This page in your language
فارسی العربية Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
B1 noun 11 min read

贩卖

fan mai
Examples
Explanation 贩卖 in your Level:
At the A1 beginner level, the word 贩卖 (fàn mài) is generally not introduced because it is too complex and specific for basic daily communication. Beginners are primarily focused on survival vocabulary, such as learning how to buy food, ask for directions, and introduce themselves. The essential word for 'to sell' that A1 students must master is simply 卖 (mài). For instance, an A1 student will learn to say 我卖苹果 (I sell apples) or 这个多少钱？ (How much is this?). Introducing 贩卖 at this stage would likely cause confusion, as beginners have not yet developed the nuance to distinguish between normal retail selling and illegal trafficking or metaphorical peddling. However, if an A1 student encounters this word, perhaps while watching a Chinese crime drama with subtitles or reading a news headline, the simplest way to explain it to them is that it is a 'bad' kind of selling. It is the word the police use when bad guys sell things they shouldn't, like stolen goods or dangerous items. It is crucial to emphasize to A1 learners that they should not use this word when they are shopping or talking about their own jobs. They should stick entirely to 卖 (mài) for their own speaking and writing. Recognizing the characters 贩 and 卖 might be helpful, especially since 卖 is a high-frequency character they need to know anyway. The character 贩 contains the 'shell' radical (贝), which in ancient China represented money and trade. This visual cue can help beginners associate the character with money and commerce, even if they don't actively use the full word 贩卖 yet. In summary, for A1, 贩卖 is a receptive vocabulary word at best, understood simply as 'illegal selling', while active practice remains strictly focused on the basic verb 卖.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the A2 elementary level, students are beginning to expand their vocabulary beyond basic survival phrases and are starting to read simple stories, short news snippets, and engage in slightly more complex conversations. While 贩卖 (fàn mài) is still largely a receptive word at this stage, A2 learners are more likely to encounter it in context. They might read a simplified news article about police catching someone selling fake tickets or smuggled goods. At this level, the explanation of 贩卖 can be slightly more detailed. A2 students can be taught that while 卖 (mài) means a normal, everyday sale, 贩卖 implies a larger scale or a shady, illegal context. They can learn simple collocations like 贩卖毒品 (selling drugs) as a set phrase they might hear on television. The grammatical structure is straightforward enough for A2 learners: Subject + 贩卖 + Object. However, the focus should still be on comprehension rather than active usage. Teachers should guide A2 students to recognize that 贩卖 is a formal word used by news anchors and police officers. It is a great opportunity to introduce the concept of register in Chinese—how certain words are reserved for formal or written contexts, while others are used in daily speech. A2 learners can practice identifying the word in reading exercises and matching it with its English equivalent 'to traffic' or 'to peddle'. They should be reminded that if they want to talk about a friend selling their old bicycle, they must still use 卖 (mài). The cultural aspect of the word, such as its historical meaning of traveling merchants, can be briefly introduced as a fun fact, helping them remember the '贝' (shell/money) radical in 贩. Overall, A2 is about building awareness of the word's existence and its negative or formal connotations, preparing them for more active use in higher levels.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the B1 intermediate level, 贩卖 (fàn mài) becomes an active vocabulary word that students are expected to use and understand in appropriate contexts. B1 learners are capable of discussing topics like crime, society, and news events, making 贩卖 highly relevant. The explanation at this level must clearly delineate the boundary between legal commerce and illicit trade. Students need to actively practice using 贩卖 with specific, restricted objects, such as 毒品 (drugs), 人口 (human beings), and 假货 (counterfeit goods). They should be able to construct sentences like 警察抓住了贩卖假货的人 (The police caught the person trafficking counterfeit goods). At this stage, the metaphorical use of the word can also be introduced, specifically the highly popular internet phrase 贩卖焦虑 (peddling anxiety). This connects the language learning to modern Chinese internet culture, which is highly engaging for B1 students. Grammatically, B1 learners should practice using 贩卖 in both active and passive voices, such as 被贩卖 (to be trafficked). The distinction between 贩卖, 销售 (professional sales), and 卖 (general selling) must be explicitly taught and tested through fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice exercises. Students should understand that using 贩卖 in a business context is a significant error. Furthermore, B1 students can begin to analyze the morphological structure of the word: 贩 (to buy and sell/dealer) + 卖 (to sell), understanding that it inherently implies a middleman transaction. Writing exercises at this level might involve summarizing a short news report about a crime, requiring the accurate use of 贩卖. Speaking practice could involve debating the ethics of marketing, using phrases like 贩卖焦虑 to describe aggressive advertising tactics. By the end of B1, learners should feel confident using 贩卖 in discussions about law, crime, and societal trends, fully aware of its heavy connotations.
