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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不足 | bùzú | Other | ||
| 不錯 | búcuò | Other | to be not bad, pretty good | |
| 丟 | diū | Other | ||
| 主動 | zhŭdòng | Other | ||
| 久 | jiǔ | Other | to be a long time | |
| 乖 | guāi | Other | well-behaved | |
| 乘 | chéng | Other | ||
| 乾 | gān | Other | to be dry | |
| 乾淨 | gānjìng | Other | to be clean | |
| 亂 | luàn | Other | to be messy | |
| 了不起 | liăobùqĭ | Other | ||
| 了解/瞭解 | liăojiě | Other | ||
| 交 | jiāo | Other | hand over, deliver | |
| 交友 | jiāoyŏu | Other | ||
| 交流 | jiāoliú | Other | ||
| 亮 | liàng | Other | ||
| 亮 | liàng | Other | to be sunny, to be bright | |
| 介紹 | jièshào | Other | to introduce, to suggest | |
| 仔細 | zĭxì | Other | ||
| 付 | fù | Other | ||
| 付出 | fùchū | Other | ||
| 代替 | dàitì | Other | ||
| 代表 | dàibiǎo | Other | ,個|个[ge4],名[ming2]/to represent/to stand for/on behalf of/in the name of | |
| 令 | lìng | Other | ||
| 以為 | yĭwéi | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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