Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
倒卖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
倒卖dǎomàito resell at a profitHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #18112, Very Hard
倒卖dǎomàito speculateHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #18112, Very Hard
dǎomài(dao3mai4)dao mai T3
  1. 1to resell at a profit
  2. 2to speculate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

倒卖(倒賣)dǎomài(dao3mai4)

倒卖 (dàomài) refers to the practice of reselling goods at a profit, often involving speculation on market prices. It is commonly used in contexts such as trading or business transactions, where items are purchased and then sold for a higher price, sometimes leading to ethical considerations in the marketplace.

Strokes18Frequency#18112DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

倒卖 is often associated with the phenomenon of scalping in China, especially regarding hot products like concert tickets or limited edition items. This practice has sparked discussions about fairness and ethics in commerce.

Memory tip

Imagine a person named 'Dao' who buys a beautiful vase at a low price and then flips it for a profit at a market. The character 倒 (dào) resembles an upside-down vase, symbolizing the act of turning over or reselling, while 卖 (mài) means 'to sell'. Together, they depict the concept of turning items around to make a profit.

Meanings of 倒卖

dǎomài(dao3mai4)
1to resell at a profit
2to speculate
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 倒卖 means.

About 倒卖

倒卖Simplified
倒賣Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 倒卖

JasonAmy

Podcast: 倒卖

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 倒卖

Quick Contrast

转售 (zhuǎnshòu) vs 倒卖 (dàomài): use 倒卖 when emphasizing profit-driven resale, while 转售 is more neutral and does not imply speculation or unethical practices.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 倒卖 with simply selling (卖). 倒卖 specifically implies resale for profit, and can carry a negative connotation if viewed as unethical. It's typically used in informal contexts, and caution should be exercised to avoid sounding overly commercial in formal discussions.

HSK Study Tips

While 倒卖 is not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding it can enhance comprehension of business-related language at HSK level 3 and above. Students should focus on related terms like 买 (to buy) and 卖 (to sell) to grasp the full context of commercial transactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes misuse 倒卖 to simply mean 'to sell', missing its connotation of resale for profit. For example, saying '我倒卖水果' (I resell fruits) without clarifying the intent might lead to misunderstandings; a clearer phrase would be '我倒卖水果以赚取利润' (I resell fruits to earn a profit).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 倒卖

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 倒卖, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 倒卖 to you

Let me explain 倒卖 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 倒卖 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 倒卖?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 倒卖 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

倒dàoto fall
HSK 410 strokes亻
View full entry
卖màito sell
HSK 18 strokes十
View full entry

How to say to resell at a profit in Chinese

“to resell at a profit” in Chinese is倒卖dǎomài

倒卖 (dàomài) refers to the practice of reselling goods at a profit, often involving speculation on market prices. It is commonly used in contexts such as trading or business transactions, where items are purchased and then sold for a higher price, sometimes leading to ethical considerations in the marketplace.

When to use 倒卖

Learners often confuse 倒卖 with simply selling (卖). 倒卖 specifically implies resale for profit, and can carry a negative connotation if viewed as unethical. It's typically used in informal contexts, and caution should be exercised to avoid sounding overly commercial in formal discussions.

倒卖 or something close to it

转售 (zhuǎnshòu) vs 倒卖 (dàomài): use 倒卖 when emphasizing profit-driven resale, while 转售 is more neutral and does not imply speculation or unethical practices.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes misuse 倒卖 to simply mean 'to sell', missing its connotation of resale for profit. For example, saying '我倒卖水果' (I resell fruits) without clarifying the intent might lead to misunderstandings; a clearer phrase would be '我倒卖水果以赚取利润' (I resell fruits to earn a profit).

Write 倒卖

倒
卖

Practice writing 倒卖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 倒卖?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 倒卖

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, reselling for profit is often seen as a legitimate business practice, whereas in China, it can sometimes be viewed as exploitative, especially in cases of essential goods.

Frequently asked questions about 倒卖

Yes, 倒卖 can refer to reselling various goods, but it is often discussed in relation to high-demand or speculative items.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 倒卖?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab