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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 洗 | xǐ | Other | to wash | |
| 洗澡 | xǐzǎo | Other | to take a bath or shower | |
| 活 | huó | Other | live, save (sb.'s life) | |
| 活動 | huódòng | Other | ,個|个[ge4] | |
| 流 | liú | Other | ||
| 流汗 | liúhàn | Other | to sweat | |
| 流血 | liúxiě | Other | to bleed/to shed blood | |
| 流行 | liúxíng | Other | ||
| 浪漫 | làngmàn | Other | ||
| 涼 | liáng | Other | to be cool | |
| 涼快 | liángkuài | Other | to be (pleasantly)cool | |
| 淡 | dàn | Other | ||
| 深 | shēn | Other | ||
| 深入 | shēnrù | Other | ||
| 混亂 | hùnluàn | Other | ||
| 淺 | qiăn | Other | ||
| 清 | qīng | Other | (of water etc) clear | |
| 清楚 | qīngchǔ | Other | to be clear | |
| 減 | jiăn | Other | ||
| 減少 | jiănshăo | Other | ||
| 減輕 | jiănqīng | Other | ||
| 渴 | kě | Other | to be thirsty | |
| 渴望 | kěwàng | Other | ||
| 游 | yóu | Other | ||
| 游泳 | yóuyǒng | verb | to swim |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
Use the buttons below to download your free printable vocabulary resources — no signup required.




