How to Write 贸 (mào) — Meaning “Trade; barter”

Imagine a person with a 'top hat' (the top part 卯) carrying a bag of 'shell money' (贝) to a marketplace to trade. The word 'trade' involves exchanging goods, and you can picture the top hat as a merchant's hat. This visual of a merchant with money helps link the shape to the meaning.

Write the top part 卯 first: the left stroke (㇙), then the top right horizontal (一) and the hook (亅), finishing with the four strokes inside. Then add the radical 贝 below, starting with the left vertical (丨) and the box shape. A common mistake is making the top part too wide or the bottom part too narrow—keep both parts roughly equal in width.

贸 (trade) has 卯 on top and 贝 below, while 贡 (tribute) has 工 (work) on top and 贝 below—focus on the top component. 财 (wealth) has 贝 on the left and 才 (talent) on the right, so it is a left-right structure instead of top-bottom. Remember: 贸 is about exchanging, 贡 is about offering, and 财 is about possessing wealth.

贸 appears in key terms like 贸易 (trade/commerce) and 外贸 (foreign trade), which are common in business and economics. In Chinese culture, trade has historically been important, and the character reflects the ancient use of shells as currency. You will see 贸 in news about international trade policies or in the name of China's Ministry of Commerce (商务部).

Common words containing 贸 include: 贸易 (mào yì) — Trade; commerce; 外贸 (wài mào) — foreign trade; 经贸 (jīng mào) — Economy and trade..