ESSENTIAL VERBS IN CHINESE YOU MUST KNOW
Like in any other language, certain verbs in Chinese are used all the time in daily life and can help you express basic but essential sentences to be understood by everyone in China. In this article, I will present to you the most common Chinese verbs followed by sample sentences with characters, pinyin, explanation and English translation.
是 SHÌ - TO BE
我的妈妈是医生。wǒ de māmā shì yīshēng
[我的 My] [妈妈 mom] [是 be] [医生 doctor] My mother is a doctor.
马云是阿里巴巴公司的老板。Mǎ Yún shì ālǐbābā gōngsī de lǎobǎn
[马云 Ma Yun, a name] [是 be] [阿里巴巴 Alibaba] [公司 company] [的 possessive particle] [老板 boss]
Ma Yun is Alibaba company’s CEO.
披萨是意大利的特色。pīsà shì yìdàlì de tèsè
[披萨 pizza] [是 be] [意大利 Italy] [的 possessive particle] [特色 special feature] Pizza is an Italian specialty.
有 YǑU - TO HAVE
我家有三间房间。wǒ jiā yǒu sān jiān fángjiān
[我 My] [家 house] [有 have] [三 three] [间measure word] [房间 room]
There are three rooms in my house .
李小姐有十年的工作经验。lǐ xiǎo jiě yǒu shí nián de gōngzuò jīngyàn
[李 Li, a common Chinese last name ] [小姐 Miss] [有 have] [十 ten] [年 years] [的 possessive particle] [工作 work] [经验 experience]
Miss Li has 10 years of working experience.
冰箱里还有三个苹果。bīngxiāng lǐ hái yǒu sān gè píngguǒ
[冰箱 fridge] [里 inside] [还 still] [有have] [三 three] [个 measure word] [苹果 apple]
There are still three apples in the fridge.
要 YÀO - TO WANT
你要看哪一部电影？ nǐ yào kàn nǎ yī bù diànyǐng ？
[你 you] [要 want] [看 look] [哪 which] [一 one][部 measure word] [电影 movie]
Which movie do you want to watch?
你今天晚上要吃什么? nǐ jīntiān wǎnshàng yào chī shénme ?
[你 you] [今天 today] [晚上 evening] [要 want] [吃eat] [什么 what]
What do you want to eat this evening?
为什么她不要陪你买衣服 wèishénme tā bù yào péi nǐ mǎi yīfú
[为什么 why] [她 she] [不 negative prefix] [要 want] [陪 accompany] [你 you] [买 buy] [衣服 clothes]
Why doesn’t she want to buy clothes with you?
喜欢 XǏHUĀN - TO LIKE
我的姐姐不喜欢吃臭豆腐。wǒ de jiějiě bù xǐhuān chī chòudòufu
[我的 my] [姐姐 big sister] [不 negative prefix] [喜欢 like] [吃 eat] [臭豆腐 stinky tofu]
My sister doesn’t like to eat stinky tofu.
你最喜欢踢足球还是游泳？nǐ zuì xǐhuān tīzúqiú hái shì yóu yǒng ？
[你 you] [最 most] [喜欢 like] [踢足球 play football] [还是 or, used in a interrogative question] [游泳 swim]
Do you prefer playing football or swimming?
如果你喜欢我，你就可以跟我说。rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuān wǒ，nǐ jiù kěyǐ gēn wǒ shuō
[如果 if] [你 you] [喜欢 like] [我 me]，[你 you] [就 just] [可以 can] [跟 with] [我 me] [说 say]
If you like me, you can just tell me.
看 KÀN - TO LOOK AT，TO SEE，TO WATCH，TO READ
她今天只想待家看电视。tā jīntiān zhǐ xiǎng dài jiā kàn diànshì
[她 she] [今天 today] [只 only] [想 want] [待 stay] [家 home] [看 look] [电视 TV]
Today she only wants to stay at home and watch TV.
小红喜欢在咖啡厅看书。Xiǎohóng xǐhuān zài kāfēitīng kàn shū
[小红 Xiaohong, a name] [喜欢 like] [在 at] [咖啡厅 coffee shop] [看 look] [书 book]
Xiaohong likes to read books at coffee shops.
