broker; middleman (archaic)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
brokerage; commercial agent; middleman (in former times)
archaicRefers to brokers or commercial agents during the Ming and Qing dynasties who facilitated trade and earned commissions. The term is now historical/archaic.
Qīng清
cháo朝
shí时
qī期
，
zhè这
jiā家
yá牙
háng行
lǒng垄
duàn断
le了
dāng当
dì地
de的
sī丝
chóu绸
mào贸
yì易
。
During the Qing Dynasty, this brokerage monopolized the local silk trade.
Tā他
tōng通
guò过
yá牙
háng行
mǎi买
xià下
le了
nà那
jiān间
pù铺
zi子
，
fù付
le了
bù不
shǎo少
yōng佣
jīn金
。
He bought that shop through a broker and paid quite a bit in commission.
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Gǔ古
dài代
de的
yá牙
háng行
bù不
jǐn仅
zuò做
mǎi买
mài卖
zhōng中
jiè介
，
hái还
fù负
zé责
píng评
dìng定
huò货
wù物
zhì质
liàng量
。
Ancient brokerages not only acted as trade intermediaries but also assessed the quality of goods.