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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 喜歡 | xǐhuān | Other | to like | |
| 喝 | hē | verb | to drink | |
| 喝 | hē | verb | to drink | |
| 喝 | hē | Other | to drink | |
| 單純 | dānchún | Other | ||
| 單身 | dānshēn | Other | ||
| 嘗試/嚐試 | chángshì | Other | ||
| 嚇 | xià | Other | to frighten/to scare | |
| 嚇一跳 | xiàyītiào | Other | ||
| 嚐/嘗 | cháng | Other | ||
| 嚴重 | yánzhòng | Other | ||
| 回 | huí | Other | to return | |
| 回來 | huílái | Other | to return, to come back | |
| 回信 | huíxìn | Other | to reply/to write back/letter written in reply/CL:封[feng1] | |
| 回去 | huíqù | Other | to leave, to go back | |
| 回家 | huíjiā | Other | return home | |
| 回想 | huíxiăng | Other | ||
| 回答 | huídá | verb | to answer | |
| 回答 | huídá | Other | answer | |
| 圓 | yuán | Other | to be round, to be circular | |
| 團圓 | tuányuán | Other | ||
| 在 | zài | Verb | to be at/in, to exist | |
| 在意 | zàiyì | Other | ||
| 在於 | zàiyú | Other | ||
| 坐 | zuò | verb | to sit |
Free Traditional Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
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