Definitions

xiāo (verb) to sell
xiāo (verb) to melt; to dissolve
xiāo (verb) to eliminate; to cancel

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

销, traditional form 銷, is a phono-semantic compound with the metal radical 金 (simplified as 钅) on the left providing the semantic category and 肖 on the right indicating the pronunciation. Its original meaning was to melt metal, directly connected to the semantic component. From this physical process of liquefying metal, the sense extended to broader concepts of dissolving, eliminating, or canceling, as in revoking a document or neutralizing an effect. Later, it acquired a common meaning related to commerce, referring to selling or marketing goods, shifting from depleting inventory to active distribution.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书售得很好。

Zhè běn shū xiāoshòu de hěn hǎo.

This book sells very well.

公司撤了那个决定。

Gōngsī chèxiāo le nàgè juédìng.

The company revoked that decision.

我可以报这些费用。

Wǒ kěyǐ bàoxiāo zhèxiē fèiyòng.

I can get these expenses reimbursed.

新产品需要大力推

Xīn chǎnpǐn xūyào dàlì tuīxiāo.

The new product needs vigorous promotion.

他试图毁犯罪证据。

Tā shìtú xiāohuǐ fànzuì zhèngjù.

He attempted to destroy the criminal evidence.

这批货物已经滞很久了。

Zhè pī huòwù yǐjīng zhìxiāo hěn jiǔ le.

This batch of goods has been unsalable for a long time.

那家公司因经营不善而声匿迹了。

Nà jiā gōngsī yīn jīngyíng bùshàn ér xiāo shēng nì jì le.

That company faded into obscurity due to poor management.

多年的挫折使他的热情逐渐蚀。

Duō nián de cuòzhé shǐ tā de rèqíng zhújiàn xiāoshí.

Years of setbacks gradually eroded his enthusiasm.