Chinese Verbs: 100+with Pinyin, Usage Tips, and Sentences

Last updated: 12/08/2025

When learning Chinese, have you ever wondered why verbs don’t change like they do in English? In English, verbs change forms depending on the subject, tense, or number, but Chinese verbs don’t follow this pattern. So, how do Chinese speakers convey different tenses or aspects?

Understanding Chinese verbs is key to improving your communication, whether you’re ordering food, talking about daily routines, or sharing your plans. Wukong Education will walk you through the categories, common examples, and proper usage of Chinese verbs, so you can master them and build your Mandarin skills quickly.

Overview of Chinese Verbs

What Are Chinese Verbs?

Chinese verbs, or 动词 (dòngcí), are essential building blocks of sentences. Unlike in English, Chinese verbs don’t change based on subject (I, you, he/she) or tense (past, present, future). Instead, Mandarin relies on context, time words (like 今天 – jīntiān for “today”), and aspect markers (like 了 – le) to convey meaning.

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Categories of Chinese Verbs

Chinese verbs can be broadly categorized into:

Action Verbs (动作动词): These describe actions or activities, such as eating, drinking, and going.
Stative Verbs (状态动词): These describe states or conditions, such as being, having, or wanting.
Auxiliary Verbs (助动词): These verbs modify the meaning of the main verb, indicating modality, necessity, or possibility, like “can,” “must,” or “will.”

Comparing with English

In English, the verb “to eat” changes based on tense (eat, eats, ate, eating). In Chinese, “吃” (chī) remains the same regardless of the subject or tense, and context is used to infer meaning.

Essential Action Verbs (动作动词): 50 Common Examples with Usage

Action verbs are the most frequently used type in daily Chinese. Below are 50 essential ones, organized by daily scenarios, with pinyin, English translations, and example sentences.

1.Daily Life Action Verbs

Verb	Pinyin	English	Usage Tips	Example Sentence
吃	chī	to eat	Can be used with food nouns (rice, apple), the negation is “不吃” (not eat), commonly used in the structure “吃…饭” (eat… rice).	我每天吃米饭。(Wǒ měitiān chī mǐfàn. – I eat rice every day.)
喝	hē	to drink	Used with liquid nouns (water, coffee). Different from “吃” (eat), which is used for solid food.	她喜欢喝咖啡。(Tā xǐhuān hē kāfēi. – She likes drinking coffee.)
穿	chuān	to wear	Used with clothes (clothes, shoes, coat), emphasizes the action of “putting on.”	今天穿外套吧。(Jīntiān chuān wàitào ba. – Wear a coat today.)
洗	xǐ	to wash	Can be used with clothes, body parts (face, hands), or items (cup), commonly used in “洗…澡” (take a bath) or “洗衣服” (wash clothes).	他在洗衣服。(Tā zài xǐ yīfu. – He is washing clothes.)
睡	shuì	to sleep	Commonly paired with “睡觉” (sleep), negation is “不睡” (not sleep), can include time expressions (sleep at 10 o’clock).	孩子们十点睡觉。(Háizimen shí diǎn shuìjiào. – The kids sleep at 10 o’clock.)
做	zuò	to do/to make	Used widely (cook, homework, exercise), “做饭” = to cook, “做作业” = to do homework.	我在做饭。(Wǒ zài zuò fàn. – I am cooking.)
买	mǎi	to buy	Followed by object (things, books, tickets), commonly used in “买…给…” (buy… for…).	妈妈去超市买东西。(Māma qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi. – Mom goes to the supermarket to buy things.)
卖	mài	to sell	Followed by objects (books, clothes), opposite of “买” (buy), commonly used in “在…卖…” (sell… at…).	他在网上卖书。(Tā zài wǎngshàng mài shū. – He sells books online.)
开	kāi	to open/to drive	Has multiple meanings: open (door, window, light), drive (car, plane), don’t confuse the two.	请开门。(Qǐng kāi mén. – Please open the door.) / 他开汽车上班。(Tā kāi qìchē shàngbān. – He drives to work.)
关	guān	to close	Opposite of “开” (open), commonly used with doors, lights, or TV (turn off the light).	睡觉前关灯。(Shuìjiào qián guān dēng. – Turn off the light before sleeping.)
拿	ná	to take/to hold	Emphasizes the action of holding, can be used with “拿…来” (bring… here) or “拿…去” (take… away).	我拿了一本书。(Wǒ ná le yī běn shū. – I took a book.)
放	fàng	to put/to place	Often used in the structure “把…放在…上/里” (put… on/in…), indicates placement.	把杯子放在桌子上。(Bǎ bēizi fàng zài zhuōzi shàng. – Put the cup on the table.)
梳	shū	to comb	Fixed phrase “梳头发” (comb hair), used only for combing hair.	妹妹在梳头发。(Mèimei zài shū tóufa. – My sister is combing her hair.)
煮	zhǔ	to boil/to cook	Used for boiling liquids or semi-solid foods (boil noodles, cook soup), different from “炒” (stir-fry).	他在煮面条。(Tā zài zhǔ miàntiáo. – He is boiling noodles.)
炒	chǎo	to stir-fry	Used for stir-frying vegetables, meat, common in Chinese cooking.	爸爸在炒青菜。(Bàba zài chǎo qīngcài. – Dad is stir-frying vegetables.)
切	qiē	to cut	Used for cutting food (cut vegetables, fruit) or items (cut paper), emphasizes the action of dividing using a tool.	妈妈在切土豆。(Māma zài qiē tǔdòu. – Mom is cutting potatoes.)
擦	cā	to wipe/to clean	Used for cleaning surfaces (wipe table, wipe window, wipe face) with cloth or tissue.	他在擦桌子。(Tā zài cā zhuōzi. – He is wiping the table.)
扫	sǎo	to sweep	Fixed phrase “扫地” (sweep the floor), used for cleaning the ground with a broom.	奶奶在扫地。(Nǎinai zài sǎo dì. – Grandma is sweeping the floor.)
拖	tuō	to mop	Used only for “拖地” (mopping the floor), different from “扫” (sweeping).	我在拖地。(Wǒ zài tuō dì. – I am mopping the floor.)
整理	zhěnglǐ	to organize	Used with rooms, documents, luggage (organize room, organize schoolbag), emphasizes orderly arrangement.	她在整理书包。(Tā zài zhěnglǐ shūbāo. – She is organizing her schoolbag.)

