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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 真實 | zhēnshí | Other | ||
| 真心 | zhēnxīn | Other | ||
| 睡 | shuì | Other | to sleep | |
| 睡著 | shuìzháo | Other | ||
| 睡覺 | shuìjiào | verb | to sleep | |
| 睡覺 | shuìjiào | Other | to sleep | |
| 知 | zhī | Other | ||
| 知道 | zhīdào | Verb | to know (a fact) | |
| 知道 | zhī dào | Other | to know | |
| 短 | duǎn | Other | to be short | |
| 矮 | ǎi | Other | short (of stature ), low | |
| 研究 | yánjiù | Other | research/a study/CL:項|项[xiang4]/to research/to look into | |
| 破 | pò | Other | to be broken | |
| 破壞 | pòhuài | Other | ||
| 碰 | pèng | Other | ||
| 碰上 | pèngshàng | Other | ||
| 碰到 | pèngdào | Other | ||
| 確定 | quèdìng | Other | ||
| 確認 | quèrèn | Other | ||
| 祝 | zhù | Other | to wish (someone good health, good luck, etc.)to offer good wishes | |
| 租 | zū | Other | ||
| 積極 | jījí | Other | ||
| 穩定 | wěndìng | Other | ||
| 空 | kōng | Other | ||
| 穿 | chuān | verb | to wear, to put on (clothing) |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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