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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 游泳 | yóuyǒng | Other | to swim | |
| 準備 | zhǔnbèi | Other | to prepare, to intend | |
| 準時 | zhŭnshí | Other | ||
| 溝通 | gōutōng | Other | ||
| 溫暖 | wēnnuăn | Other | ||
| 溫柔 | wēnróu | Other | ||
| 滑雪 | huáxuě | Other | to ski | |
| 滿 | măn | Other | ||
| 滿意 | mănyì | Other | ||
| 滿足 | mănzú | Other | ||
| 漂亮 | piàoliàng | Other | to be beautiful, to be pretty | |
| 演 | yăn | Other | ||
| 演出 | yănchū | Other | ||
| 演講 | yănjiăng | Other | ||
| 激動 | jīdòng | Other | ||
| 激烈 | jīliè | Other | ||
| 濕/溼 | shī | Other | ||
| 炒 | chăo | Other | ||
| 炸 | zhá | Other | ||
| 烤 | kǎo | Other | to roast, to toast, to bake | |
| 無 | wú | Other | not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-/-less | |
| 無所謂 | wúsuŏwèi | Other | ||
| 無窮 | wúqióng | Other | ||
| 無聊 | wúliáo | Other | to be bored; to be boring and uninteresting; to be a nuisance; to be nonsensical | |
| 照相 | zhàoxiàng | Other | to take a photograph |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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