chūmài: 出卖 - To Betray, To Sell Out, To Sell

• Keywords: chumai meaning, chumai Chinese, 出卖 translation, how to say betray in Chinese, sell out in Chinese, chumai pinyin, Chinese word for betrayal, 背叛 vs 出卖, Chinese loyalty
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 出卖 (chūmài), which means “to betray” or “to sell out”. While it can literally mean “to sell”, its most common and potent usage describes the act of treacherously betraying a friend, a country, or one's principles, usually for personal gain. This guide will break down the characters, explore its deep cultural significance related to loyalty, and provide numerous examples to help you understand the heavy emotional weight of being 出卖 (chūmài) in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūmài
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To betray a person, group, or principle for personal gain; to sell out.
• In a Nutshell: 出卖 (chūmài) is a word loaded with negative emotion. Think of it as “selling” something that should never be for sale: trust, loyalty, or secrets. While it can technically mean “to put up for sale” in a literal sense, 95% of the time you hear it, it carries the heavy, dramatic weight of betrayal and treachery. It's the act of backstabbing a friend for a promotion, selling state secrets to an enemy, or an artist abandoning their values for commercial success.

• 出 (chū): This character's original form looked like a foot stepping out of a cave or dwelling. It means “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to put forth.”
• 卖 (mài): This character means “to sell.” Interestingly, it's the character for “buy” (买, mǎi) with a 士 (shì, scholar/gentleman) or 十 (shí, ten) on top. One folk etymology suggests it's what a scholar puts out (出) to sell, or that you're selling what you bought (买).

When combined, 出卖 (chūmài) literally means “to sell out” or “to put out for sale.” This literal foundation makes its figurative meaning incredibly intuitive: you are “putting your loyalty out for sale” to the highest bidder. This is why the term so strongly implies that the betrayal was committed in exchange for some benefit.

In Chinese culture, where group harmony and collective identity are paramount, loyalty (忠诚, zhōngchéng) is a foundational virtue. This applies to family, friends, the workplace, and especially the nation. 出卖 (chūmài) is the ultimate violation of this virtue. It's not just a personal offense; it's an act that shatters relationships and threatens the integrity of the group. A concept that helps understand the gravity of 出卖 is 义气 (yìqì), often translated as “code of brotherhood,” “honor,” or “righteousness.” It's the unspoken rule of unwavering loyalty and support among friends or sworn brothers, a major theme in Chinese literature like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and countless martial arts films. To 出卖 a friend who you share 义气 with is one of the most despicable acts a person can commit. Compared to the English word “betray,” 出卖 (chūmài) often feels more transactional and severe. While you can “betray” a secret by accidentally letting it slip, 出卖 implies a conscious, deliberate act of trading that secret for a reward. It's closer in feeling to the English phrase “to sell someone down the river,” which captures the sense of treachery for personal gain.

出卖 is a strong word. You wouldn't use it for minor disagreements. It's reserved for serious breaches of trust.

• Betraying People or Country (Most Common): This is the primary usage. It's used in news reports about espionage, dramatic movie dialogues, and heated personal arguments. It always carries a heavy, accusatory tone.
  • Connotation: Extremely Negative.
  • Formality: Can be used in both formal (news, legal) and informal (arguments) contexts.
• “Selling Out” Principles: This is a common figurative use, just like in English. It's used to criticize artists, writers, or anyone who abandons their ideals for money or fame.
  • Connotation: Negative, critical.
  • Formality: Informal to semi-formal.
• Literal “To Sell” (Less Common): In certain legal or formal business contexts, 出卖 can mean “to sell” goods or assets. However, in everyday conversation, you would almost always use the simpler character 卖 (mài). Using 出卖 to say you're selling your bike would sound bizarrely dramatic.
  • Connotation: Neutral.
  • Formality: Formal, often written or legal.

