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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 忍 | rěn | Other | ||
| 忍耐 | rěnnài | Other | ||
| 忘 | wàng | Other | to forget | |
| 忘記 | wàngjì | Other | ||
| 忙 | máng | Other | to be busy | |
| 快樂 | kuàilè | Other | to be happy | |
| 念 | niàn | Other | to read aloud, to study | |
| 念/唸 | niàn | Other | ||
| 念書/唸書 | niànshū | Other | to read/to study | |
| 怎麼樣 | zěnmeyàng | Other | How about…… ? How's everything ? | |
| 怎麼辦 | zěnmebàn | Other | What now ? | |
| 怕 | pà | Other | to fear | |
| 思考 | sīkăo | Other | ||
| 急 | jí | Other | ||
| 恢復 | huīfù | Other | ||
| 恨 | hèn | Other | ||
| 恨不得 | hènbùde | Other | ||
| 恭喜 | gōngxǐ | Other | to congratulate | |
| 想 | xiǎng | Verb | to think, to miss, to want | |
| 想 | xiǎng | Other | to think, to miss | |
| 想像 | xiǎngxiàng | Other | to imagine | |
| 想到 | xiăngdào | Other | ||
| 愉快 | yúkuài | Other | ||
| 愛 | ài | verb | to love | |
| 愛 | ài | Other | to love / be apt to |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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