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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 幫 | bāng | Other | to help, to assist | |
| 幫助 | bāngzhù | Other | ||
| 幫忙 | bāngmáng | Other | to help someone do something | |
| 平 | píng | Other | ||
| 平安 | píngān | Other | ||
| 平等 | píngděng | Other | ||
| 年輕 | niánqīng | Other | to be young | |
| 幸福 | xìngfú | Other | ||
| 幸運 | xìngyùn | Other | ||
| 幽默 | yōumò | Other | ||
| 廣播 | guǎngbò | Other | broadcast/broadcasting/to broadcast/(formal) to propagate/to publicize | |
| 建立 | jiànlì | Other | ||
| 建設 | jiànshè | Other | to build | |
| 建議 | jiànyì | Other | to propose | |
| 弄 | nòng | Other | ||
| 引起 | yĭnqĭ | Other | ||
| 弱 | ruò | Other | ||
| 強調 | qiángdiào | Other | ||
| 形容 | xíngróng | Other | ||
| 影響 | yǐngxiǎng | Other | influence/effect/to influence/to affect (usually adversely)/to disturb/CL:股[gu3] | |
| 得 | děi | Other | to have to/must/ought to/to need to | |
| 得到 | dédào | Other | ||
| 得意 | déyì | Other | ||
| 微笑 | wéixiào | Other | ||
| 必要 | bìyào | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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