Mandarin Chinese reference
卖
mài
to sell
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
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Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | màisell |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | mài lesold |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | mài guohave sold before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài màibe selling |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào mài lebe about to sell |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì màiwill sell |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bú màido not sell |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi màidid not sell |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | mài ma?do you sell? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | mài bu mài?do you sell? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.