Learn Chinese: Basic Verbs

Verbs are the engine of any language, and this lesson introduces the most common actions you will use every day in Chinese. From physical movements like walking (zǒu lù) and running (pǎo bù) to cognitive processes like thinking (xiǎng) and knowing (zhī dào), these words allow you to build basic sentences and express your intentions clearly. You will also learn essential social interactions, such as how to ask (wèn) a question or give (gěi) an answer (huí dá).

One important pattern to notice is the verb-object structure found in several terms. In Chinese, many actions that we express with a single word in English are actually composed of a verb and a noun. For example, the word for to sleep (shuì jiào) literally means to sleep a sleep, and to walk (zǒu lù) means to walk a road. Understanding this structure is vital for mastering Chinese grammar as you begin to add descriptions or durations to these actions.

Additionally, be mindful of words that sound similar but have different tones, such as buy (mǎi) and sell (mài). These small shifts in pitch change the meaning entirely. Whether you are going (qù) to work (gōng zuò) or coming (lái) home to eat (chī) and drink (hē), these verbs provide the foundation you need to describe your daily life and interact with others in a meaningful way.

Vocabulary list

English	Chinese
To eat	吃 chī
To drink	喝 hē
To sleep	睡觉 shuì jiào
To walk	走路 zǒu lù
To run	跑步 pǎo bù
To look	看 kàn
To listen	听 tīng
To speak	说 shuō
To read	读 dú
To write	写 xiě
To buy	买 mǎi
To sell	卖 mài
To go	去 qù
To come	来 lái
To sit	坐 zuò
To stand	站 zhàn
To smile	笑 xiào
To cry	哭 kū
To work	工作 gōng zuò
To study	学习 xué xí
To play	玩 wán
To open	开 kāi
To close	关 guān
To think	想 xiǎng
To wait	等 děng
To ask	问 wèn
To answer	回答 huí dá
To give	给 gěi
To take	拿 ná
To use	用 yòng
To understand	懂 dǒng
To know	知道 zhī dào

Practice this lesson with spaced repetition, multiple study modes, and daily streaks.

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