trading

trading — noun

1. the activity of exchanging products, services, or other items of value for money

1.名詞B1
釋義

the activity of exchanging products, services, or other items of value for money, typically conducted between people, companies, or countries as part of business.

例句

The Hui family built their fortune through international trading of agricultural machinery and spare parts.

trading + of + noun for specifying what is traded

Amani runs a trading company that imports handmade carpets from Morocco for sale in Europe.

compound noun: trading company

同義詞
  • commerce

    more formal than 'trading', often refers to large-scale economic activity between regions or countries

  • business

    broader term that includes all commercial activity, not just exchange; can also mean a company

  • merchandising

    focuses specifically on selling goods to customers through retail channels

文法句型

trading + of + noun (specifying what is traded)

engage in trading

[adjective] trading

用法筆記

Unlike the related noun 'trade', which can also mean a skilled occupation ('He learned the carpenter's trade') or a countable transaction ('a fair trade'), 'trading' refers only to the general, uncountable activity of buying and selling. It has no plural form and cannot be used with 'a' or 'an'.

常見錯誤

❌He learned a trading as an electrician.
✅He learned a trade as an electrician.
💡'trade' (not 'trading') is the correct noun for a skilled craft or occupation.
❌They did a good trading on the used car.
✅They made a good trade on the used car.
💡a single exchange of goods is 'a trade', while 'trading' describes the activity in general.

2. the purchase and sale of financial assets such as company shares, currencies, bo

2.名詞B2
釋義

the purchase and sale of financial assets such as company shares, currencies, bonds, or derivatives, usually conducted through a stock exchange or electronic marketplace with the aim of making a profit.

例句

Feng taught himself online trading and bought shares in a clean-energy company last month.

online trading — electronic buying and selling of financial assets

The trading floor buzzed as brokers shouted buy and sell orders across the room.

trading floor — physical location where stock transactions happen

同義詞
  • stock trading

    more specific; refers only to buying and selling shares of publicly listed companies

  • share dealing

    chiefly British English for buying/selling stocks; more formal register

  • financial trading

    broader term that includes all asset classes (stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities)

文法句型

trading in + [financial product]

online trading

trading + preposition (on/at) + [exchange]

用法筆記

In financial contexts, 'trading' usually implies relatively short-term buying and selling of assets, as opposed to 'investing', which suggests holding assets for longer periods. Common in compound nouns such as 'day trading', 'insider trading', and 'algorithmic trading'.

常見錯誤

❌His trading in tech stocks earned a 5% annual return over ten years.' (sounds like active short-term trading)
✅His investment in tech stocks earned a 5% annual return over ten years.
💡when you hold assets long-term, use 'investment' rather than 'trading'.
❌The trading on the New York Stock Exchange was heavy today.
✅Trading on the New York Stock Exchange was heavy today.
💡no article needed before 'trading' when used as an uncountable noun in this context.