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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 去 | qù | Other | to go | |
| 去世 | qùshì | Other | ||
| 參加 | cānjiā | Other | to attend, to participate | |
| 參考 | cānkăo | Other | ||
| 參觀 | cānguān | Other | ||
| 取代 | qŭdài | Other | ||
| 受傷 | shòushāng | Other | to sustain injuries/wounded (in an accident etc)/harmed | |
| 受得了 | shòudeliao | Other | ||
| 古 | gǔ | Other | ancient/old/paleo- | |
| 古老 | gŭlăo | Other | ||
| 叫 | jiào | Other | to shout/to call/to order/to ask/to be called/by (indicates agent in the passive mood) | |
| 可 | kě | Adverb | (prefix) can | |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | Other | can/may/possible/able to/not bad/pretty good | |
| 可怕 | kěpà | Other | ||
| 可惜 | kěxí | Other | ||
| 可惡 | kěwù | Other | ||
| 可愛 | kěài | Other | to be lovable, likeable, adorable, cute | |
| 可憐 | kělián | Other | ||
| 可能 | kěnéng | Other | might (happen)/possible/probable/possibility/probability/maybe/perhaps | |
| 可靠 | kěkào | Other | ||
| 吃 | chī | verb | to eat | |
| 吃 | chī | verb | to eat | |
| 吃 | chī | Other | to eat | |
| 吃喝玩樂 | chīhēwánlè | Other | ||
| 吃飽 | chībǎo | Other | satiate; full |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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