我每周末都去看足球比赛。wǒ měi gè zhōumò dōu qù kàn zúqiú bǐsài
[我 I] [每 every] [周末 weekend] [都 all 每] [去go] [看 look] [足球 football] [比赛 competition]
I watch football matches every weekend.
去 QÙ - TO GO
我们明天去日本旅游。wǒmén míngtiān qù rìběn lǚyóu
[我们 we] [明天 tomorrow] [去 go] [日本 Japan] [旅游 travel]
We will travel to Japan tomorrow .
她昨天跟朋友一起去酒吧。tā zuótiān gēn péngyǒu yī qǐ qù jiǔbā
[她 she] [昨天 yesterday] [跟 with] [朋友 friend] [一起 together] [去 go] [酒吧 bar]
She went to a bar with friends yesterday.
我很饿。我们去哪里吃饭？ wǒ hěn è. wǒmén qù nǎlǐ chīfàn ？
[我 I] [很 very] [饿 hungry]。[我们 we] [去 go] [哪里 where] [吃饭 eat]
I’m hungry. Where do we eat?
来 LÁI - TO COME
你从哪里来的？nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái de ？
[你 you] [从 from] [哪里 where] [来 come] [的 used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis]
Where are you from?
我来过这家饭馆两次。wǒ lái guò zhè jiā fànguǎn liǎng cì 。
[我 I] [来 come] [过 experienced action marker] [这 this] [家 measure word] [饭馆 restaurant] [两 two] [次 time]
I’ve been to this restaurant twice.
客人来了。帮我开一瓶葡萄酒。kè rén lái le 。 bāng wǒ kāi yī píng pútáojiǔ 。
[客人 guest] [来 come] [了 completed action marker]. [帮 help] [我 me] [开 open] [一 one] [瓶 bottle] [葡萄酒 wine]
Guests have arrived. Help me open a bottle of wine.
买 - TO BUY
我要买三张公共汽车票。wǒ yào mǎi sān zhāng gōnggòngqìchē piào
[我 I] [要 want] [买 buy] [三 three] [张 measure word] [公共汽车 bus] [票 ticket]
I would like to buy three bus tickets.
我的老公喜欢去百货公司买衣服。wǒ de lǎo gōng xǐhuān qù bǎihuògōngsī mǎi yīfú
[我的 My] [老公 husband] [喜欢 like] [去 go] [百货公司 shopping mall] [买 buy] [衣服 clothes]
My husband likes to go to the shopping mall to buy clothes.
我买了一瓶香水送我的弟弟。wǒ mǎi le yī píng xiāngshuǐ sòng wǒ de dìdì
[我 I] [买 buy] [了 completed action marker] [一 one] [瓶 bottle] [香水 perfume] [送 offer] [我的 my] [弟弟 little brother]
I bought a bottle of perfume for my little brother.
知道 - TO KNOW
我不知道他叫什么名字。wǒ bù zhīdào tā jiào shénme míngzì
[我 I] [不 negative prefix] [知道 know] [他 he] [叫 call] [什么 what] [名字 name]
I don’t know his name.
我知道这个国家，但是我没去过。wǒ zhīdào zhè gè guójiā ， dànshì wǒ méi qù guò
[我 I] [知道 know] [这 this] [个 measure word] [国家 country]，[但是 but] [我 I] [没 have not] [去 go] [过 experienced action maker]
I know this country, but I’ve never been there.
你不知道这个歌手吗？他很有名。nǐ bù zhī dào zhè gè gēshǒu má ？ tā hěn yǒumíng
[你 you] [不 negative prefix] [知道 know] [这 this] [个 measure word] [歌手 singer] [吗 question particle for “yes-no” questions]？[他 he] [很 very] [有名 famous]
You don’t know this singer? He’s very famous.
认识 RÈNSHI - TO KNOW，TO UNDERSTAND，TO RECOGNIZE
我很高兴认识你。wǒ hěn gāoxīng rènshí nǐ
[我 I] [很 very] [高兴 happy] [认识 know/meet] [你 you]
Nice to meet you.
