Meaning
销售 refers to the act of selling goods or services, or to sales as a business function. It's a formal, business-oriented term commonly used in commercial contexts, marketing departments, and retail environments. Unlike the simpler 卖 (mài), 销售 emphasizes the professional aspect of sales and marketing activities.
Usage
This is the standard term in business Chinese for sales operations and marketing. Native speakers use it in professional contexts, job titles (销售经理 - sales manager), and when discussing commercial activities. It's more formal than 卖 and implies a systematic or professional approach to selling. Commonly paired with words like 部门 (department), 业绩 (performance), and 策略 (strategy).
Examples
- 01我们公司的销售业绩今年增长了百分之二十。.Our company's sales performance increased by twenty percent this year.
- 02他在销售部门工作，负责开发新客户。, .He works in the sales department and is responsible for developing new clients.
Characters
Common collocations
- 销售部门sales department
- 销售业绩sales performance
- 销售策略sales strategy
- 销售额sales volume, sales revenue
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to selling: 销 originally meant 'to melt metal' but evolved to mean 'to distribute/sell,' while 售 has always meant 'to sell.' Together they form a compound emphasizing the commercial sales process.