mài wán: 卖完 - Sold Out, To Sell Out

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese phrase 卖完 (mài wán), which directly translates to “sold out” or “to sell out”. This page breaks down its simple verb-complement structure: `卖 (mài)` meaning 'to sell' and the resultative complement `完 (wán)` meaning 'finished'. Discover how to use mài wán in everyday situations, from concert tickets being sold out to your favorite bread being gone at the bakery. Our detailed examples and practical tips will help you master this fundamental and extremely common Mandarin Chinese term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): mài wán
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Complement)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To finish selling something; to be sold out.
• In a Nutshell: `卖完` is a perfect example of a Chinese resultative complement, one of the most important grammar patterns to learn. It combines an action verb, `卖 (mài)` for “to sell,” with a result, `完 (wán)` for “finished.” Together, they state the clear outcome: the action of selling is complete, and therefore, there is nothing left. It’s the go-to phrase you'll hear and use for everything from movie tickets to street food being all gone.

• 卖 (mài): To sell. This character can be remembered as the character for “buy” (`买 mǎi`) with a “plus” sign (`十 shí`) on top. Think of it as adding a price tag or a markup to something you bought in order to sell it.
• 完 (wán): To finish, complete, be done. The character is composed of the “roof” radical (宀) over `元` (yuán), suggesting the completion of something primary under one roof. It acts as a “result complement,” indicating that the action of the verb preceding it has been completed.
• How they combine: The logic is straightforward: Action + Result. `卖 (To sell) + 完 (To finish) = 卖完 (To finish selling)`. The result is that the goods are all gone.

While “sold out” is a universal commercial concept, the frequency and context of 卖完 (mài wán) in China highlight a vibrant and fast-paced consumer culture. In modern China, limited-edition items, collaboration products, and “internet-famous” (网红 wǎnghóng) foods or drinks can sell out within hours or even minutes, creating a sense of urgency and collective excitement. A sign that says 今日已卖完 (jīnrì yǐ mài wán) - “Sold out for today” - is not just a statement of fact but often a badge of honor for a small shop or restaurant. It signals popularity and quality. For consumers, hearing that something is `卖完` can create a “fear of missing out” (FOMO), making them eager to try again the next day. This contrasts slightly with Western contexts, where “sold out” might apply more to large-scale events or specific sales, whereas in China, it's a very common, everyday occurrence for local food stalls, bakeries, and tea shops, reflecting the density and dynamism of the market.

`卖完` is an extremely common, everyday term used in a variety of situations. Its connotation is neutral from a factual standpoint, but it can feel negative for the disappointed buyer and positive for the successful seller.

• Shopping: This is the most common context. You'll hear it from shopkeepers or see it on signs for specific products.
  • “不好意思，这个颜色已经卖完了。” (Sorry, this color is already sold out.)
• Tickets & Events: For movies, concerts, train tickets, etc. High-demand tickets often sell out almost instantly.
  • “周杰伦的演唱会门票一分钟就卖完了！” (Jay Chou's concert tickets sold out in one minute!)
• Restaurants & Food Stalls: A popular dish on the menu may be sold out for the day.
  • “老板，你们的招牌牛肉面是不是卖完了？” (Boss, is your signature beef noodle soup sold out?)
• A Seller's Statement of Success: A vendor might say this happily at the end of the day.
  • “太好了！今天的东西都卖完了！” (Great! We've sold everything today!)