我在图书馆认识他。wǒ zài túshūguǎn rènshí tā
[我 I] [在 at] [图书馆 library] [认识 know/meet] [他 him]
I met him at the library.
她是谁？我不认识她。tā shì shéi ？ wǒ bù rèn shí tā
[她 she] [是 be] [谁 who]？[我 I] [不 negative prefix] [认识 know/meet] [她 her]
Who is she? I don’t know her .
吃 CHĪ - TO EAT
小朋友很喜欢吃甜食。xiǎopéngyǒu hěn xǐhuān chī tiándiǎn
[小朋友 Children] [很 very] [喜欢 like] [吃 eat] [甜食 desserts]
Children like to eat desserts
我吃了很美味的小笼包。wǒ chī le hěn měiwèi de xiǎolóngbāo
[我 I] [吃 eat] [了 completed action marker] [很 very] [美味 delicious] [的 possessive particle] [小笼包 steamed dumplings]
I ate a lot of delicious steamed dumplings
你早餐平常吃什么？nǐ zǎocān píngchǎng chī shénme？
[你 you] [早餐 breakfast] [平常 usually] [吃 eat] [什么 what]
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
喝 HĒ - TO DRINK
我们昨天在酒吧喝两杯啤酒。wǒmen zuótiān zài jiǔba hē liǎng bēi píjiǔ
[我们 we] [昨天 yesterday] [在 at] [酒吧 bar] [喝 drink] [两 two] [杯 glasses] [啤酒 beer]
Yesterday, we drank two beers at the bar
他刚喝了一杯柠檬红茶。tā gāng hē le yī bēi níngméng hóngchá
[他 he] [刚 just] [喝 drink] [了 completed action marker] [一 one] [杯 glass] [柠檬 lemon] [红茶 black tea]
He just drank a cup of lemon back tea
很多中国人喜欢喝热水。hěn dūo zhōnggúorén xǐhuān hē rèshǔi
[很多 a lot of] [中国人 Chinese people] [喜欢 like] [喝 drink] [热水 hot water]
A lot of Chinese people like to drink hot water
学 XUÉ - TO STUDY/LEARN
我的妈妈想学西班牙语。wǒ de māma xiǎng xué xībānyáyǔ
[我的 My] [妈妈 mom] [想 would like/want] [学 study] [西班牙语 Spanish language]
My mom wants to learn Spanish.
学写汉字很难。xué xiě hànzì hěn nán
[学 learn] [写 write] [汉字 Chinese characters] [很 very] [难 complicated]
Studying how to write Chinese characters is complicated
小明想学弹钢琴。Xiǎomíng xiǎng xué tán gāngqín
[小明 Xiaoming, a name] [想 would like/want] [学 learn] [弹钢琴 play the piano]
Xiaoming wants to learn how to play the piano
爱 ÀI - TO LOVE
她真爱她的小孩。tā zhēnde ài zìjǐ de xiǎohái
[她 she] [真 really] [爱 love] [她的 her] [小孩 child/children]
She truly loves her child/children
我爱看科幻电影。wǒ ài kàn kēhuàn diànyǐng
[我 I] [爱 love] [看 look] [科幻 fiction] [电影 movie]
I love watching fiction movies
很多人都爱去公园散步。hěnduō rén dōu ài qù gōngyúan sànbù
[很多 a lot of] [人 people] [都 all] [爱 love] [去 go] [公园 park] [散步 take a walk]
A lot of people love to go to the park to take a walk
做 ZÙO - TO DO
你这个周末打算做什么？nǐ zhōumò dōu zài zùo shènme？
[你 you] [这个周末 weekend] [打算 plan] [做 do] [什么 what]
What do you plan to do this weekend?
我的奶奶做了饼干给我吃。wǒ de nǎinai zuò le bǐnggān gěi wǒ chī
[我的 my] [奶奶 grandma] [做 do/make] [了 completed action marker] [饼干 biscuit/cookie] [给 give] [我 me] [吃 eat]
My grandma made cookies for me.
