鬻 (yù) - To sell & to vend

鬻Tone 4

yù ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

鬻 · yù

To sell;

to vend;

to deal in;

to trade;

also refers to a type of thin porridge or congee in ancient texts.

To sellto vendto deal in

Usage highlights

To sell booksTo deal in antiquesTo sell one's wordsTo sell one's skillsTo sell fameTo sell one's child

Synonyms

  • 卖— to sell (common modern term)
  • 售— to sell, to vend
  • 贩— to deal in, to trade

Antonyms

  • 买— to buy
  • 购— to purchase

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He sells books (鬻书).
  • They deal in antiques (鬻古董).
  • In ancient times, '鬻' could mean thin porridge (粥).
  • The market is bustling with vendors (市中有鬻者).

Collocations

  • To sell books(鬻书)
  • To deal in antiques(鬻古董)
  • To sell one's words(鬻文)
  • To sell one's skills(鬻技)
  • To sell fame(鬻名)
  • To sell one's child(鬻子)

Idioms

  • To sell one's official position and barter for ranks(卖官鬻爵)
  • To sell fame and fish for praise(鬻声钓世)
  • To pawn one's sword to buy a cow(卖剑买牛，卖刀买犊)
  • To sell one's reputation to seek glory(鬻宠擅权)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 鬻 is archaic and appears primarily in classical Chinese texts, historical records, and formal writings.
  • In ancient usage, 鬻 could also refer to a type of thin porridge or congee, though this meaning is now rare and largely obsolete.
  • The character often carries a negative connotation when used in contexts like 'selling one's child' or 'selling one's country', implying desperation or moral transgression.

FAQ