shuǎimài: 甩卖 - Clearance Sale, Sell-off, Fire Sale

• Keywords: 甩卖, shuaimai, Chinese clearance sale, sell-off in Chinese, what does shuaimai mean, fire sale Chinese, Chinese shopping terms, store closing sale, bargain hunting in China, 打折 vs 甩卖
• Summary: Learn the Chinese term 甩卖 (shuǎimài), which means a “clearance sale” or “sell-off.” This page breaks down its characters, cultural context, and practical use in modern China. Discover why a 甩卖 is more dramatic than a regular discount (打折), and see 10 real-world example sentences to master this essential shopping vocabulary for bargain hunting.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shuǎi mài
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To sell off goods at a heavily discounted price, typically to clear out inventory quickly.
• In a Nutshell: 甩卖 (shuǎimài) isn't just a regular sale; it's a “get rid of it now” sale. The term evokes a sense of urgency and finality, suggesting the seller is practically “throwing” the products out the door at rock-bottom prices. Think of it as the sign you see when a shop is closing down, liquidating old stock, or desperately needs to make space for new items.

• 甩 (shuǎi): This character means “to throw,” “to fling,” or “to cast off.” Imagine the action of swinging your arm to throw a ball—that's 甩. It implies a forceful, almost careless action of getting rid of something.
• 卖 (mài): This character simply means “to sell.” It's a fundamental character in any commerce-related vocabulary.
• When combined, 甩卖 (shuǎimài) creates a vivid picture: “to sell by throwing.” This perfectly captures the feeling of a seller who wants to liquidate stock so badly they're metaphorically flinging it at customers for a low price.

In Chinese culture, a 甩卖 (shuǎimài) is an event. It carries a specific, slightly chaotic, and exciting energy. You'll see large, hand-painted signs in bold red or yellow characters, often accompanied by a loudspeaker blaring “最后三天, 全场甩卖!” (Last three days, store-wide clearance!). It's a raw, public, and very direct form of commerce. While a Western “clearance sale” can sometimes be a quiet, organized section at the back of a department store, a 甩卖 often feels more like a bustling market scene. It taps into the cultural appreciation for finding a good bargain (便宜, piányi) and the excitement of a limited-time opportunity. It’s less of a curated corporate marketing strategy and more of a direct, “everything must go” plea from the seller to the buyer. This term is rarely used by high-end or luxury brands, as it implies a certain level of desperation that could damage their brand image.

You will encounter 甩卖 in various situations, both online and offline.

• Storefronts and Markets: This is the most common context. Small shops, street vendors, or stores changing seasons will hang large banners to attract bargain hunters. The signs often include hyperbolic phrases like “亏本甩卖” (selling at a loss) or even “跳楼价” (jump-off-a-building price) to emphasize the low prices.
• E-commerce: Online platforms like Taobao use 甩卖 in product titles or store pages to signal a major stock-clearing event. It creates urgency for online shoppers to buy before the items are gone forever.
• Connotation: The term is highly informal and carries a strong connotation of being the absolute final, lowest price. For a buyer, it signals a great opportunity. For the seller, it implies a need to liquidate assets quickly, even if it means taking a loss.

