The word 贩卖 is formed by combining two characters, each with a related core meaning, to create a new, more specific concept. The first character, 贩, fundamentally means to buy goods for the purpose of resale, carrying the inherent idea of trade or dealing. It is then paired with the second character, 卖, which simply and directly means to sell. By placing them together, the word builds a complete picture of the commercial cycle: it moves from the activity of acquiring or dealing in goods (贩) to the final act of transferring them to a buyer (卖), thus encapsulating the entire process of trafficking or peddling merchandise.