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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 舒服 | shūfú | Other | to be comfortable | |
| 舒服(˙ㄈㄨ) | shūfu | Other | ||
| 舒適 | shūshì | Other | ||
| 良好 | liánghăo | Other | ||
| 花 | huā | Other | ||
| 花心 | huāxīn | Other | ||
| 苦 | kǔ | Other | to be toilsome, hard; sad; bitter / toil, hardship | |
| 英俊 | yīngjùn | Other | ||
| 著(ㄓㄠ)急 | zhāojí | Other | ||
| 著名 | zhùmíng | Other | ||
| 著急 | zhāojí | Other | to be nervous, anxious | |
| 蓋 | gài | Other | ||
| 處理 | chŭlĭ | Other | ||
| 行 | xíng | Other | to be OK, to be permitted | |
| 表演 | biǎoyǎn | Other | play/show/performance/exhibition/to perform/to act/to demonstrate/CL:場|场[chang3] | |
| 表現 | biǎoxiàn | Other | to show/to show off/to display/to manifest/expression/manifestation/show/display/performance (at work etc)/behavior | |
| 表示 | biăoshì | Other | ||
| 表達 | biăodá | Other | ||
| 被動 | bèidòng | Other | ||
| 裝 | zhuāng | Other | to fill, to load | |
| 複習 | fùxí | Other | ||
| 要 | yào | Verb | to want, to be going to | |
| 要 | yào | Other | to want | |
| 要求 | yāoqiú | Other | to request/to require/requirement/to stake a claim/to ask/to demand/CL:點|点[dian3] | |
| 要緊 | yàojĭn | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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