2.Study & Work Action Verbs

Verb	Pinyin	English	Usage Tips	Example Sentence
学习	xuéxí	to study	Can be used with languages, skills (study Chinese, learn painting), more formal than “学”.	我们每天学习中文。(Wǒmen měitiān xuéxí zhōngwén. – We study Chinese every day.)
工作	gōngzuò	to work	Can be a verb or noun, verb usage: “work in…”.	他在医院工作。(Tā zài yīyuàn gōngzuò. – He works in a hospital.)
写	xiě	to write	Used with words, documents (write characters, write homework, write emails), commonly used in “写…给…” (write… to…).	我写电子邮件给朋友。(Wǒ xiě diànyóujiàn gěi péngyǒu. – I write emails to friends.)
读	dú	to read	Used with books, articles, newspapers (read Chinese books, read newspaper), emphasizes reading aloud or silently.	她喜欢读中文书。(Tā xǐhuān dú zhōngwén shū. – She likes reading Chinese books.)
教	jiào	to teach	Commonly used in “teach… (to) …” structure, subject is usually the teacher or elder.	老师教我们语法。(Lǎoshī jiào wǒmen yǔfǎ. – The teacher teaches us grammar.)
学	xué	to learn	More colloquial than “学习”, used with skills, knowledge (learn Chinese, learn to cook).	我在学画画。(Wǒ zài xué huàhuà. – I am learning to paint.)
背	bèi	to memorize	Used with words, texts, ancient poems (memorize Chinese words, memorize texts), emphasizes memory.	他在背中文单词。(Tā zài bèi zhōngwén dāncí. – He is memorizing Chinese words.)
练	liàn	to practice	Used with skills (practice speaking, practice writing, practice piano), emphasizes repeated practice.	我们每天练中文口语。(Wǒmen měitiān liàn zhōngwén kǒuyǔ. – We practice Chinese speaking every day.)
改	gǎi	to revise/correct	Used with homework, articles, mistakes (revise homework, correct writing, correct errors).	老师在改作业。(Lǎoshī zài gǎi zuòyè. – The teacher is revising homework.)
查	chá	to check/look up	Used with dictionaries, materials, answers (check dictionary, check materials), indicates verification.	我在查中文单词。(Wǒ zài chá zhōngwén dāncí. – I am looking up Chinese words.)
记	jì	to remember	Used with things, numbers, words (take notes, remember phone number), more general than “背”.	她在记笔记。(Tā zài jì bǐjì. – She is taking notes.)
讨论	tǎolùn	to discuss	Commonly used with topics, issues (discuss questions, discuss plans), subject is usually plural.	我们在讨论中文作业。(Wǒmen zài tǎolùn zhōngwén zuòyè. – We are discussing Chinese homework.)
汇报	huìbào	to report	Used in formal contexts, with work, situations (report work, report progress).	他在向老板汇报工作。(Tā zài xiàng lǎobǎn huìbào gōngzuò. – He is reporting work to the boss.)
安排	ānpái	to arrange	Used with time, schedule, tasks (arrange meeting, arrange trip).	经理在安排会议。(Jīnglǐ zài ānpái huìyì. – The manager is arranging a meeting.)
完成	wánchéng	to complete	Used with tasks, homework, projects (complete homework, complete work).	我已经完成中文作业了。(Wǒ yǐjīng wánchéng zhōngwén zuòyè le. – I have already completed my Chinese homework.)

