买空卖空

買空賣空

mǎikōng-màikōng

idiom

Meanings

1 to speculate (in financial markets without holding the underlying goods)
2 to play the market on margin
3 (figurative) to peddle hot air; to swindle by posing as a credible operator

Characters

empty / on margin

Examples

他在股市里买空卖空，结果亏得一塌糊涂。

Tā zài gǔshì lǐ mǎikōng-màikōng, jiéguǒ kuī de yītāhútu.

He speculated in the stock market and ended up losing his shirt.

这种政客就会买空卖空。

Zhè zhǒng zhèngkè jiù huì mǎikōng-màikōng.

This kind of politician is good for nothing but selling hot air.

Tips

history

First attested in late-Qing memorials criticising Daoguang-era 'crooked merchants'. Originally a literal market-trading term - selling goods you don't own and buying back later - it grew a second life as a metaphor for political grift.

Stroke Order

买 mǎi

空 kōng

卖 mài