Definition
卖国贼 is a strongly derogatory term for someone who betrays their own country for personal gain, often used in political or historical contexts. It carries a sense of moral condemnation and is more forceful than the English 'traitor' — it literally means 'thief who sells out the country'.
n.
traitor (to one's country)quisling
Examples
- 卖国贼。Lìshǐ shàng de mài guó zéi dōu bèi rén tuòqì.Traitors in history are all despised by people.
- ,卖国贼。Tā chūmài guójiā jīmì, chéng le rénrén hǎn dǎ de mài guó zéi.He sold state secrets and became a public enemy — a traitor everyone condemns.
- 卖国贼。Rènhé mài guó zéi dōu táo bú guò fǎlǜ de zhìcái.No traitor can escape the punishment of the law.
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