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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 遊戲 | yóuxì | Other | /to play | |
| 運動 | yùndòng | Other | to move/to exercise/sports/exercise/motion/movement/campaign/CL:場|场[chang3] | |
| 過 | guò | Other | to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)/to live/to get along/excessively/too- | |
| 過來 | guòlái | Other | come over/ up, come here | |
| 過去 | guòqù | Other | (in the) past | |
| 過年 | guònián | Other | to celebrate the Chinese New Year | |
| 過日子 | guòrìzi | Other | ||
| 道歉 | dàoqiàn | Other | to apologize | |
| 達成 | dáchéng | Other | ||
| 遠 | yuǎn | Other | to be far from | |
| 適合 | shìhé | Other | ||
| 適應 | shìyìng | Other | ||
| 遲到 | chídào | Other | to be late/ arrive late | |
| 選 | xuăn | Other | ||
| 選擇 | xuǎnzé | Other | to select | |
| 避免 | bìmiăn | Other | ||
| 邀請 | yāoqĭng | Other | ||
| 還 | huán | Other | to pay back/to return | |
| 配 | pèi | Other | ||
| 配合 | pèihé | Other | ||
| 酸 | suān | Other | to be sour | |
| 醉 | zuì | Other | ||
| 醒 | xĭng | Other | ||
| 醒來 | xĭnglái | Other | ||
| 醜 | chŏu | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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