At the B2 upper-intermediate level, the mastery of 贩卖 (fàn mài) involves a deep dive into nuance, register, and advanced collocations. B2 learners are reading authentic news articles, watching Chinese documentaries, and engaging in complex discussions about social issues. Therefore, their understanding of 贩卖 must be sophisticated. The explanation at this level focuses on the precise rhetorical effect of choosing 贩卖 over other verbs. When an author uses 贩卖 to describe a seemingly legal activity, B2 students should recognize the critical, accusatory tone. For example, discussing how certain media outlets 贩卖同情心 (peddle sympathy) for profit. This requires an understanding of how language is used to manipulate emotion and frame arguments in Chinese discourse. B2 learners should be comfortable using a wide array of collocations, including 贩卖军火 (arms trafficking), 贩卖野生动物 (wildlife trafficking), and 贩卖个人信息 (trafficking personal data). They should also be able to use adverbs to modify the verb effectively, such as 非法贩卖 (illegally traffic) or 秘密贩卖 (secretly traffic). In writing, B2 students are expected to produce argumentative essays or detailed reports where the accurate use of 贩卖 is crucial for maintaining a formal, academic, or journalistic tone. They must flawlessly distinguish it from words like 兜售 (to hawk/peddle aggressively) and 出售 (to offer for sale). Listening exercises at this level will involve fast-paced news broadcasts or talk shows where 贩卖 is used in passing, requiring immediate comprehension of the context. Speaking practice should involve expressing strong opinions on social phenomena, such as criticizing the education system for 贩卖升学焦虑 (peddling academic anxiety). At the B2 level, 贩卖 is no longer just a vocabulary word to memorize; it is a rhetorical tool used to critique, analyze, and report on the complexities of modern society.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C1 advanced level, learners possess a near-native grasp of Chinese, and their use of 贩卖 (fàn mài) should reflect a profound understanding of its historical, legal, and cultural dimensions. C1 explanations focus on the subtleties of the word in classical versus modern contexts. Students should be aware of historical terms like 贩夫走卒 (peddlers and menial servants) and understand how the perception of the 'middleman' (贩) has evolved in Chinese culture from a lowly but necessary profession to a term often associated with exploitation or illegality. In modern contexts, C1 learners must expertly navigate the metaphorical landscape of 贩卖. They should be able to analyze and produce high-level social commentary using phrases like 贩卖情怀 (peddling nostalgia/sentimentality) or 贩卖苦难 (peddling suffering/poverty porn). These phrases are common in advanced literary criticism, film reviews, and sociological essays. The grammatical usage at C1 is flawless; students intuitively know which abstract nouns can naturally pair with 贩卖 to create a striking rhetorical effect. They can read complex legal documents or academic papers on criminology where 贩卖 is defined strictly within the bounds of Chinese law. Writing tasks might involve penning a persuasive editorial condemning a specific industry's unethical practices, utilizing 贩卖 as a core thematic verb. Speaking exercises involve fluid, nuanced debates on abstract topics, where the learner can effortlessly drop phrases like 'they are not providing a service, they are merely 贩卖 illusions' into the conversation. Furthermore, C1 learners can distinguish regional or stylistic variations in how the word is used, understanding its weight in different genres of writing. Mastery at this level means using 贩卖 not just correctly, but elegantly and impactfully, demonstrating a deep integration into the Chinese linguistic mindset.
Sign up free to read full explanation
At the C2 mastery level, the learner's command of 贩卖 (fàn mài) is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. The explanation at this ultimate level transcends basic definitions and grammar, focusing entirely on stylistic brilliance, cultural philosophy, and deep linguistic analysis. C2 learners understand the philosophical underpinnings of why Chinese culture views the act of '贩' (buying to sell) with historical suspicion, rooted in ancient agrarian values that prioritized farming over commerce (重农抑商). This historical context enriches their understanding of why 贩卖 carries such a potent negative charge today. In practical usage, C2 learners can manipulate the word creatively, coining new metaphors that fit the exact cultural moment. If a new social trend emerges, a C2 speaker could instinctively know if it is appropriate to describe it as a form of 贩卖. They can engage in high-level literary analysis, examining how contemporary Chinese authors use the word to critique capitalist structures or modern alienation. They can effortlessly translate complex English concepts like 'commodification of emotions' into natural Chinese using 贩卖 (e.g., 情感的贩卖). In professional or academic settings, such as translating legal statutes or writing sociological dissertations, their use of the term is impeccably precise. They understand the exact legal thresholds that differentiate 贩卖 from related legal terms in Chinese jurisprudence. C2 learners can also play with the word ironically or subversively in creative writing. At this level, language is an art form, and 贩卖 is a specific color on the palette, used with deliberate intent to evoke a precise mixture of legal severity, moral judgment, and cultural critique. The word is fully internalized, requiring no conscious translation process, allowing the speaker to deploy it with absolute confidence and rhetorical power in any conceivable context, from the highest academic discourse to the sharpest internet satire.
Sign up free to read full explanation
Examples
The Chinese word 贩卖 (fàn mài) is a highly versatile and deeply nuanced term that primarily translates to the English verbs to sell, to peddle, or to traffic. To truly understand this word, we must break down its individual characters and examine how its usage has evolved from ancient times to the modern digital era. The first character, 贩 (fàn), historically refers to a peddler or a dealer—someone who buys goods at a lower price and travels to sell them at a higher price for profit. The second character, 卖 (mài), simply means to sell. When combined, 贩卖 originally described the legitimate, albeit low-status, occupation of traveling merchants and street vendors who formed the backbone of local commerce in ancient China. However, language is a living entity, and over centuries, the connotation of 贩卖 has shifted dramatically. In contemporary Chinese, while it can still technically mean to sell goods, it is most frequently encountered in two highly specific and often negative contexts: illegal trafficking and the metaphorical peddling of abstract concepts.
Literal and Legal Context
In legal and news contexts, 贩卖 is the standard term used to describe the illegal trade of restricted, dangerous, or unethical commodities. You will almost always see it paired with words like drugs, human beings, or weapons.

