贸

貿

mào

③ + 刀 + 贝

Definitions

mào (noun,verb) trade; commerce

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 卯 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貿.

Semantic: 贝 Phonetic: 卯

About

The character 贸 is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic component, the cowrie shell radical 贝 (bèi) at the bottom, links it to commerce and currency. The upper part provides the phonetic element 卯 (mǎo), which depicts a mortise and tenon joint or the idea of splitting. The traditional form 貿 uses the shell radical 貝. Both versions consistently mean to trade or exchange goods, combining the sound of 卯 with the monetary sense of 贝.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

国际贸易很重要。

Guójì màoyì hěn zhòngyào.

International trade is very important.

他们从事贸易工作。

Tāmen cóngshì màoyì gōngzuò.

They are engaged in trade work.

不要贸然下结论。

Bùyào màorán xià jiélùn.

Do not jump to conclusions rashly.

外贸政策有变化。

Wàimào zhèngcè yǒu biànhuà.

Foreign trade policy has changed.

这家公司主营贸易。

Zhè jiā gōngsī zhǔ yíng màoyì.

This company mainly operates in trade.

贸然行动可能导致失败。

Màorán xíngdòng kěnéng dǎozhì shībài.

Rash action may lead to failure.

国际贸易促进经济增长。

Guójì màoyì cùjìn jīngjì zēngzhǎng.

International trade promotes economic growth.

在做出决定前，不要贸然行事。

Zài zuòchū juédìng qián, bùyào màorán xíngshì.

Before making a decision, do not act rashly.

Related Characters

Component: ③

Component: 刀

Component: 贝

贸