3.Travel & Leisure Action Verbs

Verb	Pinyin	English	Usage Tips	Example Sentence
去	qù	to go	Followed by a destination (go to the park, go to China), commonly used in the structure “去… (do)…” (go to the supermarket to buy things).	我们周末去公园。(Wǒmen zhōumò qù gōngyuán. – We go to the park on weekends.)
来	lái	to come	Opposite of “去” (go), indicates movement towards the speaker or the location of the speaker, commonly used in “来… (do)…”	朋友明天来我家。(Péngyǒu míngtiān lái wǒ jiā. – Friends come to my house tomorrow.)
旅行	lǚxíng	to travel	Can be a verb or noun, verb usage: “go to travel” (go to China to travel).	他们去年去中国旅行。(Tāmen qùnián qù zhōngguó lǚxíng. – They traveled to China last year.)
看	kàn	to watch/to see	Can mean “watch” (TV, movies) or “see” (friends, scenery).	我晚上看电视。(Wǒ wǎnshàng kàn diànshì. – I watch TV at night.)
听	tīng	to listen	Used with sounds, music, or people (listen to music, listen to the teacher).	他喜欢听中文歌。(Tā xǐhuān tīng zhōngwén gē. – He likes listening to Chinese songs.)
说	shuō	to speak/to talk	Used with languages or content (speak Chinese, talk). Commonly used in the structure “说… 给…” (tell… to…).	她会说中文。(Tā huì shuō zhōngwén. – She can speak Chinese.)
聊	liáo	to chat	Colloquial, used with “聊天” (chat), “聊话题” (chat about topics).	我们在聊中文学习。(Wǒmen zài liáo zhōngwén xuéxí. – We are chatting about Chinese learning.)
玩	wán	to play	Used with toys, games, or sports (play with a phone, play a game, play basketball).	孩子们在玩游戏。(Háizimen zài wán yóuxì. – The kids are playing games.)
运动	yùndòng	to exercise	Can be used as a verb or noun, verb usage: to do exercise (running, swimming are types of exercise).	他每天早上运动。(Tā měitiān zǎoshàng yùndòng. – He exercises every morning.)
跑	pǎo	to run	Used with “running” (run), can include a place (run in the park).	我在公园跑步。(Wǒ zài gōngyuán pǎobù. – I am running in the park.)
跳	tiào	to jump/to dance	Can mean “jump” (high, far) or “dance”. Commonly used in the structure “跳…舞” (dance).	她在跳舞。(Tā zài tiàowǔ. – She is dancing.)
游泳	yóuyǒng	to swim	Fixed phrase “游泳” (to swim), cannot say “游水” (swim water).	我们夏天去游泳。(Wǒmen xiàtiān qù yóuyǒng. – We go swimming in summer.)
拍照	pāizhào	to take photos	Fixed verb phrase, “拍” = to take, “照” = photo, cannot be split.	他在给风景拍照。(Tā zài gěi fēngjǐng pāizhào. – He is taking photos of the scenery.)
参观	cānguān	to visit	Used with attractions, museums, or companies (visit the Forbidden City, visit the museum).	我们在参观博物馆。(Wǒmen zài cānguān bówùguǎn. – We are visiting the museum.)
购物	gòuwù	to shop	More formal than “buy things”, used with “shopping mall” or “online shopping”.	妈妈喜欢周末购物。(Māma xǐhuān zhōumò gòuwù. – Mom likes shopping on weekends.)

State Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs: The Building Blocks of Context

State verbs (状态动词) describe static conditions, while auxiliary verbs (助动词) add meaning like ability, permission, or intention to main verbs. These are crucial for expressing nuance in Chinese.

30 Core State Verbs (状态动词)

Verb	Pinyin	English	Usage Tips	Example Sentence
是	shì	am/is/are	Used for identification (not for actions)	我是美国人。(Wǒ shì měiguórén. – I am American.)
有	yǒu	have/there is	Expresses possession or existence	他有一本书。(Tā yǒu yī běn shū. – He has a book.)
像	xiàng	look like	Compares two things/people	她像她妈妈。(Tā xiàng tā māma. – She looks like her mom.)
等于	děngyú	equal to	Expresses equivalence	三加二等于五。(Sān jiā èr děngyú wǔ. – Three plus two equals five.)
在	zài	to be at/in	Used to indicate a location or situation	他在家。(Tā zài jiā. – He is at home.)
能	néng	can/able to	Expresses ability or possibility	我能游泳。(Wǒ néng yóuyǒng. – I can swim.)
应该	yīnggāi	should	Expresses obligation or suggestion	你应该学习中文。(Nǐ yīnggāi xuéxí zhōngwén. – You should study Chinese.)
想	xiǎng	want/think	Used for desires or thoughts	我想吃冰淇淋。(Wǒ xiǎng chī bīngqílín. – I want to eat ice cream.)
知道	zhīdào	to know	Expresses knowledge	我知道答案。(Wǒ zhīdào dá’àn. – I know the answer.)
懂	dǒng	to understand	Expresses understanding	我懂你的意思。(Wǒ dǒng nǐ de yìsi. – I understand what you mean.)
需要	xūyào	need	Expresses necessity or requirement	我需要帮助。(Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù. – I need help.)
相信	xiāngxìn	believe	Expresses belief	我相信他会成功。(Wǒ xiāngxìn tā huì chénggōng. – I believe he will succeed.)
怕	pà	to be afraid	Expresses fear or worry	我怕黑。(Wǒ pà hēi. – I am afraid of the dark.)
看	kàn	to see/look	Used for vision or observing	我看见他了。(Wǒ kànjiàn tā le. – I saw him.)
听	tīng	to listen	Used for hearing or listening	他在听音乐。(Tā zài tīng yīnyuè. – He is listening to music.)
笑	xiào	to laugh/smile	Expresses laughter or happiness	她笑得很开心。(Tā xiào de hěn kāixīn. – She is laughing happily.)
哭	kū	to cry	Expresses sadness or tears	他在哭。(Tā zài kū. – He is crying.)
忙	máng	busy	Used for being occupied with something	我今天很忙。(Wǒ jīntiān hěn máng. – I am very busy today.)
累	lèi	tired	Expresses fatigue	我累了。(Wǒ lèi le. – I am tired.)
高兴	gāoxìng	happy	Expresses joy or happiness	我很高兴见到你。(Wǒ hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ. – I am happy to see you.)
健康	jiànkāng	healthy	Describes physical well-being	他很健康。(Tā hěn jiànkāng. – He is very healthy.)
清楚	qīngchu	clear	Used for clarity or understanding	我明白了，清楚了。(Wǒ míngbái le, qīngchu le. – I understand, it’s clear.)
舒服	shūfú	comfortable	Expresses comfort	这个椅子很舒服。(Zhège yǐzi hěn shūfú. – This chair is very comfortable.)
冷	lěng	cold	Describes low temperature	今天很冷。(Jīntiān hěn lěng. – It’s very cold today.)
热	rè	hot	Describes high temperature	今天天气很热。(Jīntiān tiānqì hěn rè. – It’s very hot today.)
远	yuǎn	far	Describes distance	我的家很远。(Wǒ de jiā hěn yuǎn. – My house is far.)
近	jìn	near	Describes proximity	我的学校很近。(Wǒ de xuéxiào hěn jìn. – My school is near.)
深	shēn	deep	Describes depth	这个池塘很深。(Zhège chítáng hěn shēn. – This pond is deep.)
浅	qiǎn	shallow	Describes shallowness	这个河很浅。(Zhège hé hěn qiǎn. – This river is shallow.)
重	zhòng	heavy	Describes weight	这个箱子很重。(Zhège xiāngzi hěn zhòng. – This suitcase is heavy.)
轻	qīng	light	Describes lightness	这个包很轻。(Zhège bāo hěn qīng. – This bag is light.)
亮	liàng	bright	Describes light or brightness	这盏灯很亮。(Zhè zhǎn dēng hěn liàng. – This light is bright.)
暗	àn	dark	Describes darkness	房间里很暗。(Fángjiān lǐ hěn àn. – It’s very dark in the room.)

