买空卖空

買空賣空

mǎikōngmàikōng

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

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 mǎikōngmàikōng, jiéguǒ kuī de yī tā hútu.

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 mǎikōngmàikōng.

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