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Mastering The Art Of Chinese Verbs With 33+ Useful Words

Editorial Team

By Editorial Team
Published on March 9, 2023

Table Of Contents

Chinese is a captivating and intricate language that has been spoken for thousands of years. One of the most distinctive and important aspects of Chinese is its extensive collection of verbs. Verbs are an essential part of language, and in Chinese, they are particularly vital as they are used to express tense, aspect, and mood.

Understanding Chinese verbs, which are “动词 動詞” (dòngcí), and their usage, is crucial for effective communication in the language. In this article, we will delve into the world of Chinese verbs, examining their structure, usage, and common examples. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of this fundamental aspect of the language.

Common Chinese Verbs

Verbs In Chinese

The beauty of the Chinese language lies in its richness of verbs. These verbs play a critical role in constructing meaningful sentences and expressing ideas. Chinese verbs are typically one or two characters long and can be used alone or in combination with other words. They do not change to reflect tense, person, or number. Instead, other words are used to indicate these features.

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Regarding sentence structure, Chinese verbs are typically placed before the object. This is different from English, where the verb usually follows the subject. For example, in the sentence “I am eating an apple,” the verb “eating” would come before the object “apple.” This structure allows for more fluid and flexible expression in Chinese.

Chinese verbs can also be paired with other words to indicate the type of action or to modify the verb. For example, the verb “to eat” can be modified by the word “fast” to indicate that someone is eating quickly. Similarly, the verb “to run” can be paired with the word “fast” to show speed. These modifiers provide additional information about the action and add depth to the sentence.

One important thing to note is that verbs in Chinese Mandarin can have multiple meanings depending on the context in which they are used. For example, the verb “看” (kàn) can mean “to read,” “to see,” or “to watch.” The correct meaning is determined by the context of the sentence.

Chinese verbs are also critical in Chinese idioms, or chéngyǔ. These are four-character phrases that convey a message or lesson. Many chéngyǔ include verbs and are often used in everyday conversation and writing. In this guide, you will learn almost all Chinese verbs that are mostly known as common verbs.

Essential Chinese Verbs For Cooking

Here are some Chinese words that you might need while cooking Chinese food.

English WordsChinese SimplifiedChinese TraditionalRomanization
Add添加添加Tiānjiā
Bake烤烤Kǎo
Boil熬熬Áo
Break休息休息Xiūxí
Chop劈劈Pī
Cut切切Qiè
Fry炒炒Chǎo
Grate炉排爐排Lú Pái
Layer层層Céng
Melt熔化熔化Rónghuà
Mix混合混合Hùnhé
Peel剥剝Bō
Roast烤烤Kǎo
Roll Out推出推出Tuīchū
Sauté炒炒Chǎo
Slice片片Piàn
Spread传播傳播Chuánbò
Taste品尝品嚐Pǐncháng
Weigh称重稱重Chēng Zhòng
Whip鞭子鞭子Biānzi

Action Based Chinese Verbs

These are some action based words in Chinese that you should learn about.

English WordsChinese SimplifiedChinese TraditionalRomanization
Cry哭哭Kū
Cut切切Qiè
Dance舞蹈舞蹈Wǔdǎo
Fight斗争鬥爭Dòuzhēng
Fly飞飛Fēi
Laugh笑笑Xiào
Listen听聽Tīng
Play玩玩Wán
Read读讀Dú
Ride骑騎Qí
Sing唱歌唱歌Chànggē
Sit Down坐下坐下Zuò Xià
Sleep睡觉睡覺Shuìjiào
Stand Up起来起來Qǐlái
Think思考思考Sīkǎo
Throw Away丢弃丟棄Diūqì
Turn Off关關Guān
Turn On打开打開Dǎkāi
Watch TV看电视看電視Kàn Diànshì
Win赢贏Yíng

Body Movement-Related Verbs

Let’s now explore the body movement-related verbs. From simple actions like standing and walking, to more complex movements like jumping and dancing, our table covers all the essential verbs you need to express yourself physically. Learning these verbs will not only make talking about body movements easier but also help you improve your language skills and communicate more effectively in Mandarin Chinese.