20 Essential Auxiliary Verbs (助动词)

Auxiliary verbs always come before main verbs. Here are the most common ones:

Verb	Pinyin	English	Usage Tips	Example Sentence
会	huì	can, be able to	Used for skills or future ability	我会说中文。(Wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén. – I can speak Chinese.)
能	néng	can, be able to	Used for possibility or permission	今天能去超市吗？(Jīntiān néng qù chāoshì ma? – Can we go to the supermarket today?)
要	yào	want to, need to, will	Expresses desire, necessity, or future action	我要学习。(Wǒ yào xuéxí. – I want to study.) / 明天要下雨。(Míngtiān yào xiàyǔ. – It will rain tomorrow.)
应该	yīnggāi	should, ought to	Indicates advice, duty, or obligation	你应该早点睡觉。(Nǐ yīnggāi zǎodiǎn shuìjiào. – You should sleep earlier.)
可以	kěyǐ	can, may	Indicates permission or possibility	这里可以拍照吗？(Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma? – Can we take photos here?)
想	xiǎng	want to, think	Indicates desire or thinking about doing something	我想吃苹果。(Wǒ xiǎng chī píngguǒ. – I want to eat an apple.)
得	děi	must, have to	Indicates necessity or obligation	我得走了。(Wǒ děi zǒu le. – I must go.)
敢	gǎn	dare	Indicates courage or willingness	你敢不敢去？(Nǐ gǎn bù gǎn qù? – Do you dare to go?)
常	cháng	often	Used to indicate frequency	他常去跑步。(Tā cháng qù pǎobù. – He often goes running.)
能	néng	able to	Expresses capability or possibility	我能帮你。(Wǒ néng bāng nǐ. – I am able to help you.)
愿意	yuànyì	willing to	Indicates willingness or preference	我愿意帮助你。(Wǒ yuànyì bāngzhù nǐ. – I am willing to help you.)
必需	bìxū	must	Expresses necessity or essential	你必需先完成任务。(Nǐ bìxū xiān wánchéng rènwu. – You must complete the task first.)
让	ràng	let, allow	Indicates permission or causation	他让我去。(Tā ràng wǒ qù. – He lets me go.)
开始	kāishǐ	begin	Indicates the start of an action	他们开始吃饭了。(Tāmen kāishǐ chīfàn le. – They began to eat.)
停止	tíngzhǐ	stop	Indicates cessation of an action	他停止了工作。(Tā tíngzhǐ le gōngzuò. – He stopped working.)
继续	jìxù	continue	Indicates continuation of an action	请继续工作。(Qǐng jìxù gōngzuò. – Please continue working.)
准许	zhǔn xǔ	permit	Indicates granting permission	他准许我去。(Tā zhǔn xǔ wǒ qù. – He allowed me to go.)
允许	yǔnxǔ	allow	Indicates giving permission	这里不允许抽烟。(Zhèlǐ bù yǔnxǔ chōuyān. – Smoking is not allowed here.)
打算	dǎsuàn	plan	Indicates intention or plan	我打算去旅行。(Wǒ dǎsuàn qù lǚxíng. – I plan to travel.)
该	gāi	should	Used to indicate what should be done	你该去医院。(Nǐ gāi qù yīyuàn. – You should go to the hospital.)