The police successfully dismantled a syndicate that was 贩卖 illegal firearms across the border.

Metaphorical Context
In the age of social media, 贩卖 has taken on a fascinating psychological and sociological dimension. It is frequently used to criticize media outlets, influencers, or corporations that deliberately provoke negative emotions in their audience to generate clicks, engagement, or sales.

Many self-help gurus are actually just 贩卖 anxiety to sell their expensive online courses.

Furthermore, understanding when people use this word requires an awareness of register and tone. It is a formal word, frequently found in written Chinese, news broadcasts, legal documents, and analytical essays. You will rarely hear a shopkeeper use it to describe their daily business. Instead, you will hear news anchors use it when reporting on crime, or cultural critics use it when analyzing societal trends. The emotional weight of the word is heavy; it implies a transaction that is either legally illicit or morally questionable.
Historical Context
In classical literature, you might encounter the phrase 贩夫走卒 (fàn fū zǒu zú), which translates to peddlers and menial servants. This highlights the originally humble, though not necessarily criminal, nature of the word.

The ancient Silk Road was traversed by merchants who would 贩卖 silk and spices to distant lands.

To summarize, while the dictionary definition might simply say to sell, the cultural reality of 贩卖 is much more complex. It is a word that carries the weight of the law when applied to physical goods, and the weight of moral judgment when applied to emotions and ideas.

He was caught 贩卖 counterfeit goods at the night market.

Stop 贩卖 your misery for internet points.

Mastering this word means understanding these boundaries and knowing exactly when to deploy it for maximum rhetorical impact.
Using 贩卖 (fàn mài) correctly in a sentence requires a solid grasp of Chinese grammar, specifically regarding transitive verbs and their appropriate objects. As a transitive verb, 贩卖 must be followed by a direct object, and the choice of this object is what determines whether the sentence sounds natural to a native speaker. The grammatical structure is typically Subject + 贩卖 + Object. However, because of the word's strong connotations, it cannot take just any noun as its object. Let us explore the most common grammatical patterns and collocations.
Pattern 1: 贩卖 + Illicit Goods
This is the most common legal and journalistic usage. The objects are typically nouns representing things that are illegal to sell.

The criminal was sentenced to life in prison for 贩卖 drugs (贩卖毒品).

Pattern 2: 贩卖 + Abstract Concepts/Emotions
This pattern is extremely popular in modern social commentary. The objects are abstract nouns, usually negative emotions or societal pressures.

