Definition & Meaning

1.work oneself to the bone; do a life-risking job for

2.die (unworthily) for; give one's life (unworthily) to

Word usage

mài mìng

卖 命

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Chinese dictionary
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1
v.work oneself to the bone; do a life-risking job for
- wèi dí rén mài mìng
  为敌人卖命
  be forced to work for the enemy
- yōu zhe diǎn gàn huó bù yào tài mài mìng le
  悠着点干活，不要太卖命了。
  Take it easy, don't overwork yourself.
- gù zhǔ pò shǐ yuán gōng men wèi tā mài mìng
  雇主迫使员工们为他卖命。
  The employer forced the employees to work themselves to the bone for him.
synonym
mài lì卖力
2
v.die (unworthily) for; give one's life (unworthily) to
- zhè xiē shì bīng méi yǒu shuí yuàn wèi qīn lüè zhàn zhēng mài mìng
  这些士兵没有谁愿为侵略战争卖命。
  None of these soldiers wanted to die in a war of aggression.
- tā zhī dào zì jǐ shì zài bāng huài rén mài mìng
  她知道自己是在帮坏人卖命。
  She knew she was working with the bad guys.
- nán dào wǒ men zhǐ néng wèi mǎ kè mài mìng
  难道我们只能为马克卖命。
  We were only getting paid for Marco.

Word usage

Separable word
"卖" and "命" can be combined as one word, or be used separately with other elements inserted.
- 他为走私集团卖过命。
  He worked himself to death for the smuggling group.
- 为了还债，他卖了半辈子命。
  He worked himself to death for half a lifetime to pay off his debts.

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