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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 生氣 | shēngqì | Other | to be angry; to take offense | |
| 生活 | shēnghuó | Other | to live/life/livelihood | |
| 生產 | shēngchăn | Other | ||
| 生病 | shēngbìng | Other | to become ill, to be sick | |
| 產生 | chănshēng | Other | ||
| 用 | yòng | verb | to use | |
| 用 | yòng | Verb | to use | |
| 用 | yòng | Other | to use | |
| 用功 | yònggōng | Other | ||
| 留 | liú | Other | to leave (message, thing, etc.), to stay, to remain | |
| 留學 | liúxué | Other | ||
| 留言 | liúyán | Other | ||
| 畢業 | bìyè | Other | graduation/to graduate/to finish school | |
| 畫/畫兒 | huà/huàr | Other | to draw | |
| 當作/當做 | dàngzuò | Other | ||
| 疼 | téng | Other | to be ache, to be in pain, to be sore | |
| 病 | bìng | Other | /disease/to fall ill/defect | |
| 痛 | tòng | Other | to be painful | |
| 痛苦 | tòngkŭ | Other | ||
| 瘦 | shòu | Other | to be thin | |
| 發 | fā | Other | ||
| 發出 | fāchū | Other | ||
| 發揮 | fāhuī | Other | ||
| 發明 | fāmíng | Other | to invent/an invention | |
| 發燒 | fāshāo | Other | to have a high temperature (from illness)/to have a fever |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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