How to Write 销 (xiāo) — Meaning “To sell / To cancel / To melt”

Imagine you are selling metal items, and you place each one on a small (肖) scale to weigh them. The metal radical 钅 reminds you it involves a metal object, and the small scale helps you remember the sound xiāo.

Write the radical 钅 first with its three main strokes: left-falling, horizontal, and a vertical-hook. Then add the right part 肖, which begins with a small 小-like shape at the top and a 月 (moon) below. A common mistake is making the radical too wide; keep it narrow so both halves balance proportionally.

销 uses 肖 on the right and means "to sell" or "to cancel." 钰 has 玉 (jade) on the right and means a precious treasure or jade. 钱 has 戋 (a small amount) on the right and specifically means money or currency. Look at the right part to see which meaning fits.

销 is very common in business contexts, such as 销售 (sales) and 销路 (market channel). It also appears in technology for 注销 (to log out or cancel an account). A cultural note: in China, 销 carries the sense of "eliminating" or "making disappear," so 注销 an account feels like removing it permanently.

Common words containing 销 include: 销售 (xiāo shòu) — To sell / Sales; 注销 (zhù xiāo) — To log out / To cancel; 销路 (xiāo lù) — Market / Sales channel.