Correct
出售 vs 售 vs 卖
/ chūshòu vs shòu vs mài /
Strokes
Definition
出售, 售 and 卖 are all Verbs, which means “to sell”.
Example
卖 is the most colloquial, and the other two are more literary. Since 出售 is disyllabic, its syllabic collocation is different. In the following colloquial sentences, 卖 is used.
1
Nā
那
jiā
家
shāngdiàn
商店
mài
卖
de
的
niánhuò
年货
yòu
又
biànyí
便宜
yòu
又
hǎo
好
。
The special goods for the Spring Festival in that shop are cheap and fine.
2
Zhèzhǒng
这种
diànqì
电器
xiànzài
现在
mài
卖
shénme
什么
jiàqian
价钱
?
How much is this kind of electrical appliance?
卖 can be used in an abstract meaning.
3
Wǒ
我
shì
是
mài
卖
kǔlì
苦力
de
的
,
píng
凭
lìqi
力气
chīfàn
吃饭
。
I am a coolie, and I live by the sweat of my brow.
4
Tā
他
bùhuì
不会
màiyǒu
卖友
qiúróng
求荣
de
的
。
He is the last person to betray his friends for personal gain.
售 is literary, and in example ⑤ it is better to use 售；卖 can also be used, but with a different style. In example ⑥ 售票处 is formal, so it is better to use 售.
5
Běn
本
diàn
店
cúnhuò
存货
bù
不
duō
多
,
shòu
售
(
mài
卖
)
wán
完
wéizhǐ
为止
。
The existing stock is not too much and will be sold out soon.
6
Nǐ
你
dào
到
shòupiàochù
售票处
qù
去
mǎi
买
piào
票
bā
吧
。
Please go to the booking office and buy the ticket.
出售 is even more literary and mostly applied to big batches of merchandise. It is usually in collocation with disyllabic words.
In example ⑦ , it is better to use 出售.
In example ⑧, though 卖 can also be used instead, it has a different color.
In example ⑧, though 卖 can also be used instead, it has a different color.
7
Běn
本
diàn
店
shāngpǐn
商品
,
yīlǜ
一律
jiàngjià
降价
chūshòu
出售
。
All the goods in the shop are on sale.
8
Zhège
这个
guójiā
国家
yǐ
以
zài
在
guójì
国际
shìchǎng
市场
shàng
上
chūshòu
出售
kuàngshí
矿石
ér
而
zhùmíng
著名
。
The country is famous for selling ores to the international market.
卖 can also mean" not to spare", 出售 and 售 have no such usage.
9
Tā
他
gànhuór
干活儿
zhēn
真
mài
卖
jìnr
劲儿
!
He spares no efforts at his work. (not to spare)