English WordsChinese SimplifiedChinese TraditionalRomanization
Bend弯曲彎曲Wānqū
Carry携带攜帶Xiédài
Dive潜水潛水Qiánshuǐ
Drag拖拖Tuō
Hit打打Dǎ
Hold抓住抓住Zhuā Zhù
Jump跳跳Tiào
Kneel下跪下跪Xià Guì
Lean倾斜傾斜Qīngxié
Leap飞跃飛躍Fēiyuè
Lift举起舉起Jǔ Qǐ
Pick Up捡起撿起Jiǎn Qǐ
Pull拉拉Lā
Punch冲床沖床Chōngchuáng
Push推推Tuī
Run跑步跑步Pǎobù
Sit坐坐Zuò
Squat蹲蹲Dūn
Throw扔扔Rēng
Tiptoe脚尖腳尖Jiǎojiān
Walk走走Zǒu

Classroom Related Verbs

Studying Chinese can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, and mastering the language requires more than just memorizing vocabulary words. To excel in your academic journey, it’s important to learn the Chinese verbs commonly used in the classroom.

Fortunately, this comprehensive table provides a detailed list of essential verbs related to classroom activities, making it easier to navigate your way through discussions, assignments, and exams. With this valuable resource, you’ll be able to communicate confidently with your classmates and teachers and take your learning to the next level.

English WordsChinese SimplifiedChinese TraditionalRomanization
Calculate计算計算Jìsuàn
Close关闭關閉Guānbì
Count数数數數Shù Shù
Cut切切Qiè
Draw画畫Huà
Experiment实验實驗Shíyàn
Give给給Gěi
Listen听聽Tīng
Observe观察觀察Guānchá
Open打开打開Dǎkāi
Paint画畫Huà
Play玩玩Wán
Read读讀Dú
Say说說Shuō
Show展示展示Zhǎnshì
Sing唱歌唱歌Chànggē
Spell拼写拼寫Pīnxiě
Study学习學習Xuéxí
Teach教教Jiào
Think思考思考Sīkǎo

Daily Chore Verbs

Are you tired of struggling with daily chores and finding the right Chinese words to describe them? Look no further than this convenient table. From cooking to cleaning to laundry, this table has got you covered with all the essential vocabulary you need to navigate your daily routine with ease. By mastering these verbs, you’ll be able to express yourself confidently in Chinese and make your daily life a breeze.

English WordsChinese SimplifiedChinese TraditionalRomanization
Change (The Sheets)改变(床单)改變(床單)Gǎibiàn (Chuángdān)
Drill钻头鑽頭Zuàntóu
Dry干燥乾燥Gānzào
Fold折叠折疊Zhédié
Hang悬挂懸掛Xuánguà
Iron铁鐵Tiě
Make (The Bed)铺(床)鋪(床)Pù (Chuáng)
Nail指甲指甲Zhǐjiǎ
Repair维修維修Wéixiū
Scrub擦洗擦洗Cāxǐ
Take Out (The Rubbish/ Garbage)拿出(垃圾/垃圾)拿出(垃圾/垃圾)Ná Chū (Lèsè/Lèsè)
Tighten紧缩緊縮Jǐnsuō
Vacuum真空真空Zhēnkōng
Wipe Off (The Table)擦掉(桌子)擦掉(桌子)Cā Diào (Zhuōzi)

In A Nutshell

Learn Chinese With Ling Cta

Unlock the mystery of the Chinese language with Ling and explore the unique structure of Chinese verbs, so distinct from English. With Ling, you can also interact with non-native English speakers and learn European languages too. Let’s make the journey of learning Chinese fun and effortless, to become a pro in no time!

If you want to know more, check out our blog posts about summer vacations in China and Chinese food. Download Ling from Google Play Store or App Store to start learning Chinese.