HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
销
xiāo
to cancel or annul
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
销
xiāo
to sell
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
销
xiāo
to spend
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
销
xiāo
to fasten with a bolt
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
销
xiāo
bolt or pin
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
销
xiāo
to fuse, to melt; to market, to sell
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #17471, Very Hard
xiāo(xiao1)xiao T1
1to melt (metal)
2to cancel or annul
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
销(銷)xiāo(xiao1)
The character 销 (xiāo) primarily means to melt, especially in the context of metals. It can also refer to canceling or annulling something, selling goods, or spending money. The versatility of this word allows it to appear in various contexts, such as finance and manufacturing.
Strokes12Radical钅Frequency#17471DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'selling' (销售) is deeply intertwined with markets and trade, reflecting the historical importance of commerce in local communities. The melting of metal also symbolizes transformation and renewal in various crafts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a blacksmith (the radical 钅 represents metal) melting down metal to reshape it, while a sales clerk (the pronunciation 'xiāo' sounds like 'sell') sells the final product. Picture the blacksmith shouting 'sell!' as he finishes melting metal into a new form.
Meanings of 销
xiāo(xiao1)
1to melt (metal)
2to cancel or annul
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 销 means.
About 销
销Simplified
銷Traditional
12Strokes
钅Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#17471Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 销
Podcast: 销
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AI Study Notes for 销
Quick Contrast
销 (xiāo) vs 退 (tuì) — use 销 when referring to selling goods or canceling, while 退 is used specifically for returning items.
Usage Notes
When using 销, be mindful of its context; it may imply different actions such as selling or canceling. Common collocations include 销售 (xiāoshòu, to sell) and 销毁 (xiāohuǐ, to destroy). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have distinct meanings.
HSK Study Tips
While 销 is not an HSK word, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to commerce and finance. Students should focus on its various meanings and practice using it in sentences about buying and selling.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 销 with 休 (xiū, to rest) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我想休这个产品' instead of '我想销这个产品' (I want to sell this product) is incorrect. Always use 销 when referring to selling or canceling.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 销
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How Well Do You Know 销?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 销 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
销 = 钅 + 肖. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 销
IDS Structure⿰钅肖
销Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
肖Xiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 销?
How to say to melt (metal) in Chinese
“to melt (metal)” in Chinese is销xiāo
The character 销 (xiāo) primarily means to melt, especially in the context of metals. It can also refer to canceling or annulling something, selling goods, or spending money. The versatility of this word allows it to appear in various contexts, such as finance and manufacturing.
When to use 销
When using 销, be mindful of its context; it may imply different actions such as selling or canceling. Common collocations include 销售 (xiāoshòu, to sell) and 销毁 (xiāohuǐ, to destroy). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have distinct meanings.
销 or something close to it
销 (xiāo) vs 退 (tuì) — use 销 when referring to selling goods or canceling, while 退 is used specifically for returning items.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 销 with 休 (xiū, to rest) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我想休这个产品' instead of '我想销这个产品' (I want to sell this product) is incorrect. Always use 销 when referring to selling or canceling.
Write 销
销
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Practice writing 销 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 销
销 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 7 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
医生们抱怨他们疲于应付医药公司的____售人员。
Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.
Common Confusions with 销
销vs消
xiāo
Same pronunciation but different meanings
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to melt (metal)”?
or
Example Sentences for 销 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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.
The private sector, by contrast, has plenty of money to spend.
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Word Family of 销
Words Containing This Character20
销售xiāoshòuto sell銷售
撤销chèxiāoto repeal撤銷
推销tuīxiāoto market推銷
营销marketing營銷
销量xiāoliàngsales volume銷量
销毁xiāohuǐto obliterate銷毀
促销cùxiāoto promote sales促銷
经销商dealer經銷商
推销员salesperson推銷員
销xiāoto sell銷
畅销chàngxiāoto sell well暢銷
热销to sell well熱銷
销售额sales figure銷售額
开销kāixiāoexpenses開銷
吊销diàoxiāoto revoke吊銷
报销bàoxiāoto write off報銷
畅销书best-seller暢銷書
销魂ecstasy銷魂
注销to cancel註銷
倾销qīngxiāoto dump (goods, products)傾銷
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 销
What does 销售 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 销
While both 销 (xiāo) and 卖 (mài) can mean 'to sell,' 销 often implies a more specific context, such as selling off inventory or goods in bulk, whereas 卖 is a more general term for selling. Each term can be used in different contexts, so it's important to understand their nuances.
销 can be used in various contexts. For example, you might say '我们需要销库存' (Wǒmen xūyào xiāo kùcún) meaning 'We need to sell the inventory.' Understanding the context is crucial for using 销 appropriately in sentences.
销 (xiāo) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'to melt' (especially metals), 'to cancel or annul,' and 'to sell.' It can also refer to spending or fastening something with a bolt. The context in which it is used can change its meaning significantly.
It can mean to melt, sell, or cancel depending on the context. For example, in a financial context, it often refers to selling goods.
You can say '我想销毁这个文件' (Wǒ xiǎng xiāohuǐ zhège wénjiàn), meaning 'I want to destroy this document.'
It is used in both formal and informal contexts but is more commonly seen in business and technical discussions.
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