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March 24, 2026
售shòu(shou4)
The character 售 (shòu) means 'to sell' and is commonly used in commercial contexts. It can refer to selling products or services, as well as the act of executing a plan or scheme. It emphasizes the transactional aspect of exchange, often found in discussions about business and trade.
Strokes11Radical口Frequency#8260DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of selling is deeply integrated into daily life, with markets and street vendors playing a significant role in local economies. The character 售 reflects this cultural importance of commerce and trade.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shopkeeper at a market selling fresh vegetables. The character 售 looks like a person holding out goods for sale, with the '口' (kǒu) representing the mouth, where transactions happen. Remember 'shòu' sounds like 'show,' as in showing your goods to sell them.
Meanings of 售
shòu(shou4)
1to sell
2to make or carry out (a plan or intrigue etc)
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 售
售Simplified
11Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8260Frequency Rank
Podcast: 售
Podcast: 售
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AI Study Notes for 售
Quick Contrast
售 (shòu, to sell) vs 销 (xiāo, to sell off) — use 售 for general selling contexts, while 销 often implies a sense of clearance or disposal.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a shopkeeper at a market selling fresh vegetables. The character 售 looks like a person holding out goods for sale, with the '口' (kǒu) representing the mouth, where transactions happen. Remember 'shòu' sounds like 'show,' as in showing your goods to sell them.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 售 with 销 (xiāo), which also means to sell but emphasizes the act of selling out or distributing. This character is more formal and is typically used in business contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations about selling personal items.
HSK Study Tips
Although not included in the HSK vocabulary list, understanding 售 can help learners grasp commercial language better. Focus on its usage in phrases like 售票 (ticket selling) and 售后服务 (after-sales service), which are common in business settings.
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of selling is deeply integrated into daily life, with markets and street vendors playing a significant role in local economies. The character 售 reflects this cultural importance of commerce and trade.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 售 with 买 (mǎi), which means 'to buy.' For example, saying '我去售东西' (Wǒ qù shòu dōngxī) instead of '我去买东西' (Wǒ qù mǎi dōngxī) is incorrect, as it implies selling when they intend to buy.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 售
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Grammar Patterns of 售
售 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
医生们抱怨他们疲于应付医药公司的销____人员。
Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.
Common Confusions with 售
售vs受
shòu
Same pronunciation but different meaning
售vs手
shǒu
Similar shape but different meaning
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to sell"?
or
Example Sentences for 售 (10)
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1
医生们抱怨他们疲于应付医药公司的销售人员。
yī shēng mén bào yuàn tā mén pí yú yīng fù yī yào gōng sī de xiāo shòu rén yuán。
Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.
2
从公司可以查到离你最近的零售商的名字。
cóng gōng sī kě yǐ chá dào lí nǐ zuì jìn de líng shòu shāng de míng zì。
The name of your nearest stockist is available from the company.
A manufacturer negligently made and marketed a car with defective brakes.
Cultural Notes for 售
🏮Cultural insight
In China, the concept of selling is deeply integrated into daily life, with markets and street vendors playing a significant role in local economies. The character 售 reflects this cultural importance of commerce and trade.
Word Family of 售
Words Containing This Character18
销售xiāoshòuto sell銷售
出售chūshòuto sell
售shòuto sell
零售língshòuto retail
售价shòujiàselling price售價
销售额sales figure銷售額
发售to sell發售
兜售dōushòuto hawk
售货员shòuhuòyuánsalesperson售貨員
零售商retailer
预售yùshòuadvance sale預售
抛售to dump (selling abroad more cheaply than cost price at home)拋售
售后服务after-sales service售後服務
配售to ration merchandise (esp. food in times of shortages)
售票处ticket office售票處
售卖to sell售賣
售票员ticket seller售票員
售完to sell out
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 销售 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 售
售 (shòu) is used primarily in formal or business contexts, especially related to selling goods or services. You will encounter it in advertisements, store signs, and official communications about sales.
Some common phrases using 售 include '售后服务' (shòuhòu fúwù), meaning 'after-sales service', and '售货员' (shòuhuòyuán), which means 'salesperson'. These phrases showcase the versatility of the character in different commercial contexts.
售 (shòu) means 'to sell' in Chinese. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce and transactions. For example, it appears in phrases like '售票' (shòupiào), which means 'to sell tickets'.
To use 售 (shòu) in a sentence, you can say '我在商店里售书' (Wǒ zài shāngdiàn lǐ shòu shū), meaning 'I sell books in the store'. It's often combined with other words to specify what is being sold, like 售票 for ticket sales.
You can say '我们在商场售卖衣服' (Wǒmen zài shāngchǎng shòumài yīfú) meaning 'We sell clothes in the mall.'
Yes, but it's more common in written and formal contexts, such as business communication.
售 focuses on the selling process, while 销 often refers to the distribution or selling out of products.
