Definition
卖乖 is a colloquial separable verb (离合词) that means to show off one's cleverness or act cute in a calculating way to gain an advantage. It can split, such as 卖了一个乖 ('pulled off a clever trick') or 卖了半天乖 ('kept acting cute for a long time'), with the object or measure word inserted between 卖 and 乖.
v.o.
to show off one's cleverness (often annoyingly)to act cute to gain an advantage
Examples
- 卖乖。Tā zǒng xǐhuān zài biérén miànqián mài guāi.He always likes to show off his cleverness in front of others.
- ，。Zuótiān tā zài huìyì shàng mài le yí gè guāi, dàjiā dōu hěn gāngà.Yesterday he pulled a clever trick at the meeting, and everyone was embarrassed.
- ，。Tā mài le bàntiān guāi, zuìhòu shuí yě méi lǐ tā.He acted cute for a long time, but in the end nobody paid him any attention.
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