Chinese–EnglishWith examples

卖命

mài mìng · mai ming

Traditional 賣命

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to work tirelessly; to give one's all; to slave away
  2. to throw away one's life; to sacrifice oneself (usu. for an unworthy cause)
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

Slaving away for the boss

  1. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)这个(zhège)月(yuè)天天(tiāntiān)加班(jiābān)，真是(zhēnshi)在(zài)卖命(màimìng)。

    I have worked overtime every day this month. I am really slaving away.

  2. Dengdeng

    别(bié)给(gěi)老板(lǎobǎn)卖命(màimìng)了(le)，休息(xiūxi)一下(yīxià)吧(ba)。

    Stop slaving away for the boss. Take a little rest.

  3. Liangliang

    可是(kěshì)下周(xiàzhōu)就要(jiùyào)交(jiāo)报告(bàogào)了(le)。

    But the report is due next week.

  4. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)卖命(màimìng)写(xiě)了(le)一个(yīgè)月(yuè)，报告(bàogào)呢(ne)？

    You slaved away for a month. Where is the report?

  5. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)一直(yīzhí)在(zài)改(gǎi)封面(fēngmiàn)的(de)颜色(yánsè)。

    I have been changing the color of the cover all along.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)为(wèi)了(le)这(zhè)个(ge)项(xiàng)目(mù)天(tiān)天(tiān)卖(mài)命(mìng)，连(lián)周(zhōu)末(mò)都(dōu)不(bù)休(xiū)息(xi)。

He works himself to the bone for this project every day, not even resting on weekends.

02

别(bié)为(wèi)那(nà)种(zhǒng)老(lǎo)板(bǎn)卖(mài)命(mìng)，他(tā)根(gēn)本(běn)不(bú)在(zài)乎(hu)你(nǐ)。

Don't slave away for a boss like that; he doesn't care about you at all.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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