• Example 1:
  • 这家服装店要关门了，正在甩卖所有衣服。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā fúzhuāng diàn yào guānmén le, zhèngzài shuǎimài suǒyǒu yīfu.
  • English: This clothing store is closing down and is having a clearance sale on all its clothes.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case, linking 甩卖 directly with a store's closure.
• Example 2:
  • 年底了，商场都在搞年终甩卖。
  • Pinyin: Niándǐ le, shāngchǎng dōu zài gǎo niánzhōng shuǎimài.
  • English: It's the end of the year, so the shopping malls are all holding year-end sell-offs.
  • Analysis: Here, 甩卖 is used as a noun, “year-end sell-off,” a common event to clear stock before the new year.
• Example 3:
  • 为了给新货腾出空间，我们不得不甩卖这些旧款。
  • Pinyin: Wèile gěi xīn huò téng chū kōngjiān, wǒmen bùdébù shuǎimài zhèxiē jiù kuǎn.
  • English: In order to make room for new stock, we have to sell off these old models.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly states the business reason for the 甩卖—clearing inventory.
• Example 4:
  • 广告上说“亏本甩卖”，你觉得是真的吗？
  • Pinyin: Guǎnggào shàng shuō “kuīběn shuǎimài”, nǐ juéde shì zhēn de ma?
  • English: The advertisement says “selling at a loss.” Do you think it's real?
  • Analysis: This shows a common phrase, “亏本甩卖” (kuīběn shuǎimài), and a healthy bit of skepticism from the consumer.
• Example 5:
  • 我在甩卖活动中用很低的价格买了一台电视。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài shuǎimài huódòng zhōng yòng hěn dī de jiàgé mǎi le yī tái diànshì.
  • English: I bought a TV at a very low price during the clearance event.
  • Analysis: This example uses 甩卖 as a descriptor for an “event” (活动, huódòng).
• Example 6:
  • 别等了，他们明天就开始甩卖了！
  • Pinyin: Bié děng le, tāmen míngtiān jiù kāishǐ shuǎimài le!
  • English: Don't wait, they're starting the clearance sale tomorrow!
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the sense of urgency associated with a 甩卖.
• Example 7:
  • 老板决定把所有积压的库存都甩卖掉。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn juédìng bǎ suǒyǒu jīyā de kùcún dōu shuǎimài diào.
  • English: The boss decided to sell off all the overstocked inventory.
  • Analysis: The resultative complement “掉” (diào) emphasizes the completion and finality of the selling-off action.
• Example 8:
  • 这双鞋是甩卖时买的，真划算！
  • Pinyin: Zhè shuāng xié shì shuǎimài shí mǎi de, zhēn huásuàn!
  • English: I bought this pair of shoes during the clearance sale; what a bargain!
  • Analysis: This is a typical sentence a happy shopper would say, highlighting the great deal they found.
• Example 9:
  • 网上商店正在进行三天限时甩卖。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngshàng shāngdiàn zhèngzài jìnxíng sān tiān xiànshí shuǎimài.
  • English: The online store is holding a three-day limited-time sell-off.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 甩卖 in an e-commerce context, combined with “limited-time” (限时, xiànshí) to create more urgency.
• Example 10:
  • 由于搬家，他准备把家里一半的家具都甩卖了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú bānjiā, tā zhǔnbèi bǎ jiālǐ yībàn de jiājù dōu shuǎimài le.
  • English: Because he's moving, he's planning to sell off half of his furniture.
  • Analysis: This shows that 甩卖 isn't just for businesses; individuals can also use it to describe getting rid of personal belongings quickly.

A common mistake for learners is to use 甩卖 for any kind of discount. It's crucial to distinguish it from its more common cousins, 打折 (dǎzhé) and 促销 (cùxiāo).

• 甩卖 (shuǎimài): Use this for a final clearance or liquidation. The discount is drastic, and the goal is to get rid of everything. The feeling is urgent and final.
  • Incorrect: 这件T恤甩卖九折。 (Zhè jiàn T-xù shuǎimài jiǔ zhé.) → “This T-shirt is on clearance for 10% off.” (This sounds strange; a 10% discount is not a “clearance sale.”)
  • Correct: 这件T恤打九折。 (Zhè jiàn T-xù dǎ jiǔ zhé.)
• 打折 (dǎzhé): This is the most general and neutral term for “to give a discount” or “on sale.” It can be for any percentage off and is a standard, everyday business practice. A 10% off sale is a 打折, not a 甩卖.
• 促销 (cùxiāo): This means “promotion” and is a broader marketing term. It includes discounts, but also covers “buy one, get one free” deals, coupons, giveaways, and other promotional activities.

In short, think of the hierarchy of urgency: 促销 (a planned marketing push) → 打折 (a standard discount) → 甩卖 (an urgent “everything must go” clearance).

• 打折 (dǎzhé) - To give a discount. The most common term for “on sale.”
• 促销 (cùxiāo) - To promote sales; a promotion. A broader marketing term.
• 清仓 (qīngcāng) - To clear out inventory/stock. A very close synonym and often used interchangeably with 甩卖.
• 大减价 (dàjiǎnjià) - Big price reduction; a big sale. Similar to 甩卖 but sounds a bit more like a planned event.
• 特价 (tèjià) - Special price. Refers to a specific item being sold at a discount, not necessarily a whole-store clearance.
• 处理 (chǔlǐ) - In a sales context, this means “to deal with” or “dispose of” unwanted goods, often at a low price (e.g., 库存处理 - inventory clearance).
• 亏本 (kuīběn) - To lose money on a deal. Often paired with 甩卖 (亏本甩卖) to emphasize how low the prices are.
• 跳楼价 (tiàolóujià) - Literally “jump-off-a-building price.” A dramatic and informal slang term for a rock-bottom price you'd find at a 甩卖.