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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 打架 | dǎjià | Other | to fight/to scuffle/to come to blows/CL:場|场[chang2] | |
| 打算 | dǎsuàn | Other | to plan | |
| 打聽 | dătīng | Other | ||
| 打開 | dǎkāi | Other | to open up | |
| 打電話 | dădiànhuà | Other | ||
| 扔 | rēng | Other | ||
| 批評 | pīpíng | Other | ||
| 找 | zhǎo | verb | to look for | |
| 找 | zhǎo | Other | to rerurn change after a purchas, to look for, to search | |
| 找到 | zhǎodào | Other | to search out; to find | |
| 承認 | chéngrèn | Other | ||
| 把握 | băwò | Other | ||
| 抓 | zhuā | Other | ||
| 投 | tóu | Other | ||
| 投資 | tóuzī | Other | ||
| 抬 | tái | Other | ||
| 抱 | bào | Other | to hug, to embrace, to hold or carry in one's arms | |
| 抱怨 | bàoyuàn | Other | ||
| 抵達 | dĭdá | Other | ||
| 抽 | chōu | Other | ||
| 拉 | lā | Other | to pull, to tug | |
| 拉肚子 | lā dùzi | Other | (coll.) to have diarrhea | |
| 拍 | pāi | Other | to clap, beat, pat; to take a photo, shoot a film | |
| 拍照 | pāizhào | Other | to take a picture | |
| 拒絕 | jùjué | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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