売る

うる

to sell (v.t.)

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 売る (うる) means "to sell" and is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object — the item being sold. It is a very common verb used in everyday conversation, business, and commerce.

Common Contexts

You will often hear 売る when talking about shops selling products, individuals selling personal items, or artists selling their work. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 売る + 商品 (しょうひん): to sell products
  • 売る + ネット/オンライン: to sell online
  • 売る + 店/ギャラリー: places where items are sold

Usage Tips

When using 売る, the item being sold is marked with the particle を. For example, 本を売る (to sell a book). Avoid confusing 売る with 買う (to buy), which is the opposite action.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes omit the direct object or confuse 売る with 買う. Remember 売る always involves selling something to someone else.

Example Sentences

このみせであたらしいすまほをうっています。

This store sells new smartphones.

ふるいほんをねっとでうりました。

I sold old books online.

かれはじぶんのえをぎゃらりーでうっている。

He sells his paintings at the gallery.