[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f5NTZnlOOuGPwMYBxpba-7OQQee1BXp09D_BvCPLz2DM":3},{"success":4,"data":5},true,{"id":6,"group_id":7,"locale":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"level":11,"content":12,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"cover_image_url":15,"is_published":4,"created_at":16,"updated_at":16,"type":17,"alternate_urls":18,"examples":19,"quizzes":33},65,"3f0a716b-d3eb-4a8e-85ff-42189a6e057f","en","mai-verb-expressions-chinese","Unlocking 賣 + [動詞]: Beyond 'To Sell' in Chinese Grammar","HSK 4","## 1. Meaning and Usage\nThe structure \"賣 + [動詞]\" describes the act of offering a particular action, skill, quality, or even oneself for sale, or to exert\u002Fdisplay a certain quality or action for a specific purpose. It implies that the action or quality itself is the commodity or the thing being emphasized. Unlike simply \"selling an item\" (e.g., 賣書 - sell books), where the verb is implied from the noun, here the verb directly specifies *what is being sold* or *how one is behaving*.\n\n## 2. Formulas and Examples\n\n### Case 1: To perform a skill or action for money (or livelihood)\nThis usage often refers to performing a specific skill or service in exchange for money, sometimes with a connotation of making a living through that particular act.\n\n**Formula:** `賣 + [skill\u002Faction verb]`\n\n> **他年輕時曾靠賣唱維生。**\n> *Tā niánqīng shí céng kào màichàng wéishēng.*\n> When he was young, he once made a living by performing singing for money.\n\n> **那位街頭藝人每天賣藝賺取生活費。**\n> *Nà wèi jiētóu yìrén měitiān màiyì zhuànqǔ shēnghuófèi.*\n> That street artist performs their skills for money every day to earn living expenses.\n\n> **舊社會有些窮苦人家會賣身為奴。**\n> *Jiù shèhuì yǒuxiē qióngkǔ rénjiā huì màishēn wéi nú.*\n> In the old society, some poor families would sell themselves into slavery.\n\n### Case 2: To exert or display a certain quality, effort, or action (often idiomatic)\nIn this context, the verb following 賣 describes an effort, a characteristic, or a particular behavior that one exerts or displays, often for a specific effect or outcome. Many of these are fixed expressions.\n\n**Formula:** `賣 + [quality\u002Faction verb\u002Fadjective acting as verb]`\n\n> **大家都很賣力地工作，希望項目能順利完成。**\n> *Dàjiā dōu hěn màilì de gōngzuò, xīwàng xiàngmù néng shùnlì wánchéng.*\n> Everyone is working very hard (exerting effort), hoping the project can be completed smoothly.\n\n> **小孩子在大人面前喜歡賣乖。**\n> *Xiǎo háizi zài dàrén miànqián xǐhuān màiguāi.*\n> Children like to pretend to be good\u002Fobedient in front of adults.\n\n> **他總喜歡在人前賣弄自己的學問。**\n> *Tā zǒng xǐhuān zài rén qián màinòng zìjǐ de xuéwèn.*\n> He always likes to show off his knowledge in front of others.\n\n## 3. Essential HSK Tips & Common Mistakes\n\n*   **Distinguish from \"selling a noun\":** A common mistake is to confuse \"賣 + [動詞]\" with simply selling an object. For example, 賣書 means \"to sell books,\" where \"book\" is a noun. In \"賣唱,\" \"唱\" (sing) is a verb, and it's the *act of singing* that is being offered for money. The structure focuses on the action or quality itself as the commodity or the thing being exerted\u002Fdisplayed.\n*   **Fixed Expressions:** Many phrases using \"賣 + [動詞]\" are fixed, idiomatic expressions (e.g., 賣力, 賣乖, 賣弄). You cannot simply combine any verb with 賣 and expect a grammatically correct or natural-sounding phrase in this specific structure. Learn these as individual vocabulary items.\n*   **HSK Relevance:** Phrases like 賣力 (to exert oneself fully), 賣弄 (to show off), 賣唱 (to perform singing for money), and 賣藝 (to perform skills for money) are commonly encountered in HSK materials, especially at intermediate and advanced levels. Pay attention to their specific connotations.\n*   **Connotation:** Be aware that some expressions, particularly those involving selling oneself or one's body (like 賣身, 賣笑), carry strong negative or historical connotations. Use them with caution and only when appropriate to the context.\n\n> **錯誤 (Incorrect):**\n> **他想賣跑。**\n> *Tā xiǎng mài pǎo.*\n> (Intended: He wants to sell running\u002Fcars that run)\n>\n> **正確 (Correct, to express similar idea differently):**\n> **他想賣跑車。**\n> *Tā xiǎng mài pǎochē.*\n> He wants to sell sports cars.\n> (Here 跑 is part of the noun 跑車, not a verb sold separately.)\n\n> **錯誤 (Incorrect):**\n> **她喜歡賣吃。**\n> *Tā xǐhuān mài chī.