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March 24, 2026
貿mào(mao4)
The character '貿' (mào) refers to commerce or trade, specifically the exchange of goods and services between parties. It is commonly used in contexts related to business transactions, international trade, and economic discussions.
Strokes12Radical貝Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, trade has a long history dating back to the Silk Road, which facilitated commerce between China and other parts of the world. The character '貿' embodies this rich heritage of cultural and economic exchange.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large market where different goods are traded. The character '貿' looks like a merchant (the top part) surrounded by goods (the bottom part). Picture the merchant shouting 'mào' to attract customers, emphasizing the bustling nature of trade.
Meanings of 貿
mào(mao4)
1commerce, trade
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 貿
貿Simplified
12Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 貿
Podcast: 貿
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AI Study Notes for 貿
Quick Contrast
交易 (jiāoyì) - use '貿' for broader trade contexts, while '交易' focuses on specific transactions.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large market where different goods are traded. The character '貿' looks like a merchant (the top part) surrounded by goods (the bottom part). Picture the merchant shouting 'mào' to attract customers, emphasizing the bustling nature of trade.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse '貿' with similar-sounding words that pertain to other economic concepts. It is more formal and is often used in business contexts. Common collocations include '貿易' (mào yì - trade) and '貿易公司' (mào yì gōng sī - trading company).
HSK Study Tips
While '貿' is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners interested in business Chinese. Focus on its use in phrases related to trade and economics to enhance your vocabulary in this area.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, trade has a long history dating back to the Silk Road, which facilitated commerce between China and other parts of the world. The character '貿' embodies this rich heritage of cultural and economic exchange.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write '貿' with the wrong radicals, confusing it with characters related to 'buying' or 'selling'. Ensure you remember that '貿' specifically relates to 'trade' (mào), not '買' (buy) or '賣' (sell).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 貿
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Cultural Notes for 貿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, trade has a long history dating back to the Silk Road, which facilitated commerce between China and other parts of the world. The character '貿' embodies this rich heritage of cultural and economic exchange.
Word Family of 貿
Words Containing This Character20
贸易màoyì(commercial) trade貿易
世贸abbr. for 世界貿易組織|世界贸易组织世貿
外贸wàimàoforeign trade外貿
贸然rashly貿然
贸màotrade貿
经贸jīngmàotrade經貿
商贸trade and commerce商貿
农贸市场farmer's market農貿市場
国际贸易international trade國際貿易
世贸组织WTO (World Trade Organization)世貿組織
贸易额volume of trade (between countries)貿易額
世界贸易组织World Trade Organization (WTO)世界貿易組織
贸易逆差trade deficit貿易逆差
集贸market集貿
贸易公司trading company貿易公司
财贸finance and trade財貿
内贸domestic trade內貿
关贸总协定GATT, the 1995 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade關貿總協定
香港贸易发展局Hong Kong Trade Development Council香港貿易發展局
对外贸易经济合作部Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC)對外貿易經濟合作部
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 贸易 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 貿
'貿' is pronounced as 'mào'.
'貿' is more commonly used in formal or business contexts rather than casual conversation.
Common phrases include '貿易' (trade) and '貿易協定' (trade agreement).
