Skip to content
Kotomora

賣

sell, betray, show off

StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • バイ

Kun'yomi

  • う.る
  • う.れる

Meaning

賣 centers on exchanging something for money or advantage: selling goods, betraying trust for gain, or showing off to attract value. The meanings connect through the idea of offering something for a return.

Study

Etymology

賣 is the traditional form of 売. It combines 士 (scholar/gentleman) with 買 (buy), suggesting a transaction where a scholar or merchant sells goods. The modern simplified form 売 replaces the lower part with a simpler shape.

Meaning mnemonic

A scholar 士 stands behind a buying transaction 買, but here the scholar is the one selling. Picture a gentleman showing off his wares to make a sale.

Reading mnemonic

For バイ, imagine a seller shouting 'Buy! Buy!' at a market: 'Buy' sounds like バイ, and the kanji means sell.