The article accuses the advertising industry of 贩卖 body image anxiety (贩卖身材焦虑).

Pattern 3: 被 + 贩卖 (Passive Voice)
In discussions of human trafficking or stolen goods, the passive voice is frequently employed using the 被 (bèi) particle.

The stolen artifacts were 被贩卖 to overseas collectors (被贩卖到海外).

She was a victim who was 被贩卖 to a remote village.

You can also use 贩卖 as a noun modifier by adding the particle 的 (de). For example, 贩卖人口的罪犯 (criminals who traffic humans) or 贩卖焦虑的文章 (articles that peddle anxiety). In these cases, 贩卖 + Object acts as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun that follows 的. It is also important to note adverbs that frequently modify 贩卖. Words like 非法 (fēi fǎ - illegally), 公开 (gōng kāi - publicly), or 肆无忌惮地 (sì wú jì dàn de - unscrupulously) are commonly placed before the verb to add descriptive detail to the action. For instance, 非法贩卖野生动物 (illegally trafficking wild animals) emphasizes the breach of law.

They are 非法贩卖 endangered species.

By mastering these specific grammatical structures and understanding which objects naturally pair with this verb, learners can elevate their Chinese from basic communication to sophisticated, native-like expression.
If you are studying Chinese in a classroom, you might first encounter 贩卖 in a textbook chapter about crime, law, or social issues. However, in the real world, the environments where you will actually hear or read this word are vast and varied. Understanding these contexts is crucial for grasping the word's full cultural resonance.
News Broadcasts and Legal Reports
This is the most traditional and formal setting for the word. If you turn on CCTV news or read any major Chinese newspaper, 贩卖 is the standard vocabulary used in police reports and judicial proceedings.

The evening news reported a major crackdown on a gang involved in 贩卖 personal data.

Social Media and Internet Slang
On platforms like Weibo, WeChat Moments, and Xiaohongshu, the metaphorical use of the word reigns supreme. Netizens frequently use it to call out toxic marketing tactics or clickbait journalism.

Don't listen to those influencers; they are just 贩卖 appearance anxiety to sell cosmetics.

Documentaries and Social Commentary
In long-form journalism, video essays on Bilibili, or documentaries, critics use this word to analyze systemic issues. They might discuss how certain industries profit by exploiting human weaknesses.

The documentary exposes the dark reality of 贩卖 exotic pets on the black market.

The history book details how European empires grew wealthy by 贩卖 spices and slaves.

He makes a living by 贩卖 second-hand electronics, though it's a tough business.

It is also worth noting that while the negative connotation is dominant, in very specific economic or historical discussions, 贩卖 can still retain its neutral meaning of merely buying and selling goods across distances. However, for a language learner, assuming the negative or critical connotation is the safest and most accurate approach for modern communication. You hear this word when society is pointing a finger at a transaction that should not be happening.
When English speakers learn the word 贩卖 (fàn mài), they often see the translation 'to sell' and immediately begin substituting it for the standard Chinese verb 卖 (mài). This is by far the most frequent and sometimes comical mistake learners make. Because 贩卖 carries such specific, heavily weighted connotations, using it in the wrong context can completely change the tone of your sentence, making you sound overly dramatic, accusatory, or simply confusing. Let us break down the most common pitfalls to ensure you use this word with precision.
Mistake 1: Using it for everyday retail
Do not use 贩卖 when you go to a store, a restaurant, or when talking about normal business operations. If you want to say 'This shop sells shoes', you must use 卖 (mài) or 出售 (chū shòu).

Incorrect: 这家店贩卖苹果。 (This shop traffics apples.)

Correct: 这家店卖苹果。 (This shop sells apples.)

Mistake 2: Using it for professional marketing
In a corporate environment, if you are talking about a company's sales figures or marketing strategy, 贩卖 is the wrong choice. It implies deceit or illegality. Use 销售 (xiāo shòu - to sell/sales) or 营销 (yíng xiāo - marketing).

Incorrect: 我们的公司主要贩卖软件。 (Our company mainly traffics software.)

Mistake 3: Confusing the direction of the transaction
Remember that the character 贩 implies buying to sell. While the action happening is selling, the implied background is that the person is a middleman. You would not use 贩卖 for an artist selling their own painting directly, because they created it, they didn't buy it to resell it.

Incorrect: 画家在街上贩卖他的画。 (The painter is trafficking his paintings on the street.)

