Word: 卖 (mài)

一辈子卖馒头,什么汽都得受

yíbèizi mài mántou,shénme qì dōu děi shòu

selling steamed buns all your life: you have to take every kind of steam

三十晚上买猪肉,买的找不到卖的

sānshíwǎnshang mǎi zhūròu,mǎi de zhǎo búdào mài de

buying pork on New Year's Eve night: the buyer can't find a seller

不怕卖不了，就怕货不好

búpà mài bù liǎo, jiù pà huò bù hǎo

don't fear it won't sell, fear the goods aren't good

他们卖了冰箱。

Tāmen màile bīngxiāng.

They sold a refrigerator.

他们卖体育用品。

Tāmen mài tǐyù yòngpǐn.

They sell sporting goods.

他们卖糖果。

Tāmen mài tángguǒ.

They sell candy.

他们只对卖书有兴趣。

Tāmen zhǐ duì mài shū yǒu xìngqù.

They were only interested in selling books.

他们这儿啥都卖。

Tāmen zhèr shá dōu mài.

They sell everything here.

他卖得太便宜，一定会亏本。

Tā mài de tài piányi, yídìng huì kuīběn.

He sells too cheaply, so he's bound to make a loss.

他卖旧地毯。

Tā mài jiù dìtǎn.

He sells old carpets.

他喜欢仿制名画，但从不拿去卖。

Tā xǐhuan fǎngzhì mínghuà, dàn cóngbù ná qù mài.

He likes to imitate famous paintings, but he never sells them.

他在一家小店里卖百货。

Tā zài yìjiā xiǎodiàn lǐ mài bǎihuò.

He sells general merchandise in a small shop.

他把房子卖了。

Tā bǎ fángzi màile.

He sold the house.

他是卖鱼的。

Tā shì mài yú de.

He is a fishmonger.

任何价格我都不会卖。

Rènhé jiàgé wǒ dōu búhuì mài.

I wouldn't sell that at any price.

你不能把酒卖给未成年人。

Nǐ bùnéng bǎjiǔ mài gěi wèichéngniánrén.

You can't sell alcohol to under-age people.

你为什么卖了它？

Nǐ wèishénme màile tā?

Why did you sell it?

你们卖水果吗？

Nǐmen mài shuǐguǒ ma?

Do you sell fruit?

你们这里卖什么？

Nǐmen zhèlǐ mài shénme?

What kind of things do you sell here?

你可以把你的车卖给我吗？

Nǐ kěyǐ bǎ nǐ de chē mài gěi wǒ ma?

Will you sell your car to me?

你在卖这些灯吗？

Nǐ zài mài zhèxiē dēng ma?

Are you selling these lamps?

你知道现在哪本书卖得好吗？

Nǐ zhīdào xiànzài nǎ běn shū mài de hǎo ma?

Do you know which book sells well now?

你计划卖什么？

Nǐ jìhuà mài shénme?

What do you plan to sell?

关公卖豆腐，人硬货不硬

Guāngōng mài dòufu, rén yìnghuò bú yìng

Guan Gong selling tofu: the man is tough, the goods are not

农民把农产品运到城里卖。

Nóngmín bǎ nóngchǎnpǐn yùn dào chénglǐ mài.

The farmers transport their produce to the city to sell.

卖了生姜买蒜吃，换个口味

màile shēngjiāng mǎi suàn chī, huàn ge kǒuwèi

sold the ginger to buy garlic: a change of taste

卖了衣裳买酒喝，顾嘴不顾身

màile yīshang mǎi jiǔ hē, gùzuǐ búgù shēn

sold clothes to buy liquor: minds the mouth, not the body

卖了麦子买笼屉，不蒸别的蒸口汽

màile màizi mǎi lóngtì, bù zhēng biéde zhēng kǒu qì

sold the wheat to buy a steamer: not steaming anything else, just steaming a puff of steam

卖什么吆喝什么

mài shénme yāohe shénme

shout about whatever you're selling

卖布不带尺子，瞎扯

mài bù bú dài chǐzi, xiāchě

selling cloth without a ruler: tearing blindly

卖水的看大河，尽是钱

mài shuǐ de kàn dàhé, jìn shì qián

a water seller looking at a great river: all he sees is money

卖油的敲锅盖，货不怎么样，牌子不小

mài yóu de qiāo guōgài, huò bùzěnmeyàng, páizi bù xiǎo

the oil seller bangs a pot lid: the goods aren't much, but the sign is big

卖烧饼的不带干粮，吃货

mài shāobing de bú dài gānliáng, chīhuò

a sesame-bun seller without his own food: eats the goods

卖瓜的说瓜甜，卖醋的讲醋酸

mài guā de shuō guā tián, mài cù de jiǎng cùsuān

the melon seller says the melons are sweet, the vinegar seller says the vinegar is sour

