Chinese Basic Verbs and Vocabulary for Beginners

To be

shì

To have

yǒu

To not have (no have)

méi yǒu

(no/not)

bù

To negate the past

méi

To listen

tīng

To speak / to say

shuō

To read

dú

To write

xiě

To look / to read

kàn

To eat

chī

To be surprised

chī jīng

To get in trouble / get hurt

chī kuī

To buy / Sell

mǎi

To like

xǐ huān

To drink

hē

To pull

lā

To play (instruments) to pull

lā

To play (children / partying)

wán

To Want

xiǎng

To love

ài

To do

zuò

To dream / to make a face

zuò To dream / to make a face

To bite

yǎo

To hit / to call / to get (Taxi)

dǎ

To grab

zhuā

To squeeze / to shake hands

wò

To bring

dài

To pat / to flatter / to take a picture

pāi

To pull up (by roots) / to unplug / to take out (teeth)

bá

To insert / to plug in / to butt in

chā

To interrupt

chā zuǐ

To cuddle / Hold

bào

To do (casual)

gǎo

To do (casual, versatile)

nòng

To study

xué

To come

lái

To go

qù

To return / to go back

huí

To give

gěi

To deliver / to give / to see someone out

sòng

To bring / to take

ná

that

Nà

This

Zhè

To wash

xǐ

To push / to put off

tuī

To call / to be called

jiào

To sing

chàng

To shout

hǎn

To draw

huà

To play instrument to pluck

tán

To borrow / to lend

jiè

Still (adverb - not a verb but included)

hái

To return (something borrowed)

huán

To receive / to pick up

jiē

To charge money / To receive

shōu

To cry

kū

To laugh / to smile

xiào

To jump / to beat (heart)

tiào

To climb / to crawl / to slither

pá

To lie down

tǎng

To sit

zuò

To walk / to leave / to die

zǒu

To run / to run errands

pǎo

To stand

zhàn

To open / to drive / to turn on

kāi

To shut / to turn off / to lock up

guān

To sleep

shuì

To put on (clothes) / To go through

chuān

To take off

tuō

To ask

wèn

To reply / to respond

huí dá

To touch / to pet

mō

To kick

tī

To lift (heavy object) Help me carry the table over here

tái

To lift (all the way up) He lifted the barbell

jǔ

To discuss / to talk

tán

To put / to release

fàng

To use

yòng

To look for

zhǎo

ràng

To help

bāng

To close

bì

Must / to obtain

děi / dé

To fly

fēi

To swim

yóu

To ride

qí

To dig

wā

To brush / to swipe (card)

shuā

To polish / to wipe / to scrape

cā

To scold

mà

To rent

zū

To throw

rēng

To hide / to shelter

duǒ

To choose

xuǎn

To discuss / to chat serious

shāng liang

To discuss / to chat casual

liáo

To come up

shàng lái

To come down

xià lái

To go up

shàng qù