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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 照顧 | zhàogù | Other | ||
| 煩 | fán | Other | ||
| 煩惱 | fánnăo | Other | ||
| 煮 | zhǔ | Other | boil, cook | |
| 熟 | shóu | Other | ||
| 熟悉 | shoúxī | Other | ||
| 熱 | rè | Other | to be hot | |
| 熱鬧 | rènào | Other | to be lively, to be fun, to be bustling with noise | |
| 熱鬧(˙ㄋㄠ) | rènao | Other | ||
| 燒 | shāo | Other | ||
| 爬 | pá | Other | to climb, to crawl | |
| 爬山 | páshān | Other | to climb a mountain, to hike on hills | |
| 特殊 | tèshū | Other | ||
| 犧牲 | xīshēng | Other | ||
| 犯 | fàn | Other | ||
| 猜 | cāi | Other | guess, suspect | |
| 獨特 | dútè | Other | ||
| 玩 | wán | Other | ||
| 玩 | wán | verb | to play, to have fun | |
| 玩(兒) | wán(ér) | Other | to play, to enjoy | |
| 珍貴 | zhēnguì | Other | ||
| 理解 | lĭjiě | Other | ||
| 甜 | tián | Other | to be sweat | |
| 生 | shēng | Other | ||
| 生動 | shēngdòng | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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