卖盆的出身，一说就一套一套的

mài pén de chūshēn, yì shuō jiù yítào-yítào de

from a basin seller's background: once he starts, it comes in sets

卖米的不带升，居心不量

mài mǐ de bú dài shēng, jūxīn bú liàng

a rice seller without a measure: his intentions aren't measured

卖红薯的丢了干粮，硬啃

mài hóngshǔ de diū le gānliáng, yìng kěn

the sweet-potato seller loses his food: has to gnaw away

卖豆芽的没带秤，乱抓

mài dòuyá de méi dài chèng, luàn zhuā

a bean sprout seller without scales: grabs at random

卖豆芽的磕打筐子，亮了底了

mài dòuyá de kēdǎ kuāngzǐ, liàngle dǐ le

the bean sprout seller bangs out the basket: the bottom shows

卖车是我的工作。

Mài chē shì wǒ de gōngzuò.

Selling cars is my job.

卖饭的不怕大肚汉，卖酒的不怕海量

mài fàn de búpà dàdùhàn, mài jiǔ de búpà hǎiliàng

a food seller doesn't fear a big eater, a wine seller doesn't fear a big drinker

卖鸡蛋的摔跟头，没剩下一个好的

mài jīdàn de shuāigēntou, méi shèngxià yí gè hǎo de

the egg seller takes a tumble: not one is left intact

只有一家商店卖这本书。

Zhǐyǒu yìjiā shāngdiàn mài zhè běn shū.

This book is available at one shop only.

商店卖水果和蔬菜。

Shāngdiàn mài shuǐguǒ hé shūcài.

The store sells fruit and vegetables.

城隍庙里卖假药，哄鬼

Chénghuángmiào li mài jiǎyào, hǒng guǐ

Selling fake medicine in the City God temple: fooling ghosts

夏天饮品卖得特别好。

Xiàtiān yǐnpǐn mài de tèbié hǎo.

Beverages sell especially well in summer.

多亏了冷夏，啤酒卖的不好。

Duōkuī le lěng xià, píjiǔ mài de bù hǎo.

Thanks to a cold summer, beer has sold poorly.

大妈，这个苹果怎么卖？

Dàmā, zhège píngguǒ zěnme mài?

Auntie, how much are these apples?

天桥上有人在卖水果。

Tiānqiáo shàng yǒurén zài mài shuǐguǒ.

Someone is selling fruit on the overhead walkway.

宁可卖了悔，休要悔了卖

nìngkě màile huǐ, xiū yào huǐle mài

better to regret having sold than to regret and then sell

属卖糖人儿的，吹得凶

shǔ mài tángrénr de, chuī de xiōng

born a sugar-figure seller: blows hard

市场里卖假药的人被查处了。

Shìchǎng lǐ mài jiǎyào de rén bèi cháchǔle.

The people selling fake medicine in the market were investigated and punished.

市场里卖的东西很杂。

Shìchǎng lǐ mài de dōngxi hěn zá.

The market sells all sorts of various things.

张飞卖秤砣，人强货也硬

Zhāng Fēi mài chèngtuó, rén qiáng huò yě yìng

Zhang Fei selling steelyard weights: the man is strong and the goods are solid

当官不为民作主，不如回家卖红薯

dāngguān bú wèi mín zuòzhǔ, bùrú huíjiā mài hóngshǔ

if an official won't decide for the people, better go home and sell sweet potatoes

很多小店依托网络卖东西。

Hěn duō xiǎodiàn yītuō wǎngluò mài dōngxi.

Many small shops rely on the internet to sell their goods.

您卖闹钟吗？

Nín mài nàozhōng ma?

Do you sell alarm clocks?

我下午去卖车。

Wǒ xiàwǔ qù mài chē.

I'm going to go sell my car this afternoon.

我刚把那卖了。

Wǒ gāng bǎ nà màile.

I just sold that.

我卖两朵花。

Wǒ mài liǎng duǒ huā.

I sell two flowers.

我卖了自行车。

Wǒ màile zìxíngchē.

I sold the bike.

我在网上卖了我的旧车。

Wǒ zài wǎngshàng màile wǒ de jiù chē.

I sold my old car online.

我在网路上卖衣服。

Wǒ zài wǎng lùshang mài yīfu.

I sell clothing online.

我得卖我的房子。

Wǒ děi mài wǒ de fángzi.

I have to sell my house.

我把我所有的房子都卖了。

Wǒ bǎ wǒ suǒyǒu de fángzi dōu màile.

I sold all my houses.

我把房子卖了个好价钱。

Wǒ bǎ fángzi màile gè hǎo jiàqian.

I sold the house to advantage.

我把自行车卖了。

Wǒ bǎ zìxíngchē màile.

I sold the bike.

我是在网上卖的衣服。

Wǒ shì zài wǎngshàng mài de yīfu.