*\n> (Intended: She likes to sell food)\n>\n> **正確 (Correct):**\n> **她喜歡賣吃的。**\n> *Tā xǐhuān mài chī de.*\n> She likes to sell food (lit. \"things to eat\").\n> (Here, 吃的 refers to edible items, not the act of eating itself as a commodity.)","Learn 賣 + Verb: Chinese Expressions Beyond Selling","Go beyond 'to sell'! Understand the nuanced meanings of 賣 + [動詞] expressions in Chinese grammar. Explore examples like 賣唱 (to busk) and 賣力 (to exert oneself fully).",null,"2026-07-02T15:38:19.087Z","structure",{"en":9},[20,27],{"id":21,"topic_id":6,"source_type":22,"song_id":15,"chinese_sentence":23,"pinyin_sentence":24,"translation":25,"explanation":26,"created_at":16},144,"ai_standard","他在街上賣唱賺錢。","Tā zài jiē shàng mài chàng zhuàn qián.","He sings on the street to earn money.","賣唱 (mài chàng) means 'to make a living by singing (often on the street)'. Here, 唱 (chàng, to sing) is the verb describing the action through which money is earned, demonstrating the '賣 + [動詞]' structure.",{"id":28,"topic_id":6,"source_type":22,"song_id":15,"chinese_sentence":29,"pinyin_sentence":30,"translation":31,"explanation":32,"created_at":16},145,"她總是喜歡在別人面前賣弄她的新衣服。","Tā zǒng shì xǐhuān zài biéren miànqián mài nòng tā de xīn yīfu.","She always likes to show off her new clothes in front of others.","賣弄 (mài nòng) means 'to show off' or 'to flaunt'. Here, 弄 (nòng, to play with, to do, to handle) is the verb describing the action of displaying something, often with an intention to impress, illustrating the '賣 + [動詞]' pattern.",[34,44,54],{"id":35,"topic_id":6,"question_text":36,"options":37,"correct_answer_index":42,"explanation_answer":43,"created_at":16},193,"他在公司里总是喜欢在领导面前______，希望通过这种方式得到更多的关注和好评。",[38,39,40,41],"A. 卖惨","B. 卖乖","C. 卖弄","D. 卖力",1,"This question tests the contextual understanding of various '卖 + [动词]' idioms. '卖惨' (màicǎn) means to play the victim or feign misery to gain sympathy. '卖弄' (màinong) means to show off or flaunt one's abilities or possessions. '卖力' (màilì) means to exert all one's strength or work hard. '卖乖' (màiguāi) means to pretend to be obedient, well-behaved, or clever to gain favor or praise. Given the context '希望通过这种方式得到更多的关注和好评' (hoping to gain more attention and praise through this method) and '在领导面前' (in front of the leader), '卖乖' is the most suitable choice, implying an attempt to appear compliant and pleasing.",{"id":45,"topic_id":6,"question_text":46,"options":47,"correct_answer_index":52,"explanation_answer":53,"created_at":16},194,"选择下列句子中语法正确的一项：",[48,49,50,51],"A. 他从不卖弄自己的出身，总是低调做人。","B. 他自己的出身从不卖弄，总是低调做人。","C. 他卖弄从不自己的出身，总是低调做人。","D. 从不他卖弄自己的出身，总是低调做人。",0,"This question tests the correct word order, especially regarding negation and object placement with '卖 + [动词]'. The verb phrase is '卖弄自己的出身' (to show off one's background). The negation '从不' (never) should precede the verb '卖弄'. The object '自己的出身' (one's own background) should follow the verb '卖弄'.\nOption A: '他从不卖弄自己的出身' correctly places the negation '从不' before the verb '卖弄', and the object '自己的出身' after it.\nOption B: '自己的出身从不卖弄' is incorrect because the object comes before the negation and verb.\nOption C: '卖弄从不自己的出身' is incorrect because the negation '从不' is misplaced after the verb.\nOption D: '从不他卖弄自己的出身' is incorrect because the negation '从不' cannot precede the subject '他'.",{"id":55,"topic_id":6,"question_text":56,"options":57,"correct_answer_index":62,"explanation_answer":63,"created_at":16},195,"以下哪个句子是错误的？",[58,59,60,61],"A. 那个小女孩很懂得卖萌，所以大人都很喜欢她。","B. 每次遇到一点小挫折，他就会非常卖惨，博取同情。","C. 他工作一直很卖力，最终得到了老板的赏识。","D. 他最近很卖关子，就是不肯说出结果。",3,"This question tests the common mistake of incorrectly using degree adverbs with certain '卖 + [动词]' idioms. While some '卖 + [动词]' expressions (like 卖萌, 卖力, 卖惨) can sometimes be modified by degree adverbs (e.g., '很懂得卖萌', '非常卖惨', '很卖力'), '卖关子' (màiguānzi - to keep one in suspense) is generally not directly modified by '很' or similar degree adverbs in this way. It describes an action, not a state that varies in degree in the same fashion.\nOption A: '很懂得卖萌' is grammatically correct. '懂得' (to know how to) is modified by '很'.\nOption B: '非常卖惨' is acceptable; '卖惨' can be emphasized by '非常'.\nOption C: '很卖力' is acceptable; '卖力' (to exert oneself) can be intensified by '很'.\nOption D: '很卖关子' is awkward and unnatural. One would usually say '他最近总是在卖关子' or '他最近老是卖关子', but not '很卖关子'. The act of '卖关子' is not typically described with '很' in this direct manner."]