ceot1 maai6出賣出卖
Jyutpingceot1 maai6
Yalechēut maaih
Definition
To betray someone, or to give up something valuable like one's principles or soul in exchange for money or power.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of moral condemnation and betrayal. It is frequently used in contexts involving personal relationships, loyalty, or integrity, rather than just commercial transactions. When someone sacrifices their principles or close allies for personal gain, this is the go-to verb to describe that act of treachery.
Examples
He sold out his friend for money.
How could you betray everyone's trust?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the simple act of selling goods, which is 賣. Using 出賣 for a standard retail transaction sounds like you are accusing the shopkeeper of a moral crime.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
