小卖 (xiǎomài): small à la carte dishes (in a r…

Meanings

1 small à la carte dishes (in a restaurant)
2 small-scale retail trade
3 snacks for sale

Characters

小

Examples

这家饭馆的小卖很有特色。

Zhè jiā fànguǎn de xiǎomài hěn yǒu tèsè.

This restaurant's small dishes have a distinctive style.

他靠摆摊小卖维持生活。

Tā kào bǎitān xiǎomài wéichí shēnghuó.

He earns a living by running a small stall.

Tips

usage

Two senses: (1) in old-style restaurants, the small individually-priced dishes that aren't part of a banquet menu; (2) small-scale retail. The related compound 小卖部 (xiǎomàibù — 'tuck shop / canteen kiosk') is far more common in everyday speech.