你的爸爸做什么工作？nǐ de bàba zuò shénme gōngzuò
[你的 your] [爸爸 dad] [做 do] [什么 what] [工作 work] What is your dad’s job? / What does he do?
叫JIÀO – TO CALL
你去叫弟弟起床。nǐ qù jiào dìdi qǐchuáng
[你 you] [去 go] [叫 call] [弟弟 little brother] [起床 wake up]
Go wake up your little brother
我的同学都叫我长颈鹿，因为我很高。wǒ de tóngxué jiào wǒ chángjǐnglù，yīnwei wǒ hěn gāo
[我的 my] [同学 classmate] [都 all] [叫 call] [我me] [长颈鹿 giraffe]，[因为 because] [我 I] [很 very] [高 tall]
My classmates call me giraffe because I am tall
这个男生很帅，他叫什么名字？zhè gè nánshēng hěn shuài，tā jiào shénme míngzi？
[这 this] [个 measure word] [男生 man] [很 very] [帅 handsome] , [他 he] [叫 call] [什么 what] [名字 name]
This man is handsome, what is his name?
开 KĀI - TO OPEN
隔壁的早餐店开到12点。gébì de zǎocān diàn kāi dào shíèr diǎn
[隔壁 next door] [的 possessive particle] [早餐 breakfast] [店 store] [开 open] [到 until ] [12点 twelve o’clock]
The breakfast shop next door open until 12 o’clock
你可以帮我开门吗？nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ kāi mén ma？
[你 you] [可以 can] [帮 help] [我 me] [开 open] [门 door] [吗 question particle for “yes-no” question]
Can you help me open the door?
春天终于来了，花都开了。chūntiān zhōngyú lái le，huā dōu kāi le
[春天 spring] [终于 finally] [来 come] [了 completed action marker] ，[花 flower] [都 all] [开 open] [了 completes action marker]
Spring has come, flowers are all blooming
听 TĪNG - TO LISTEN
我喜欢听这首歌。wǒ xǐhuān tīng zhè shǒu gē
[我 I] [喜欢 like] [听 listen] [这 this] [首 measure word] [歌 song] I like to listen to this song
在学校要听老师讲的话。zài xuéxiào yào tīng lǎoshī jiǎng de huà
[在 at] [学校 school] [要 must] [听 listen] [老师 teacher] [讲 speak] [的 possessive particle] [话 word/talk]
At school, (students) must listen to what the teachers are saying
听声音不像他 tīng shēngyīn bú xiàng tā
[听 listen] [声音 voice] [不 negative particle] [像 be like] [他 him] The voice didn’t sound like him
能 NÉNG - CAN / TO BE ABLE TO
按摩能消除疲劳。ànmó néng xiāochú píláo
[按摩 massage] [能 can] [消除 eliminate] [疲劳 fatigue]
Massage can eliminate fatigue
你能帮我丢垃圾吗？nǐ néng bāng wǒ diū lājī ma？
[你 you] [能 can] [帮 help] [我 me] [丢 throw] [垃圾 trash] [吗question particle for “yes-no” question]
Can you help me take out the trash?
未成年人不能喝酒。wèichéngniángrén bù néng hē jiǔ
[未成年人 minor] [不 negative prefix] [能 can] [喝 drink] [酒 alcohol]
Minor can’t drink alcohol
想 XIǍNG - TO THINK / TO WISH / WOULD LIKE TO / TO MISS
小明今天晚餐想吃火锅。Xiǎomíng jīntīan wǎnshàng xiǎng chī huǒguō
[小明 Xiaoming, a name] [今天 today] [晚餐 evening] [想 would like to] [吃 eat] [火锅 hotpot]
Xiaoming would like to eat hotpot tonight
让我想一想。ràng wǒ xiǎngyīxiǎng
[让 let] [我 me] [想一想 think twice] Let me think it over .
我很想你。wǒ hěn xiǎng nǐ [我 I] [很 very] [想 miss] [你 you]
I miss you a lot