• Example 1:
  • 演唱会的票早就卖完了。
  • Pinyin: Yǎnchànghuì de piào zǎo jiù mài wán le.
  • English: The concert tickets were sold out long ago.
  • Analysis: The phrase `早就 (zǎo jiù)` emphasizes that this happened a while ago. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a completed action or a change of state.
• Example 2:
  • 不好意思，您要的那个尺码已经卖完了。
  • Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, nín yào de nàge chǐmǎ yǐjīng mài wán le.
  • English: Excuse me, the size you want is already sold out.
  • Analysis: A very common and polite phrase you will hear while shopping for clothes or shoes. `已经 (yǐjīng)` means “already.”
• Example 3:
  • 老板，今天的饺子是不是卖完了？
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, jīntiān de jiǎozi shì bu shì mài wán le?
  • English: Boss, are the dumplings for today sold out?
  • Analysis: `是不是 (shì bu shì)` is a common way to form a yes/no question. This is a typical question you'd ask at a small restaurant.
• Example 4:
  • 太好了！我们今天的面包全都卖完了！
  • Pinyin: Tài hǎo le! Wǒmen jīntiān de miànbāo quándōu mài wán le!
  • English: That's great! We've sold all of our bread for today!
  • Analysis: This example shows the positive connotation from the seller's perspective. `全都 (quándōu)` means “all” or “completely.”
• Example 5:
  • 这个手机这么快就卖完了吗？我还没来得及买呢。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shǒujī zhème kuài jiù mài wán le ma? Wǒ hái méi láidejí mǎi ne.
  • English: This phone sold out so quickly? I haven't had a chance to buy it yet.
  • Analysis: `这么快 (zhème kuài)` expresses surprise at the speed. `还没来得及 (hái méi láidejí)` is a useful pattern meaning “haven't had the chance to do something yet.”
• Example 6:
  • 页面显示这款耳机已卖完。
  • Pinyin: Yèmiàn xiǎnshì zhè kuǎn ěrjī yǐ mài wán.
  • English: The webpage shows that this model of headphones is sold out.
  • Analysis: `已 (yǐ)` is a more formal, written version of `已经 (yǐjīng)`. You'll often see this in online shopping contexts.
• Example 7:
  • 如果这些蔬菜今天没卖完，明天就不新鲜了。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ zhèxiē shūcài jīntiān méi mài wán, míngtiān jiù bù xīnxiān le.
  • English: If this vegetables don't sell out today, they won't be fresh tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, `没卖完 (méi mài wán)`, meaning “not finished selling.”
• Example 8:
  • 那家网红奶茶店每天下午三点就卖完了。
  • Pinyin: Nà jiā wǎnghóng nǎichá diàn měitiān xiàwǔ sān diǎn jiù mài wán le.
  • English: That internet-famous milk tea shop sells out by 3 PM every day.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a regular, recurring event. The `就 (jiù)` here indicates that something happens early or quickly.
• Example 9:
  • 我到的时候，限量版的鞋子已经卖完了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ dào de shíhou, xiànliàngbǎn de xiézi yǐjīng mài wán le.
  • English: By the time I arrived, the limited-edition shoes were already sold out.
  • Analysis: A classic sentence structure `…的时候 (…de shíhou)` meaning “when…” or “by the time…”
• Example 10:
  • 别担心，他们明天还会进货，不会一直卖完的。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, tāmen míngtiān hái huì jìn huò, bù huì yīzhí mài wán de.
  • English: Don't worry, they will restock tomorrow; it won't be sold out forever.
  • Analysis: This shows `卖完` used to describe a state. `不会一直…的 (bù huì yīzhí…de)` is a pattern for reassuring someone that a situation won't last forever.

• `卖完` (mài wán) vs. `售罄` (shòu qìng):
  • `卖完` is the common, spoken word used in everyday life. You use it when talking to a shopkeeper or a friend.
  • `售罄 (shòu qìng)` means the exact same thing but is very formal and used only in written language. You will see it on official websites, signs for real estate, or in news reports (e.g., “All apartments in the new development are now sold out” - `已售罄`).
  • Common Mistake: Using `售罄` in a casual conversation. Asking a street vendor, “*老板，包子售罄了吗？*” would sound incredibly strange and overly formal, like asking “Have the steamed buns been entirely purchased?” in English. Stick to `卖完了吗?`.
• Seller's vs. Buyer's Perspective:
  • `卖完` literally means “to finish selling” and is from the seller's point of view. However, it's used to describe the state of the product.
  • Common Mistake: A learner might confuse `卖 (mài)` with `买 (mǎi)`. If you want to say “The tickets are sold out,” you must say `票卖完了 (piào mài wán le)`. Saying `*票买完了` is incorrect in this context; it would mean something like “the tickets have all been bought,” which sounds awkward and is not the standard phrasing.

• 售罄 (shòu qìng) - The formal, written equivalent of `卖完`. Use it on signs and official notices, not in conversation.
• 卖光 (mài guāng) - A very close synonym. `光 (guāng)` means 'empty' or 'bare', strongly emphasizing that nothing is left. It's virtually interchangeable with `卖完` in most spoken contexts.
• 脱销 (tuō xiāo) - To be out of stock, often due to unexpectedly high demand over a period. It implies a supply-chain issue, not just selling the day's inventory.
• 断货 (duàn huò) - Out of stock, supply is cut off. This focuses specifically on the interruption in the supply chain. A product is `断货` because the factory can't produce it or it can't be shipped.
• 抢购一空 (qiǎng gòu yī kōng) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning “to be snapped up/bought up in an instant.” It describes the frantic action of customers that *leads* to something being `卖完`.
• 用完 (yòng wán) - To use up. A great parallel to understand the `完` complement. `用 (to use) + 完 (finished) = 用完 (used up)`.
• 吃完 (chī wán) - To finish eating. Another perfect example of the verb + `完` structure.
• 卖掉 (mài diào) - To sell off/get rid of by selling. The complement `掉 (diào)` implies disposal or removal, sometimes with a sense of finality, like selling an old car.