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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 聞 | wén | Other | ||
| 聰明 | cōngmíng | Other | to be intelligent | |
| 聽 | tīng | verb | to listen, to hear | |
| 聽 | tīng | verb | to listen, hear | |
| 聽 | tīng | Other | to listen | |
| 聽見 | tīngjiàn | Other | to hear | |
| 聽說 | tīngshuō | Other | hear, hear it said | |
| 肯 | kěn | Other | ||
| 肯定 | kěndìng | Other | ||
| 胖 | pàng | Other | to be fat | |
| 能 | néng | Other | can/to be able to/might possibly/ability/(physics) energy | |
| 能夠 | nénggòu | Other | ||
| 脫 | tuō | Other | ||
| 腐敗 | fŭbài | Other | ||
| 自動 | zìdòng | Other | ||
| 自在 | zìzài | Other | ||
| 自殺 | zìshā | Other | ||
| 自然 | zìrán | Other | ||
| 臭 | chòu | Other | ||
| 興奮 | xīngfèn | Other | ||
| 舉 | jŭ | Other | ||
| 舉手 | jǔshǒu | Other | to raise a hand/to put up one's hand (as signal) | |
| 舉行 | jŭxíng | Other | ||
| 舉辦 | jŭbàn | Other | ||
| 舊 | jiù | Other | to be old, to be used |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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