Chinese Verbs Structures with Particles

In Chinese, verbs often combine with particles to add nuances to actions or change the meaning of the sentence. These particles are essential for expressing tenses, moods, completion, questions, and more, without needing verb conjugation. Therefore, understanding how to use these particles is critical for mastering Chinese grammar. Below, we’ll explore some of the most commonly used verb structures and particles.

1. 了 (le) – Completed Action or Change of State

The particle 了 is used to indicate a completed action or a change of state. It is one of the most common particles in Chinese grammar, and its usage can transform a simple statement into one that reflects either past completion or a shift in condition.

Example for a Completed Action:
- 我吃了 (Wǒ chī le) – I ate.
  Explanation: The action of eating has been completed. Notice that 了 helps clarify that the action is finished.
Example for Change of State:
- 他高了 (Tā gāo le) – He has become taller.
  Explanation: His height has changed; he’s taller now. The 了 marks the transformation, signaling a change in state.

Note: 了 can also be used at the end of a sentence to signal a completed action or situation that has changed, often related to time or context.

Example:
- 我去了商店。(Wǒ qù le shāngdiàn) – I went to the store.
  Explanation: 了 here indicates that the action has already happened and is now complete.

2. 吗 (ma) – Question Particle

The particle 吗 is used to turn a statement into a yes/no question. This particle is fundamental for forming simple, direct questions in Chinese.

Example:
- 你吃了吗？(Nǐ chī le ma?) – Have you eaten?
  Explanation: The 吗 turns the statement into a question, asking for confirmation or information. It’s one of the easiest ways to ask a question in Chinese.
Example:
- 他是老师吗？(Tā shì lǎoshī ma?) – Is he a teacher?
  Explanation: Similarly, here 吗 asks whether the person is a teacher or not.

3. 着 (zhe) – Ongoing Action

The particle 着 is used to indicate that an action is ongoing or continuous. It’s often used with verbs to express the state of something that is happening continuously or in progress, which helps convey a sense of ongoing action.

Example:
- 他站着。(Tā zhàn zhe) – He is standing.
  Explanation: The action of standing is still in progress, and 着 marks this continuous state.

4. 过 (guò) – Past Experience

The particle 过 indicates that an action has been experienced at some point in the past. It doesn’t specify when the action occurred, only that it has happened before, therefore it’s used to talk about past experiences.

Example:
- 我去过中国。(Wǒ qù guò Zhōngguó) – I have been to China.
  Explanation: The action of going to China was experienced at some point, but 过 doesn’t tell us exactly when.

5. 得 (de) – Describing How an Action is Done

The particle 得 is used to describe the manner in which an action is performed, often in relation to an adjective or adverb. Thus, it adds clarity to the way actions are carried out.

Example:
- 他跑得快。(Tā pǎo de kuài) – He runs fast.
  Explanation: The particle 得 links the verb “run” with the adverb “fast” to describe how the action is performed.

Common Mistakes on Chinese Verbs and Practice Suggestions

Chinese learners often make mistakes by overgeneralizing grammar rules or mixing up action and stative verbs. However, these mistakes can be easily corrected with focused practice and understanding of how verbs function in different contexts. Let’s take a deeper look at some common mistakes and suggestions for improvement.

Mistake 1: Overuse of “是 (shì)”

Many learners mistakenly use 是 (shì) for every form of “to be,” just as English uses “am,” “is,” or “are.” However, 是 is used specifically for identifying or classifying things, such as professions, identities, or equal relationships, but not for expressing attributes or states.

