sell

sell — verb

1. to let someone take an item, product, or service that you own and receive money

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

to let someone take an item, product, or service that you own and receive money from them in return

例句

Selim sold his old motorcycle to a neighbour for NT$15,000.

sell + object + to + someone + for + price

The bakery on Green Street sells fresh bread every morning before nine.

present tense for routine business description

同義詞
  • vend

    more formal; used for selling through machines or at a stall

  • retail

    selling goods directly to the public, usually in small amounts

  • auction

    selling to the person who offers the highest price

反義詞
  • buy

    to get something by paying money for it

  • purchase

    formal equivalent of buy

文法句型

sell + object

sell + indirect object + direct object

sell + object + to + someone

sell + for/at + price

用法筆記

Ditransitive structure (sell someone something) is common: My friend sold me his camera. In passive voice, both objects can become subjects: He was sold a fake watch.

常見錯誤

❌I selled my phone yesterday.
✅I sold my phone yesterday.
💡'sell' is irregular: sell → sold → sold, never 'selled'.
❌She sold to me a bag.
✅She sold a bag to me.' or 'She sold me a bag.
💡In English, the indirect object must come before the direct object in the double-object pattern.

2. to be purchased by people — describes the rate, price, or speed at which custome

2.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to be purchased by people — describes the rate, price, or speed at which customers buy something

例句

Joaquín's new cookbook is selling very well across Taiwan.

intransitive: sell + adverb describing market performance

These handmade wool scarves sell for around NT$800 each.

sell + for + price

同義詞
  • move

    informal; products that 'move' are bought quickly

  • go

    informal; items that 'go' at a certain price sell at that price

文法句型

sell + adverb (well/quickly/badly)

sell + for/at + price

sell + in + quantities

用法筆記

Commonly used with adverbs of degree (sell well / sell badly) and price phrases (sell for / sell at). The subject is the item being bought, not the seller.

常見錯誤

❌The book is selling good.
✅The book is selling well.
💡Use 'well' (adverb), not 'good' (adjective), to describe how something sells.
❌It sells with $10.
✅It sells for $10.' or 'It sells at $10.
💡Use 'for' or 'at' to indicate price, not 'with'.

3. to create enough interest in a product or service that people choose to buy it,

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to create enough interest in a product or service that people choose to buy it, often through presentation, advertising, or reputation

例句

A celebrity endorsement can really help sell a new perfume brand quickly.

abstract subject (endorsement) + sell + product

The elegant packaging sells the chocolate before customers even taste it.

inanimate subject (packaging) + sell + object

同義詞
  • market

    to actively promote and sell through advertising and business strategy

  • push

    informal; to aggressively try to sell a product

  • move

    informal; to sell products, especially in large quantities

文法句型

sell + product

subject (advertising/packaging/reputation) + sell + object

用法筆記

Often used with an inanimate subject that explains WHY a product sells: The location sells the house. The taste sells the drink. Not used with a direct human buyer as indirect object (unlike sense 1).

4. to persuade a person or group to accept an idea, proposal, or plan as good or wo

4.動詞及物C2
釋義

to persuade a person or group to accept an idea, proposal, or plan as good or worth supporting

例句

Eitan tried to sell the board of directors on his plan to expand into Southeast Asia.

sell + someone + on + proposal

Min knows how to sell an investment idea to a room full of cautious bankers.

sell + abstract object + to + audience

同義詞
  • promote

    to actively support or advertise an idea or product

  • advocate

    to publicly recommend or support a cause or policy

  • pitch

    informal; to try to persuade someone to buy or accept something

反義詞
  • deter

    to discourage someone from accepting an idea or plan

文法句型

sell + someone + on + something

sell + object + to + someone

用法筆記

Object is typically an abstract noun: idea, vision, proposal, policy, plan. The preposition 'on' introduces the topic (sell someone on something); 'to' introduces the audience (sell something to someone).

常見錯誤

❌He sold them a product.' (using this sense for a physical item)
✅He sold the committee on his proposal.
💡When used for persuasion, the object is an idea or plan, not a physical product.

5. to betray a person, group, or principle in exchange for money, power, or another

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

to betray a person, group, or principle in exchange for money, power, or another personal advantage

例句

The army officer was caught selling classified documents to a foreign intelligence agency.

sell + secrets/documents + to + foreign power

Saira refused to sell her principles for a quick promotion in the company.

sell + abstract noun (principles/values) + for + reward

同義詞
  • betray

    stronger and more direct; to be disloyal to someone who trusts you

  • rat out

    informal; to tell the authorities about someone's wrongdoing

  • double-cross

    to deceive someone who believes they are working with you

反義詞
  • protect

    to keep someone safe from harm or betrayal

  • defend

    to protect someone or something from attack or criticism

文法句型

sell + someone/something + for + reward

sell + principles/values/loyalty

用法筆記

Strongly negative connotation. Often used with reflexive or possessive constructions: sell yourself, sell your soul, sell your country. Avoid confusing with sense 1 — the object here is a trust relationship, not a product.

常見錯誤

❌He sold his car to the enemy.' (physical product — use sense 1)
✅He sold his country to the enemy.
💡When the object is a person, group, or principle, the meaning shifts to betrayal.
❌She sold out the secret.
✅She sold the secret.
💡'Sell out' is used for betrayal of people/groups; for secrets, just 'sell' works.

sell — noun