• Example 1:
  • 他为了钱出卖了自己最好的朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile qián chūmài le zìjǐ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu.
  • English: He sold out his best friend for money.
  • Analysis: This is the classic usage of 出卖. It highlights the transactional nature of the betrayal—trading friendship for money.
• Example 2:
  • 我真不敢相信，你竟然出卖我！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn bù gǎn xiāngxìn, nǐ jìngrán chūmài wǒ!
  • English: I can't believe you actually betrayed me!
  • Analysis: This is what you would say in a heated, emotional confrontation. The word 竟然 (jìngrán) adds a sense of shock and disbelief.
• Example 3:
  • 这位官员因出卖国家机密而被判刑。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi guānyuán yīn chūmài guójiā jīmì ér bèi pànxíng.
  • English: This official was sentenced for betraying state secrets.
  • Analysis: A formal example showing the most severe form of 出卖—treason. This is common in news and legal contexts.
• Example 4:
  • 他觉得自己的乐队为了迎合市场而出卖了音乐理想。
  • Pinyin: Tā juéde zìjǐ de yuèduì wèile yínghé shìchǎng ér chūmài le yīnyuè lǐxiǎng.
  • English: He felt his band sold out their musical ideals to cater to the market.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the figurative use of “selling out” one's principles or art.
• Example 5:
  • 你放心，我永远不会出卖你的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ fàngxīn, wǒ yǒngyuǎn bù huì chūmài nǐ de.
  • English: Don't worry, I will never sell you out.
  • Analysis: A sentence of reassurance, showing how the fear of being 出卖 is a common anxiety in close relationships.
• Example 6:
  • 在那种情况下，他别无选择，只能出卖自己的良心。
  • Pinyin: Zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, tā bié wú xuǎnzé, zhǐnéng chūmài zìjǐ de liángxīn.
  • English: Under those circumstances, he had no choice but to betray his own conscience.
  • Analysis: This shows 出卖 can be used for abstract concepts like one's conscience (良心, liángxīn).
• Example 7:
  • 那个员工把公司的客户名单出卖给了竞争对手。
  • Pinyin: Nàge yuángōng bǎ gōngsī de kèhù míngdān chūmài gěi le jìngzhēng duìshǒu.
  • English: That employee sold the company's client list to a competitor.
  • Analysis: A common scenario in a business context. Here, “sold” and “betrayed” are almost interchangeable, perfectly capturing the meaning of 出卖.
• Example 8:
  • 被最信任的人出卖是什么感觉？
  • Pinyin: Bèi zuì xìnrèn de rén chūmài shì shénme gǎnjué?
  • English: What does it feel like to be betrayed by the person you trust the most?
  • Analysis: This uses the passive structure 被 (bèi) to focus on the victim's experience of being betrayed.
• Example 9:
  • 他是个叛徒，为了活命出卖了所有同志。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge pàntú, wèile huómìng chūmài le suǒyǒu tóngzhì.
  • English: He's a traitor; he sold out all his comrades to save his own skin.
  • Analysis: This sentence pairs 出卖 with the noun 叛徒 (pàntú), which means “traitor.”
• Example 10:
  • 根据合同，乙方不得擅自出卖其股份。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù hétóng, yǐfāng bùdé shànzì chūmài qí gǔfèn.
  • English: According to the contract, Party B may not sell its shares without authorization.
  • Analysis: This is a rare example of the literal, neutral meaning of 出卖. Notice the highly formal, legal context. In everyday speech, one would just say 卖 (mài).

• 出卖 (chūmài) vs. 卖 (mài): This is the most common pitfall for learners.
  • 卖 (mài): The default, neutral word for “to sell.” Use this for selling objects, products, houses, etc.
    • Correct: 我要卖我的车。(Wǒ yào mài wǒ de chē.) - I want to sell my car.
    • Incorrect: 我要出卖我的车。(Wǒ yào chūmài wǒ de chē.) - This sounds like you are “selling out” your car, as if it were a loyal friend. It's grammatically correct but emotionally and contextually bizarre.
  • 出卖 (chūmài): Use for betrayal or in very formal/legal contexts for “to sell.”
• 出卖 (chūmài) vs. 背叛 (bèipàn): These are close synonyms but have a subtle difference.
  • 背叛 (bèipàn): “To betray.” It focuses on the act of turning against someone or something you were supposed to be loyal to. It's often used for abstract things like love, a promise, or a cause. (e.g., 背叛爱情 - to be unfaithful in a romantic relationship).
  • 出卖 (chūmài): “To sell out.” It often, though not always, implies the betrayal was done for a tangible gain. It has a stronger flavor of a “transaction.” You trade loyalty for money, safety, or power. You can 背叛 a friend by breaking a promise, but you 出卖 a friend by telling their secrets to an enemy for a reward.

• 背叛 (bèipàn) - A very close synonym for “to betray,” focusing more on the violation of loyalty itself rather than the transaction.
• 叛徒 (pàntú) - The noun for “traitor.” This is the person who commits the act of 出卖 or 背叛.
• 卖国 (màiguó) - A more specific and severe form of 出卖. It means “to sell out the country,” or treason.
• 忠诚 (zhōngchéng) - The direct antonym: “loyalty,” “fidelity,” “allegiance.”
• 义气 (yìqì) - A key cultural concept of honor, righteousness, and loyalty among friends. Violating 义气 is a common reason one is accused of 出卖.
• 告密 (gàomì) - “To snitch,” “to inform on someone.” This is a specific action that can be a form of 出卖.
• 内奸 (nèijiān) - “A mole,” “an inside agent,” “a plant.” This is a person planted within an organization to 出卖 it from the inside.