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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 放下 | fàngxià | Other | to lay down; to put down; to let sth. down; to lower; to set down | |
| 放假 | fàngjià | Other | to have a holiday, vacation | |
| 放心 | fàngxīn | Other | to feel relieved/to feel reassured/to be at ease | |
| 故意 | gùyì | Other | ||
| 救 | jiù | Other | ||
| 救命 | jiùmìng | Other | to save sb's life/(interj.) Help!/Save me! | |
| 教 | jiāo | verb | to teach | |
| 教 | jiāo | Other | to teach | |
| 教導 | jiàodăo | Other | ||
| 教書 | jiāoshū | Other | to teach (in a school) | |
| 教育 | jiàoyù | Other | to educate/to teach/education | |
| 敢 | găn | Other | ||
| 散步 | sànbù | Other | to take a walk | |
| 整理 | zhěnglĭ | Other | ||
| 整齊 | zhěngqí | Other | ||
| 數 | shǔ | Other | to count, to enumerate | |
| 新 | xīn | Other | to be new | |
| 新鮮(˙ㄒㄧㄢ) | xīnxian | Other | ||
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | Other | to be convenient | |
| 旅行 | lǚxíng | Other | to travel, to take a trip | |
| 旅遊 | lǚyóu | Other | travel | |
| 日出 | rìchū | Other | ||
| 早 | zǎo | Other | to be early | |
| 明白 | míngbái | Other | ||
| 明顯 | míngxiăn | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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