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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 換 | huàn | Other | to change | |
| 握手 | wòshǒu | Other | to shake hands | |
| 搞 | găo | Other | ||
| 搬 | bān | Other | to move | |
| 搬家 | bānjiā | Other | to move house | |
| 搭 | dā | Other | ||
| 搶 | qiăng | Other | ||
| 摘 | zhāi | Other | ||
| 摸 | mō | Other | ||
| 播 | bò | Other | ||
| 擁有 | yŏngyŏu | Other | ||
| 擔任 | dānrèn | Other | ||
| 擔心 | dānxīn | Other | ||
| 擦 | cā | Other | to rub, to wipe, to clean | |
| 擴大 | kuòdà | Other | ||
| 擺 | băi | Other | ||
| 收 | shōu | Other | receive, accept, take in/ back, gather in, conclude, stop/ collect, gather | |
| 收到 | shōudào | Other | to receive, get, obtain | |
| 改 | gǎi | Other | to change, to alter, to correct | |
| 改善 | găishàn | Other | ||
| 改變 | gǎibiàn | Other | to change/to alter/to transform | |
| 改進 | găijìn | Other | ||
| 放 | fàng | Other | to put, to release | |
| 放 | fàng | Other | ||
| 放 | fàng | verb | to put |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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