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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 關上 | guānshàng | Other | to close, to shut; to turn off | |
| 關心 | guānxīn | Other | ||
| 陌生 | mòshēng | Other | ||
| 降低 | jiàngdī | Other | ||
| 限 | xiàn | Other | ||
| 除 | chú | Preposition | to get rid of/to remove/to exclude/to eliminate/to wipe out/to divide/except/not including | |
| 陪 | péi | Other | ||
| 隨便 | suíbiàn | Other | whatever, wherever, whenever, do as one please | |
| 雙 | shuāng | Other | two/double/pair/both/even (number) | |
| 離 | lí | Other | be away from, apart from, separated from | |
| 離婚 | líhūn | Other | to divorce | |
| 離開 | líkāi | Other | to leave | |
| 難 | nán | Other | to be difficult | |
| 難看 | nánkàn | Other | ||
| 難過 | nánguò | Other | to be sad, to be distressed | |
| 需 | xū | Other | ||
| 需要 | xūyào | Other | to need | |
| 露營 | lùyíng | Other | to camp out/camping | |
| 非 | fēi | Adverb | to not be | |
| 革命 | gémìng | Other | ||
| 響 | xiăng | Other | ||
| 順利 | shùnlì | Other | ||
| 預備 | yùbèi | Other | ||
| 預習 | yùxí | Other | ||
| 領 | lĭng | Other |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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