Verbs are the engine of Traditional Chinese conversations-without them, you’re just pointing and hoping. This collection rounds up around 1,000 of the most common verbs you’ll actually need, whether you’re ordering dumplings, sharing a funny story, or texting a friend. No dusty textbook relics, just practical action words that keep your sentences moving.
Each verb packs a clear meaning and a realistic example sentence, so you see exactly how it behaves in wild, everyday Chinese. We’ve added audio playback for every entry-your ears need practice just as much as your eyes. When you’re ready to study offline, grab the free PDF using the download button right below the table.
This isn’t a curated list for a specific exam. It’s built for general learners who want a clean reference, not a stuffy grammar lecture. Think of it as your go-to verb cheat sheet whether you’re a beginner hungry for the basics or a more confident learner filling gaps.
Want more than one list? Browse our Traditional Chinese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve locked a few of these verbs into memory? The quick quiz below gives you a friendly nudge-no stress, just a way to spot the ones that need a second look.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Pinyin | Type | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一樣 | yíyàng | Other | to be the same, identical | |
| 一般 | yībān | Other | ||
| 上 | shàng | Other | ||
| 上來 | shànglái | Other | come up; up | |
| 上去 | shàngqù | Other | go up | |
| 上學 | shàngxué | Other | attend school, be at school | |
| 上班 | shàngbān | Other | to begin work, to start work, to go to work | |
| 上當 | shàngdàng | Other | ||
| 上網 | shàngwǎng | Other | internet access | |
| 上街 | shàngjiē | Other | ||
| 上課 | shàngkè | Other | to go to class, to attend classs | |
| 下 | xià | Other | down/downwards/below/lower/later/next (week etc)/second (of two parts)/to decline/to go down/to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc)/measure word to show the | |
| 下去 | xiàqù | Other | go down; descend | |
| 下班 | xiàbān | Other | to get off from work, to go off work | |
| 下課 | xiàkè | Other | to get out of class, end of class | |
| 下雨 | xiàyǔ | Other | to rain | |
| 下雪 | xiàxuě | Other | to snow | |
| 不同 | bùtóng | Other | ||
| 不好意思 | bùhǎoyìsi | Other | to feel embarrassed; to be ill at ease | |
| 不客氣 | búkèqì | Other | you're welcome | |
| 不幸 | bùxìng | Other | ||
| 不得了 | bùdéliăo | Other | ||
| 不必 | bùbì | Other | ||
| 不滿 | bùmăn | Other | ||
| 不見(了) | bùjiàn(le) | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
Use the buttons below to download your free printable vocabulary resources — no signup required.
