拍卖

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"拍卖" (pāimài) means "to auction" or "auction." It refers to the process of selling goods or property by offering them up for bid, typically to the highest bidder. This term is commonly used in contexts involving art, antiques, real estate, and other valuable items.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "拍卖" in phrases like "拍卖" (auction event) or "拍卖" (auction house). It is used both as a verb (to auction) and a noun (an auction).

Collocations and Patterns

  • 拍卖: auction event, where items are sold to the highest bidder.
  • 拍卖: auction house, the organization that conducts auctions.
  • 拍卖价格: auction price, the final selling price at auction.

Usage Notes

When using "拍卖," the focus is on the formal selling process involving bidding. It is different from simply "" (to sell) because it implies a competitive bidding process. Avoid confusing "拍卖" with "出售," which is a more general term for selling without bidding.

Common Confusion

"拍卖" should not be confused with "" alone. "" means to sell in general, while "拍卖" specifically involves auctioning. For example, "拍卖" means to auction a painting, not just sell it.

Example Sentences

This painting will be auctioned next month.

At the auction, many valuable antiques were sold at high prices.

He decided to auction off the old furniture to free up space.