Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== mài jiā: 卖家 - Seller, Vendor ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 卖家, mai jia, Chinese for seller, seller in Chinese, vendor in Chinese, what is a maijia, Taobao seller, e-commerce China, Chinese online shopping, seller vs buyer, 卖, 买家 * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese term **卖家 (mài jiā)**, which means **seller** or **vendor**. This word is fundamental to understanding modern China, especially its massive e-commerce culture on platforms like Taobao and JD.com. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use, contrasting it with its opposite, [[买家 (mǎi jiā)]] (buyer), to help you navigate online shopping and business conversations in Chinese like a pro. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** mài jiā * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** A person, company, or entity that sells goods or services. * **In a Nutshell:** **卖家 (mài jiā)** is the universal Chinese word for "seller." It combines the verb "to sell" (卖) with a suffix (家) that implies a specialist or professional. Think of it as "one who is in the business of selling." Whether you're talking about a small stall at a market, an individual selling crafts online, or a large corporation, **卖家** is the word you'll use. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **卖 (mài):** This character means "to sell." A helpful mnemonic is to see it as the character for "buy" ([[买]] mǎi) with a "plus" sign (十) on top. You //sell// something for the price you //bought// it for, //plus// your profit. * **家 (jiā):** This character's primary meaning is "home" or "family." However, when used as a suffix after a verb or noun, it denotes a person who is an expert, specialist, or professional in that field. It's similar to adding "-er," "-ist," or "-ian" in English. For example, 科学 (kēxué, science) + 家 (jiā) becomes 科学家 (kēxuéjiā, scientist). * Putting them together, **卖 (mài) + 家 (jiā)** creates a very logical term: a "selling specialist" or, simply, a **seller**. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The term **卖家** has gained immense cultural significance with China's e-commerce revolution. In the West, a "seller" on a platform like Amazon is often a faceless entity or the corporation itself. The transaction is typically impersonal. In China, especially on C2C (consumer-to-consumer) platforms like **淘宝 (táobǎo)**, the **卖家** is often a distinct personality. They are small business owners who build a personal brand and cultivate **关系 (guānxi)**, or relationships, with their customers. It's common for a **卖家** to communicate directly and informally with buyers via chat, using endearing terms like **亲 (qīn)** - "dear" or "honey" - to create a friendly, trusting atmosphere. This reflects a broader cultural value where business is often intertwined with personal connection. A good **卖家** isn't just someone with good products; they're someone with good service, a good attitude, and who is trustworthy. The entire review system of **好评 (hǎo píng)** (good review) and **差评 (chà píng)** (bad review) is built around this reputation, making the identity of the **卖家** central to the online shopping experience. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **卖家** is used constantly in daily life, overwhelmingly in the context of shopping, both online and offline. * **E-commerce:** This is the most common context. You use it to refer to the shop you're buying from on Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo, etc. * **General Transactions:** It can refer to any vendor, from a street food stall owner to a supplier in a B2B contract. * **Connotation:** The term is neutral by itself. Its connotation becomes positive or negative with adjectives. * **Positive:** **好卖家 (hǎo màijiā)** - good seller; **诚信卖家 (chéngxìn màijiā)** - honest/trustworthy seller. * **Negative:** **黑心卖家 (hēixīn màijiā)** - "black-hearted seller," meaning a fraudulent or unscrupulous one. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这个**卖家**的服务态度很好。 * Pinyin: Zhège **màijiā** de fúwù tàidù hěn hǎo. * English: This seller's service attitude is very good. * Analysis: A very common phrase you would use when discussing a positive online shopping experience. **服务态度 (fúwù tàidù)** is a key metric for judging sellers. * **Example 2:** * 如果你有问题，可以直接联系**卖家**。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu wèntí, kěyǐ zhíjiē liánxì **màijiā**. * English: If you have a question, you can directly contact the seller. * Analysis: This highlights the direct line of communication between buyer and seller that is central to Chinese e-commerce. * **Example 3:** * 我得给那个**卖家**一个差评，因为产品质量太差了。 * Pinyin: Wǒ děi gěi nàge **màijiā** yīgè chàpíng, yīnwèi chǎnpǐn zhìliàng tài chà le. * English: I have to give that seller a bad review because the product quality is terrible. * Analysis: This shows the power of the buyer. A **差评 (chàpíng)**, or bad review, can seriously harm a seller's business. * **Example 4:** * **卖家**说他们今天就可以发货。 * Pinyin: **Màijiā** shuō tāmen jīntiān jiù kěyǐ fāhuò. * English: The seller said they can ship the goods today. * Analysis: **发货 (fāhuò)**, to ship goods, is a key action performed by the seller. * **Example 5:** * 我是淘宝新手**卖家**，请多多关照。 * Pinyin: Wǒ shì Táobǎo xīnshǒu **màijiā**, qǐng duōduō guānzhào. * English: I am a new Taobao seller, please take good care of me (a polite way of asking for support). * Analysis: This shows the term used from the seller's own perspective. **请多多关照 (qǐng duōduō guānzhào)** is a classic polite phrase used by newcomers. * **Example 6:** * 一个好的**卖家**不仅卖产品，还卖服务。 * Pinyin: Yīgè hǎo de **màijiā** bùjǐn mài chǎnpǐn, hái mài fúwù. * English: A good seller not only sells products, but also sells service. * Analysis: This sentence captures the cultural expectation that service is as important as the product itself. * **Example 7:** * 这家店的**卖家**很耐心，回答了我所有的问题。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de **màijiā** hěn nàixīn, huídá le wǒ suǒyǒu de wèntí. * English: The seller of this shop is very patient; they answered all of my questions. * Analysis: **耐心 (nàixīn)**, patience, is a highly valued quality in a seller. * **Example 8:** * **卖家**和买家之间的信任非常重要。 * Pinyin: **Màijiā** hé mǎijiā zhījiān de xìnrèn fēicháng zhòngyào. * English: The trust between the seller and the buyer is extremely important. * Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts the two key roles in a transaction. * **Example 9:** * 你必须小心那些卖假货的**卖家**。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū xiǎoxīn nàxiē mài jiǎhuò de **màijiā**. * English: You must be careful of those sellers who sell fake goods. * Analysis: **假货 (jiǎhuò)**, or counterfeit goods, is a major concern in online shopping, making the seller's reputation crucial. * **Example 10:** * 成为一个成功的**卖家**需要很多努力。 * Pinyin: Chéngwéi yīgè chénggōng de **màijiā** xūyào hěn duō nǔlì. * English: Becoming a successful seller requires a lot of effort. * Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a general, aspirational way, referring to the role or profession itself. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **卖家 (mài jiā) vs. 商家 (shāng jiā):** This is a key distinction for learners. * **卖家 (mài jiā)** is more general and very common. It can be an individual (like a person on Taobao) or a company. It's the default word in most C2C online shopping contexts. * **商家 (shāng jiā)** means "merchant," "business," or "firm." It sounds more formal and established. You'd use it to refer to a brand's official store on Tmall, a large physical store, or a business partner. While every **商家** is technically a **卖家**, not every **卖家** (especially a small individual one) would be called a **商家**. * **卖家 (mài jiā) vs. 店主 (diàn zhǔ):** * **店主 (diàn zhǔ)** means "shop owner." It's very similar to **卖家** but emphasizes ownership of a specific store (**店**). In many online contexts, they are used interchangeably. "I need to talk to the seller" (**卖家**) and "I need to talk to the shop owner" (**店主**) often mean the same thing. * **Common Mistake:** Using **卖家** for a one-off personal sale. If you're selling your used bike to a friend, you wouldn't typically introduce yourself as, "我是这个自行车的卖家" (I am this bike's seller). This sounds overly formal and commercial. You'd simply say, "我要卖我的自行车" (I want to sell my bike). **卖家** implies a more regular, commercial role, even if it's a small one. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[买家]] (mǎi jiā) - The direct antonym: **buyer**. The other half of any transaction. * [[商家]] (shāng jiā) - A more formal term for a merchant, business, or firm. * [[店主]] (diàn zhǔ) - Shop owner; emphasizes ownership of a specific online or physical store. * [[卖]] (mài) - The root verb, "to sell." * [[客户]] (kè hù) - Customer or client, often used in a more formal business or service context than [[买家]]. * [[客服]] (kè fú) - Short for 客户服务 (kèhù fúwù); customer service. The person or department a buyer talks to. * [[淘宝]] (táo bǎo) - China's most famous C2C platform, home to millions of **卖家**. * [[好评]] (hǎo píng) - "Good review." A seller's primary goal. * [[差评]] (chà píng) - "Bad review." A seller's biggest fear. * [[发货]] (fā huò) - To ship goods; one of the main duties of a seller.