展销 (zhǎn xiāo) — to exhibit and sell (at a trade fair, exhibition, or promotional event)

Definition

Business/retail term for exhibiting and selling goods at a trade fair or promotional event. Almost always used in compounds like 展销会 or 展销活动 — not as a standalone verb.

verb
to exhibit and sell (at a trade fair, exhibition, or promotional event)

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge gōng sī měi nián dōu cān jiā guó jì zhǎn xiāo huì.
    This company participates in the international exhibition and sales fair every year.
  • 展销，。
    Wǒ men zhèng zài zhǎn xiāo xīn chǎn pǐn, huān yíng lái cān guān.
    We are exhibiting and selling new products — welcome to come and visit.
  • 展销。
    Zhè cì zhǎn xiāo huó dòng xī yǐn le hěn duō gù kè.
    This exhibition and sales event attracted many customers.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

展zhǎndisplay
销xiāosell

展 means display and 销 means sell; together they describe exhibiting and selling.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧝑
𧝑𧝑展zhǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

展 is built from 尸 and 𧝑. The 𧝑 part points to fine red silk clothes and also contains the idea of opening or extending.

Open 展 →

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 →

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