaunt
VerbNeutral#commerce#action#exchange
Sample Usage
  • 这家商店卖水果。
    zhè jiā shāngdiàn mài shuǐguǒ.
    This shop sells fruit.
  • 他卖力地工作。
    tā màilì de gōngzuò.
    he works with all his might.
2. Sound
/[maɪ̯⁵¹]/Tone: 51
賣
màimai4
++
`(51)
=mài
Initial Consonant
m
Type: Bilabial Nasal
Sounds like: m sound as in 'mother'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Nasal resonance through nostrils.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Lips pressed together lightly to voice air through the nose, then dropped open into the vowel.
Final Rhyme
ai
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: -ai rhymes with 'eye' or 'high'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'eye'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops abruptly to the floor, exactly like saying a firm 'No!' in English.
Sandhi: When followed by another Tone 4 syllable, it can slightly shorten its falling contour, though the strong drop remains.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse it with mǎi (Tone 3, to buy). Remember that mài (to sell) drops down sharply like an angry refusal, while mǎi (to buy) dips down and up like a question.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, decisive karate chop downwards from the top right to bottom left, representing the falling 51 pitch.
3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 8 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: Keep the top crown compact and wide, while the bottom box-like structure (贝) is balanced squarely underneath with an elongated final dot stroke.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 賣 features a complex top part over 出 and 貝. Simplified to 卖, the top part is simplified to a flat horizontal crown with a short vertical hook, and the bottom simplifies to 贝.

4. Components

Radical 贝 · Shell Radical (money, currency, treasure)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 贝 (Indicates commercial transactions involving money or goods.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 十 (original sound: mài phonetic root foundation)

A scholar stands above a cross (representing out-the-door or outgoing goods) and a shell (money). When you send things *out* (出) and collect *money* (贝), you are selling.

  • 十 Ten / Cross component of the upper structure
  • 贝 Shell / Money at the bottom
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally, the character combined elements of going out or putting away goods along with shells (the ancient currency). Over time, the top part stylized into its current form above the shell radical 貝 (simplified to 贝) to represent parting with goods in exchange for money.

Semantic Evolution: From the physical act of exchanging goods for cowrie shells in ancient markets, it expanded metaphorically to 'betraying' someone (selling them out) or 'showing off' skills.

  • Cowrie shells served as the primary currency in early Chinese dynasties, which is why financial and commercial characters so often feature the shell radical.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
mại
Both use a high falling or broken tone contour, closely matching the Chinese Tone 4 falling pitch.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: バイ / Kun: う.る
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
매
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

To **sell** (mài) something, you put a **cross** (十) on it, push it **out**, and collect your **shell money** (贝) at the bottom!

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
买
mǎito buyHas a net/hook opening at the top to scoop items in, whereas 卖 has a closed lid/cross structure on top to push items out.
续
xùto continueUses the silk thread radical on the left to tie things together.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
买(mǎi)
买 (mǎi - buy) is missing the horizontal top cover line; 卖 (mài - sell) has the top cover because you are packing up goods to send them away.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
這家商店不[___] 進口水果。
Clue: mài
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing 卖 (mài, sell) with 买 (mǎi, buy). Remember: 卖 has an extra top roof/cover stroke because you are closing the deal and sending the goods away.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What is the English meaning of 卖 (mài) and how does it differ visually from 买 (mǎi)?
Production: How do you write the Chinese character for 'to sell' with pinyin mài?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

Search theme
Accent preference

Results are live YouTube search — accents and levels aren't verified.

賣màito sell
Speed:
Searching YouTube for native pronunciation videos...
0 / 0
Watch on YouTubeMore Results on YouTube