Common Chinese Verbs
This list contains common Chinese verbs aimed at beginner to intermediate learners. It includes basic action verbs, state verbs and auxiliaries you'll meet in everyday conversations and simple texts. Use them to build sentences and practice typical verb patterns.
- 是 shì — to be (copula, used before nouns)
- 有 yǒu — to have; there is (existential)
- 在 zài — (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (progressive marker)
- 去 qù — to go; to go to (a place)
- 来 lái — to come; arrive
- 做 zuò — to do; to perform an action; to carry out
- 吃 chī — to eat
- 喝 hē — to drink
- 说 shuì — to persuade
- 听 tīng — to listen to; to hear
- 看 kān — to look after; to take care of; to watch; to guard
- 读 dòu — comma; (a) phrase marked by a pause
- 写 xiě — to write
- 学 xué — to learn; to study
- 教 jiào — (bound form) to teach; to instruct (used in compounds)
- 想 xiǎng — to think (about); to consider; to reflect
- 知道 zhīdào — to know (have knowledge of)
- 认识 rènshi — to know; to recognize; to be familiar with; to get acquainted with (somebody)
- 喜欢 xǐhuan — to like; to be fond of
- 爱 ài — to love; to be fond of; to like
- 等 děng — to wait for; to await
- 打 dá — dozen (Taiwan pron.: da3)
- 买 mǎi — to buy; to purchase
- 卖 mài — to sell
- 回 huí — to go back; to return; to turn around
- 住 zhù — to live; to dwell; to stay; to reside
- 开 kāi — to open; to unlock; to unseal
- 关 guān — mountain pass
- 坐 zuò — to sit; to take a seat
- 站 zhàn — station (e.g., train/bus); stop
- 走 zǒu — to walk; to go (on foot); to move from one place to another
- 跑 páo — to paw (the ground) (of an animal)
- 睡 shuì — to sleep; to lie down
- 起床 qǐchuáng — to get out of bed; to get up
- 工作 gōngzuò — to work; (of a machine) to operate
- 休息 xiūxi — to rest; to take a break
- 用 yòng — to use; to employ
- 给 gěi — to give; to hand to
- 拿 ná — to hold; to seize; to catch; to apprehend; to take; (used like 把 to mark the following noun as a direct object)
- 带 dài — band; belt; girdle; ribbon; tire
- 送 sòng — to send (something to someone)
- 找到 zhǎodào — to find; to locate (something or someone)
- 帮忙 bāngmáng — to help; to lend a hand; to do a favor
- 问 wèn — to ask; to inquire
- 回答 huídá — to reply; to answer
- 开始 kāishǐ — to begin; to start
- 结束 jiéshù — to finish; to end; to conclude; termination
- 需要 xūyào — to need; to want; to demand; to require
- 可以 kěyǐ — can; may — ability or permission
- 应该 yīnggāi — ought to; should; must (expressing obligation or expectation)