Common Verbs
This guide presents frequently used Mandarin Chinese verbs with examples to help you learn them in context. Each section lists key verbs so you can practice and remember high-impact vocabulary.
To Eat
Eating verbs are essential for daily life and travel. Learn them with sample sentences to describe meals and food preferences.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 吃 | chī | to eat |
| 喝 | hē | to drink |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy |
| 点 | diǎn | to order (food) |
| 做 | zuò | to make / cook |
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To Go
Verbs for movement and travel help you narrate trips and give directions. Practice common ones to talk about destinations and transportation.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 去 | qù | to go |
| 来 | lái | to come |
| 回 | huí | to return / go back |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit / take (transport) |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk / leave |
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To Say
Speaking verbs let you report speech and express thoughts. Learn them to tell stories and share conversations.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 说 | shuō | to say / to speak |
| 问 | wèn | to ask |
| 回答 | huídá | to answer |
| 告诉 | gàosu | to tell (someone) |
| 讲 | jiǎng | to tell / to explain |
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To Do
Action verbs are useful for describing activities, work, and tasks. Learn common ones to talk about what you did or plan to do.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 做 | zuò | to do / to make |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work |
| 学习 | xuéxí | to study / to learn |
| 玩 | wán | to play / to have fun |
| 准备 | zhǔnbèi | to prepare |
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To Know
Verbs related to knowledge and awareness help you express what you understand or have learned. Use them in conversations about information and skills.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know (a fact) |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (a person) |
| 学会 | xuéhuì | to learn (a skill) |
| 了解 | liǎojiě | to understand / to know deeply |
| 想 | xiǎng | to think / to want |
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To Want
Verbs that express desire and intention are key for making requests and stating plans. Learn them to communicate your needs clearly.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 要 | yào | to want / to need |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want / to think |
| 需要 | xūyào | to need |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuān | to like |
| 打算 | dǎsuàn | to plan (to do something) |
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To See
Perception verbs let you describe what you notice and experience. They are useful for recounting events and describing scenes.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 看见 | kànjiàn | to see (something) |
| 看到 | kàndào | to see / to catch sight of |
| 听见 | tīngjiàn | to hear (something) |
| 看到 | kàndào | to see / to notice |
| 注意到 | zhùyìdào | to notice |
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To Give
Giving verbs are common in social interactions for transfers, gifts, and assistance. Learn them to describe exchanges and favors.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 给 | gěi | to give / to for |
| 送 | sòng | to deliver / to give (as a gift) |
| 帮助 | bāngzhù | to help / to assist |
| 借 | jiè | to lend / to borrow |
| 接 | jiē | to pick up / to receive |
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Summary
Focusing on these common verbs gives you a practical toolkit for everyday Mandarin. Practice using them in sentences to make the vocabulary stick and improve your speaking fluency.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025