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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 是 | shì | verb | to be | |
| 是 | shì | Verb | to be (am, is, are) | |
| 晒 | shài | Other | ||
| 晚安 | wǎnān | Other | good night | |
| 普遍 | pŭbiàn | Other | ||
| 晴 | qíng | Other | clear/fine (weather) | |
| 暖和 | nuǎnhuo | Other | to be warm | |
| 會 | huì | Other | can, be able to, be good at, be skillful in | |
| 有 | yǒu | verb | to have | |
| 有 | yǒu | Verb | to have, to possess | |
| 有 | yǒu | Other | to have; there is, there are | |
| 有名 | yŏumíng | Other | ||
| 有意思 | yǒuyìsi | Other | to be interesting | |
| 有意思(˙ㄙ) | yŏuyìsi | Other | ||
| 有效 | yŏuxiào | Other | ||
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | Other | to be useful | |
| 有空(兒) | yǒukòng(ér) | Other | to have free time, to be free | |
| 有空/有空兒 | yŏukòng/yŏukòngr | Other | ||
| 有趣 | yǒuqù | Other | interesting, fascinating, amusing | |
| 有錢 | yŏuqián | Other | ||
| 服務 | fúwù | Other | ||
| 查 | chá | Other | ||
| 根 | gēn | Other | /radical (chemistry) | |
| 棒 | bàng | Other | ||
| 棒 | bàng | Other | good; fine; excellent, great! |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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