販

By extension: commerce, trafficking, or dealing (sometimes with an illicit nuance in modern Chinese, e.g., human or drug trafficking).

In classical Chinese, 販 referred broadly to buying and selling for profit — trade or barter.

Phono-semantic compound:

貝 (조개 패) — semantic component, denotes valuables, money, or trade (since shells were used as early currency).

反 (돌이킬 반) — phonetic component, provides the sound fàn / pan and implies movement or exchange (“turning back and forth”).

Thus 貝 + 反 → 販 — “to exchange valuables back and forth,” hence “to sell or trade.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「販，市賈也。从貝，反聲。」

“販 means trading in the market; composed of 貝 and phonetic 反.”

This definition shows that 販 originally referred to market exchange, emphasizing movement and circulation of goods.

販賣 (판매) — sale; to sell

行販 (행판) — peddling; itinerant trade

小販 (소판) — vendor; street seller

密販 (밀판) — illicit trafficking; smuggling

人販 (인판) — human trafficker

毒販 (독판) — drug dealer; trafficker in poison

In classical texts, 販 describes ordinary merchants and market life; in modern usage, it extends from general sales (판매) to negative contexts such as human or drug trade — preserving the core idea of exchange and circulation for profit.

Book of Han (漢書 · 食貨志):

「販夫販婦，負販而走。」

“Men and women who peddle goods, carrying wares upon their backs.” — refers to common traders and market vendors.

Zhuangzi (莊子 · 人間世):

「販夫販婦，皆有所樂。」

“Even peddlers and hawkers have their joys.” — showing 販 used neutrally for simple merchants.

In modern Chinese, 販 often carries neutral or negative connotations depending on context:

中性: 販賣 (to sell), 行販 (to peddle).

부정: 人販 (human trafficker), 毒販 (drug dealer).