销售一空 (xiāo shòu yī kōng) — to be completely sold out; to sell out (of stock)

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'completely sold out' — emphasizes that stock is entirely gone, stronger than simply saying something sold well. Used for tickets, limited editions, or any item where the last unit is gone.

verb
to be completely sold outto sell out (of stock)

Examples

  • 销售一空。
    Zhè ge xīn chǎn pǐn shàng shì hòu hěn kuài jiù xiāo shòu yī kōng.
    This new product sold out quickly after launch.
  • ，销售一空。
    Yóu yú xū qiú tài dà, suǒ yǒu kù cún yǐ jīng xiāo shòu yī kōng.
    Due to huge demand, all inventory has been sold out.
  • 销售一空。
    Tā men dài lái de jì niàn pǐn zài dì yī tiān jiù xiāo shòu yī kōng.
    The souvenirs they brought were sold out on the first day.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 銷; 销 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
肖
肖xiào銷xiāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 銷 pairs 金 (metal) with 肖 as a sound part; simplified 销 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not historical components.

Open 销 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 售 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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