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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 重 | zhòng | Other | ||
| 重要 | zhòngyào | Other | to be important, to be vital | |
| 重視 | zhòngshì | Other | ||
| 野餐 | yěcān | Other | ||
| 錄 | lù | Other | ||
| 錄取 | lùqŭ | Other | ||
| 錄音 | lùyīn | Other | to record (sound)/sound recording | |
| 錯 | cuò | Other | to be wrong/ mistake | |
| 鎖 | suǒ | Other | to lock | |
| 長 | cháng | Other | ||
| 長大 | zhăngdà | Other | ||
| 開 | kāi | verb | to open | |
| 開 | kāi | Other | to drive, to open, to turn on | |
| 開始 | kāishǐ | verb | to start, to begin | |
| 開學 | kāixué | Other | start school, begin term | |
| 開心 | kāixīn | Other | feel happy, rejoice | |
| 開放 | kāifàng | Other | ||
| 開會 | kāihuì | Other | to hold a meeting/to attend a meeting | |
| 開朗 | kāilăng | Other | ||
| 開玩笑 | kāi wánxiào | Other | to play a joke/to make fun of/to joke | |
| 開花 | kāihuā | Other | to bloom | |
| 開車 | kāichē | Other | to drive a car | |
| 閱讀 | yuèdú | Other | ||
| 關 | guān | Other | to close; to turn off | |
| 關 | guān | verb | to close |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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