solicit business; tout; drum up trade
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to solicit business; to tout for business; to drum up trade
informalA colloquial term used to describe the act of actively seeking customers or clients, often used for street vendors, touts, or brokers. Can carry a slightly informal or hustling connotation.
Tā他
zài在
huǒ火
chē车
zhàn站
lā拉
mǎi买
mai卖
，
jié结
guǒ果
bèi被
jǐng警
chá察
gǎn赶
zǒu走
le了
。
He was touting for business at the train station and was driven away by the police.
Zhè这
ge个
rén人
shì是
zhuān专
mén门
lā拉
mǎi买
mai卖
de的
，
nǐ你
yào要
xiǎo小
xīn心
bié别
shàng上
dàng当
。
This person is a professional tout; be careful not to be tricked.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Yǐ以
qián前
zài在
Tiān天
jīn津
wèi卫
，
lā拉
mǎi买
mai卖
de的
kě可
duō多
le了
。
Back in the old days in Tianjin, there were many people drumming up trade.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
kào靠
lā拉
mǎi买
mai卖
qǐ起
jiā家
，
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
shì是
dà大
qǐ企
yè业
le了
。
This company started out by brokering deals and is now a major enterprise.