It was online that I sold the clothes.

搭戏台卖豆腐,买卖不大,架子不小

dā xìtái mài dòufu,mǎimai bú dà,jiàzi bù xiǎo

building a stage to sell tofu: small business, big frame

新手机一问世，就卖得很好。

Xīn shǒujī yí wènshì, jiù mài de hěn hǎo.

As soon as the new phone came out, it sold very well.

昨天我卖了两本书。

Zuótiān wǒ màile liǎng běn shū.

Yesterday I sold two books.

杂货店的掌柜，什么都卖

záhuòdiàn de zhǎngguì, shénme dōu mài

the general-store owner: sells everything

橙子怎么卖？

Chéngzi zěnme mài?

How much are oranges?

武大郎卖棉花，人弱货软

wǔ dà láng mài miánhua, rén ruò huò ruǎn

Wu Dalang selling cotton: the man is weak and the goods are soft

武大郎卖烧饼，迟出早归

wǔ dà láng mài shāobing, chí chū zǎo guī

Wu Dalang selling sesame cakes: goes out late and comes home early

热闹处卖母猪，净干些败兴事儿

rènao chù mài mǔzhū, jìng gàn xiē bàixìng shìr

selling a sow in a busy place: nothing but spoilsport business

王妈妈卖了磨，推不得了

Wáng māma màile mò, tuī bùdéle

Granny Wang has sold her millstone: can't push it any more

用优质材料做的家具卖得很好。

Yòng yōuzhì cáiliào zuò de jiājù mài de hěn hǎo.

Furniture made of good materials sells well.

绳子按米卖。

Shéngzi àn mǐ mài.

String is sold by the metre.

老板把一部分股份卖给了别人。

Lǎobǎn bǎ yíbùfen gǔfèn mài gěi le biéren.

The boss sold part of his stock to someone else.

腊月天卖凉粉,不是时候

làyuè tiān mài liángfěn,bú shì shíhou

Selling jelly noodles in midwinter: not the right time

腊月里卖镰刀,知冬不知夏

làyuè li mài liándāo,zhī dōng bùzhī xià

Selling sickles in the twelfth month: knows winter, not summer

菜市场里的蒜今天卖得很便宜。

Càishìchǎng lǐ de suàn jīntiān mài de hěn piányi.

Garlic is selling very cheap at the market today.

蛋是按打卖的。

Dàn shì àn dǎ mài de.

Eggs are sold by the dozen.

说真方，卖假药

shuōzhēnfāng, mài jiǎyào

recite a genuine prescription, sell fake medicine

请问，卖酒的专柜在哪儿？

Qǐngwèn, mài jiǔ de zhuānguì zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is the liquor counter?

豁嘴骡子卖了个驴价钱,吃亏就吃在嘴上

huōzuǐ luózi màile ge lǘ jiàqian,chīkuī jiù chī zài zuǐ shang

A harelipped mule sold for a donkey's price: the loss is all in the mouth

豆腐卖成了肉价钱

dòufu mài chéng le ròu jiàqian

tofu sold at meat prices

超市里的核桃蛋糕卖得很好。

Chāoshì lǐ de hétao dàngāo mài de hěn hǎo.

The walnut cakes at the supermarket sell very well.

超市里的莲子是按斤卖的。

Chāoshì lǐ de liánzǐ shì àn jīn mài de.

The lotus seeds in the supermarket are sold by the jin.

路口有个卖早餐的摊。

Lùkǒu yǒu gè mài zǎocān de tān.

There's a breakfast stand at the intersection.

过年时，这里的水果卖高价。

Guònián shí, zhèlǐ de shuǐguǒ mài gāojià.

Around the New Year, the fruit here sells at high prices.

这个不卖给一般人。

Zhège bú mài gěi yìbān rén.

This isn't on sale to the general public.

这个产品很受欢迎 - 我们已经卖了一盒半了！

Zhège chǎnpǐn hěn shòuhuānyíng - wǒmen yǐjīng màile yì hé bàn le!

This product is very popular - we've already sold a box and a half!

这个卖不卖？

Zhège mài bú mài?

Is that for sale?

这些出产都卖到国外去了。

Zhèxiē chūchǎn dōu mài dào guówài qùle.

These products are all sold abroad.

这人把灵魂卖给魔鬼。

Zhè rén bǎ línghún mài gěi móguǐ.

The man sold his soul to the devil.

这价儿我不卖。

Zhè jià ér wǒ bú mài.

I can't sell at this price.

这家店卖口罩赚了暴利。

Zhè jiā diàn mài kǒuzhào zhuànle bàolì.

This shop made huge profits selling face masks.

这家店卖各种漂亮的家居用品。

Zhè jiā diàn mài gèzhǒng piàoliang de jiājū yòngpǐn.

This shop sells all kinds of nice home furnishings.