贸 mào commerce
commerce; trade
How to remember 贸: ⿰𠂎刀 barred + 贝 sea shell = commerce. The harbour gate stays barred until the ship full of sea shell jewellery clears customs, and only then can commerce begin.
Component breakdown
贸 = ⿰𠂎刀 barred + 贝 sea shell
- ⿰𠂎刀 barred
- 贝 sea shell
The harbour gate stays barred until the ship full of sea shell jewellery clears customs, and only then can commerce begin.
How it is used
- Almost entirely bound to trade: 贸易 (màoyì) trade, 外贸 (wàimào) foreign trade, 经贸 (jīngmào) economy-and-trade.
- Separately, 贸然 (màorán) means rashly/without thinking - 贸然行动 (màorán xíngdòng) to act rashly; unrelated sense to keep straight.