Meaning
销 is a versatile verb most commonly meaning 'to sell' or 'to market' in commercial contexts. It can also mean 'to cancel' (as in canceling a record or account) or 'to melt/dissolve' in more technical uses. The character is fundamental in business vocabulary and appears in many compound words related to commerce and sales.
Usage
销 rarely stands alone in modern Mandarin and typically appears in two-character compounds like 销售 (to sell), 促销 (to promote sales), or 畅销 (best-selling). In business contexts, it's neutral and professional. The 'cancel' meaning appears in phrases like 销毁 (to destroy) or 销案 (to close a case).
Examples
- 01这款手机在中国很畅销。.This model of phone sells very well in China.
- 02公司决定销毁所有过期产品。.The company decided to destroy all expired products.
Common collocations
- 销售额sales volume/amount
- 销售渠道sales channel
- 销毁to destroy; to dispose of
- 脱销to be out of stock
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 銷 contains the metal radical 金, originally referring to melting metal. This meaning extended metaphorically to 'dissolving' debts or obligations, then to selling goods (moving merchandise).