By being acutely aware of these distinctions, you can avoid awkward misunderstandings. The rule of thumb is simple: if the transaction is normal, legal, and mundane, avoid 贩卖. Reserve it for the dramatic, the illegal, or the deeply critical metaphorical contexts where it truly belongs.
The Chinese language is incredibly rich in vocabulary related to commerce, trade, and selling. Because 贩卖 (fàn mài) has such a specific and often negative niche, it is essential to know its synonyms and alternatives so you can choose the precise word for your intended meaning. Comparing 贩卖 with similar words is the best way to solidify your understanding of its unique flavor. Let us examine the most common alternatives.
卖 (mài) - To sell
This is the most basic, universal, and neutral word for selling. It is the direct equivalent of the English verb 'to sell'. It can be used in almost any context, from a child selling lemonade to a corporation selling assets. Unlike 贩卖, it carries no inherent judgment.

Comparison: 他卖二手车 (He sells used cars - neutral) vs. 他贩卖走私车 (He traffics smuggled cars - illegal).

销售 (xiāo shòu) - To sell / Sales
This is a formal, professional term used in business contexts. It refers to the systematic process of selling goods or services, often involving marketing and corporate strategy. You use this when talking about a career in sales or a company's performance.

Comparison: 我们的销售额上升了 (Our sales revenue went up - professional) vs. 我们的贩卖额上升了 (Incorrect/Sounds like a criminal enterprise).

出售 (chū shòu) - To offer for sale
This is a formal written term often seen on signs or in official announcements. It means that something is available to be purchased. You will see this on 'For Sale' signs outside houses or in formal business contracts.
兜售 (dōu shòu) - To peddle / To hawk
This word is very close in meaning to the original, historical sense of 贩卖. It specifically paints a picture of someone aggressively trying to sell small items to passersby on the street. It has a slightly annoying but not necessarily illegal connotation.

Comparison: 在火车站兜售纪念品 (Hawking souvenirs at the train station - annoying but legal) vs. 在火车站贩卖假票 (Trafficking fake tickets at the train station - illegal).

By contrasting 贩卖 with 卖, 销售, 出售, and 兜售, the specific semantic territory of 贩卖 becomes crystal clear. It is the word reserved for the dark side of commerce, whether that darkness is literal illegality or metaphorical emotional manipulation. Choosing the right alternative ensures your Chinese is not just grammatically correct, but culturally attuned.
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

那个坏人贩卖东西。

That bad person traffics things.

Basic Subject + Verb + Object structure.

2

警察抓了贩卖的人。

The police caught the trafficking person.

Using 贩卖 as a modifier with 的.

3

电视上说有人贩卖假货。

The TV says someone is trafficking fake goods.

Used in a simple reported speech context.

4

我不贩卖东西。

I do not traffic things.

Basic negation with 不.

5

他们在贩卖什么？

What are they trafficking?

Simple question using 什么.

6

贩卖是不好的。

Trafficking is not good.

Using the verb as a subject concept.

7

他因为贩卖被抓了。

He was caught because of trafficking.

Simple cause and effect with 因为.

8

这个新闻是关于贩卖的。

This news is about trafficking.

Using 关于 to indicate the topic.

1

昨天的新闻报道了一个贩卖毒品的案件。

Yesterday's news reported a drug trafficking case.

Using specific time words and slightly more complex objects.

2

在很多国家，贩卖野生动物是违法的。

In many countries, trafficking wild animals is illegal.

Introducing location contexts and the word 违法 (illegal).

3

那个男人因为贩卖假手机被警察带走了。

That man was taken away by the police for trafficking fake phones.

Using 因为 (because) with a specific object.

4

请不要相信那些贩卖假药的人。

Please do not believe those people who traffic fake medicine.

Using 请不要 for commands and 贩卖 as an adjective phrase.

5

贩卖人口是一个非常严重的问题。

Human trafficking is a very serious problem.

Introducing the common collocation 贩卖人口.

6

他发现有人在网上贩卖他的个人信息。

He discovered someone was trafficking his personal information online.

Using 在网上 to indicate location of the action.

7

这些是被贩卖的动物，现在它们安全了。

These are trafficked animals, now they are safe.

Using the passive modifier 被贩卖的.

8

学校教育我们不要参与任何贩卖活动。

The school teaches us not to participate in any trafficking activities.

Using 参与 (participate) with the noun phrase 贩卖活动.

