‘售货员’ literally combines three characters: ‘售’ (shòu) meaning ‘to sell’, ‘货’ (huò) meaning ‘goods’ or ‘merchandise’, and ‘员’ (yuán) meaning ‘staff member’ or ‘person’. Together, it refers specifically to a person whose job is to sell goods in a retail setting — such as in a supermarket, convenience store, or department store. It’s a formal, neutral term commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.

This word emphasizes the functional role rather than personal traits; it doesn’t imply any particular gender, age, or attitude. While ‘售货员’ is still widely understood and used, especially in official contexts or older establishments, younger speakers sometimes prefer more general terms like ‘店员’ (diànyuán, ‘store staff’) or context-specific ones like ‘收银员’ (shōuyínyuán, ‘cashier’) when referring to specific duties. It’s most frequently heard in traditional brick-and-mortar shops and customer service announcements.