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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 領導 | lĭngdăo | Other | ||
| 頭痛 | tóutòng | Other | ||
| 願意 | yuànyì | Other | be willing, want to, like to | |
| 顧 | gù | Other | ||
| 飛 | fēi | Other | to fly | |
| 飽 | băo | Other | ||
| 飽 | bǎo | Other | to be full (after eating ) | |
| 養 | yăng | Other | ||
| 餓 | è | Other | to be hungry | |
| 香 | xiāng | Other | to be scented, to be fragrant | |
| 騎 | qí | Other | to ride; to drive (a bicycle, motor cycle, horse, etc.) | |
| 驕傲 | jiāoào | Other | ||
| 驚訝 | jīngyà | Other | ||
| 髒 | zāng | Other | to be dirty | |
| 體會 | tĭhuì | Other | ||
| 體貼 | tĭtiē | Other | ||
| 高 | gāo | Other | to be tall, to be high | |
| 高級 | gāojí | Other | ||
| 高興 | gāoxìng | Other | to be happy | |
| 高速 | gāosù | Other | ) | |
| 鹹 | xián | Other | ||
| 點 | diǎn | Other | /dot stroke in Chinese characters/classifier for items | |
| 點菜 | diǎncài | Other | to order food |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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