卖命

賣命

màimìng

verb #10,509

Meanings

1 to work tirelessly
2 to slave away
3 to risk one's life (for someone)

Characters

Examples

HSK 2

他为这家公司卖命了二十年。

Tā wèi zhè jiā gōngsī màimìng le èrshí nián.

He slaved away for this company for twenty years.

HSK 6

别再替他卖命了，不值得。

Bié zài tì tā màimìng le, bùzhíde.

Stop working yourself to death for him; it's not worth it.

Tips

usage

卖命 literally means "to sell one's life." It implies working extremely hard, often for someone else's benefit, with a negative connotation of being exploited or undervalued.

Stroke Order

卖 mài

命 mìng