Definition
卖艺 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to earn a living by performing', usually in public spaces like streets. It was especially common among traveling performers in old China. The verb 卖 and the noun 艺 can split: you can insert a duration, a number + measure word, or other elements between them, e.g. 卖过一次艺 ('performed once for money'), 卖了三年艺 ('performed for three years'). The person you perform for is introduced with 给: 给观众卖艺 ('perform for the audience').
v.o.
to make a living as a street performerto perform for money
Examples
- ，卖艺。Wèile shēnghuó, tā bùdébù zài jiētóu mài yì.To make a living, he had no choice but to perform on the streets.
- 。Tā niánqīng shí zài jíshì shàng mài guò hǎo jǐ cì yì.When he was young, he performed at the market several times to earn money.
- 卖艺。Xiànzài hěn shǎo yǒu niánqīngrén yuànyì kào mài yì wéishēng le.Nowadays few young people are willing to make a living by performing on the streets.
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