Most Common Traditional Chinese Verbs PDF Download and Quiz

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

WordPinyinTypeMeaningAudio
wénOther
聰明cōngmíngOtherto be intelligent
tīngverbto listen, to hear
tīngverbto listen, hear
tīngOtherto listen
聽見tīngjiànOtherto hear
聽說tīngshuōOtherhear, hear it said
kěnOther
肯定kěndìngOther
pàngOtherto be fat
néngOthercan/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy
能夠nénggòuOther
tuōOther
腐敗fŭbàiOther
自動zìdòngOther
自在zìzàiOther
自殺zìshāOther
自然zìránOther
chòuOther
興奮xīngfènOther
Other
舉手jǔshǒuOtherto raise a hand/to put up one's hand (as signal)
舉行jŭxíngOther
舉辦jŭbànOther
jiùOtherto be old, to be used

Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download

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