1

警方经过几个月的调查，终于破获了这个跨国贩卖毒品集团。

After months of investigation, the police finally busted this transnational drug trafficking syndicate.

Using complex time phrases and advanced nouns like 集团 (syndicate).

2

现在很多自媒体为了流量，故意在网上贩卖焦虑。

Nowadays, many independent media intentionally peddle anxiety online for traffic.

Introducing the highly common metaphorical phrase 贩卖焦虑.

3

这些珍贵的文物差点被非法贩卖到国外。

These precious cultural relics were almost illegally trafficked abroad.

Using the passive voice 被 combined with adverbs and direction 到.

4

他坚决否认自己参与了贩卖军火的交易。

He firmly denied that he participated in the arms trafficking deal.

Using formal verbs like 否认 (deny) and complex objects.

5

那篇文章批评了某些教育机构贩卖升学压力的行为。

That article criticized the behavior of certain educational institutions peddling academic pressure.

Using 贩卖 to describe abstract negative concepts in a critical tone.

6

打击贩卖妇女儿童的犯罪行为是全社会的责任。

Cracking down on the crime of trafficking women and children is the responsibility of the whole society.

Using 贩卖 as part of a formal legal phrase.

7

他因为涉嫌贩卖商业机密被公司开除了。

He was fired by the company on suspicion of trafficking commercial secrets.

Using 涉嫌 (suspected of) with abstract corporate objects.

8

不要被那些贩卖成功学的人骗了，成功没有捷径。

Don't be fooled by those who peddle 'successology'; there are no shortcuts to success.

Using 贩卖 with abstract concepts like 成功学 (successology).

1

该报告详细揭露了暗网上非法贩卖公民隐私数据的黑色产业链。

The report detailed the dark industry chain of illegally trafficking citizens' private data on the dark web.

Complex sentence structure with multiple modifiers and advanced vocabulary like 黑色产业链 (black industry chain).

2

这种电影表面上是文艺片，实际上却在暗中贩卖软色情以博取眼球。

On the surface, this movie is an art film, but in reality, it is secretly peddling soft pornography to attract attention.

Using 贩卖 to critique media and artistic intent, showing deep cultural nuance.

3

专家指出，商家通过制造稀缺感来贩卖恐慌，是典型的饥饿营销手段。

Experts point out that merchants peddling panic by creating a sense of scarcity is a typical hunger marketing tactic.

Combining 贩卖 with business and psychological terminology.

4

历史书上记载了那段黑暗的时期，殖民者肆无忌惮地贩卖黑奴。

History books record that dark period when colonizers unscrupulously trafficked black slaves.

Using strong adverbs like 肆无忌惮地 (unscrupulously) in a historical context.

5

在资本的运作下，连个人的真实情感都可以被包装和贩卖。

Under the operation of capital, even personal true emotions can be packaged and peddled.

Using the passive voice to discuss abstract sociological concepts.

6

警方提醒市民，切勿为了蝇头小利而出租微信号，这可能涉嫌帮助信息网络犯罪活动或贩卖账号。

The police remind citizens not to rent out their WeChat accounts for petty profits, as this may involve aiding cybercrime or trafficking accounts.

Using 贩卖 in modern cyber-security and legal contexts.

7

她写了一本书，深刻剖析了当代社会如何系统性地贩卖外貌焦虑。

She wrote a book profoundly analyzing how contemporary society systematically peddles appearance anxiety.

Using adverbs like 系统性地 (systematically) to elevate the level of critique.

8

那些打着慈善旗号却在背后贩卖同情心的组织，最终会被公众唾弃。

Those organizations that fly the flag of charity but peddle sympathy behind the scenes will eventually be spurned by the public.

Using complex relative clauses and idiomatic expressions like 打着...旗号 (under the guise of).

1

在这个娱乐至死的时代，一切严肃的议题都可能被消解，沦为媒体贩卖流量的工具。

In this age of amusing ourselves to death, all serious issues can be deconstructed and reduced to tools for the media to peddle traffic.

Highly advanced sociological critique using sophisticated vocabulary like 消解 (deconstruct) and 沦为 (reduced to).

2

该小说辛辣地讽刺了那些在灾难面前不顾他人死活，反而借机大肆贩卖悲情以牟取暴利的投机分子。

The novel bitingly satirizes those opportunists who, in the face of disaster, ignore the life and death of others and instead take the opportunity to massively peddle tragedy to make exorbitant profits

Sign up free to see all examples

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!