Incorrect:
- 我是高。(Wǒ shì gāo.) – I am tall.
Correct:
- 我高。(Wǒ gāo.) – I am tall.
  Explanation: In Chinese, 高 (gāo) is a stative verb and doesn’t need 是 to describe the state of being tall. It directly describes the subject.
Further Clarification:
In cases like 她是医生 (Tā shì yīshēng – She is a doctor), 是 is necessary because it’s identifying or classifying a profession. But for describing personal qualities like height, age, or appearance, the verb itself is sufficient.

Mistake 2: Confusing Action Verbs with Stative Verbs

Chinese has a distinction between action verbs and stative verbs. Action verbs describe dynamic actions that can be performed (e.g., 吃 (chī) – to eat, 跑 (pǎo) – to run), while stative verbs describe conditions or states (e.g., 高 (gāo) – tall, 喜欢 (xǐhuān) – to like).

Incorrect:
- 我喜欢吃高。(Wǒ xǐhuān chī gāo.) – I like to eat tall.
Correct:
- 我喜欢高的东西。(Wǒ xǐhuān gāo de dōngxi.) – I like tall things.
  Explanation: 高 (gāo) is a stative verb and should not be treated like an action verb. In the correct sentence, 高 modifies 东西 (things) to indicate that you like things that are tall, not the action of eating something tall.

Mistake 3: Misunderstanding the Use of 了 (le)

One of the most frequent mistakes is misusing 了. As mentioned, 了 marks the completion of an action or a change of state, but it should not be overused. Sometimes learners apply it when it’s unnecessary, or they forget to use it when required.

Incorrect:
- 我吃了晚饭。(Wǒ chī le wǎnfàn.) – I ate dinner. (when referring to an action that’s already over)
Correct:
- 我吃晚饭。(Wǒ chī wǎnfàn.) – I eat dinner. (habit or general action)
  Explanation: When talking about habitual actions or general statements, 了 is not needed. It’s only necessary when emphasizing that the action was completed or has changed the situation.

Mistake 4: Overusing “的 (de)”

The particle 的 is used to modify nouns or to create possession or descriptive phrases, but learners often misuse it in situations where it’s unnecessary.

Incorrect:
- 我喜欢的那个书。(Wǒ xǐhuān de nàgè shū.) – The book I like.
Correct:
- 我喜欢那本书。(Wǒ xǐhuān nà běn shū.) – I like that book.
  Explanation: 的 should not be used when directly modifying the noun with a verb and its object.

Practice Suggestions:

Focus on Verb Types: Learn the differences between action verbs and stative verbs. Practice combining action verbs with different objects to clarify their usage in various contexts.
Avoid Overuse of “是”: Practice using 是 only for identification and classifying things. For general descriptions, use stative verbs directly.
Use Particles Properly: Spend time understanding the specific use of particles like 了, 吗, 着 for aspect, 不 for negation, and 的 for modifying nouns. Practice combining verbs with these particles in context.
Immerse Yourself in Context: To improve, listen to Chinese conversations and try to identify which verbs are used in different contexts and how particles change the meaning.

FAQS About Chinese Verbs

How do Chinese verbs translate for?

Chinese verbs play a crucial role in forming questions by using particles like 吗 (ma) to turn a statement into a yes/no question. For example, “你吃了吗?” (Nǐ chī le ma?) means “Have you eaten?” Understanding the correct usage of common Chinese verbs and their combinations with particles is essential for mastering Mandarin. A solid grasp of an essential Mandarin verbs list will help you build confidence in asking questions and engaging in conversations.

Do you know Chinese verbs from HSK 1 ?

Chinese verbs from HSK 1 are fundamental in building basic communication skills. For example, verbs like 吃 (chī) – “to eat” and 看 (kàn) – “to see” are essential for forming simple sentences. Wukong Education offer a wide range of HSK resources, helping your child effectively learn and apply these verbs in real-life conversations. Our courses are designed to make learning HSK content engaging and comprehensive.

Conclusion

Mastering verbs is key to improving children’s Chinese proficiency, especially in writing and reading comprehension, where the use of verbs directly impacts scores. Wukong Chinese helps children gradually master verbs and Chinese content through graded courses, addressing weak points in their learning in a targeted manner.

Wukong Chinese offer abundant resources for exams such as HSK, YCT, and IB. Through trial classes and placement tests, we accurately assess students’ situations and provide personalized learning plans to ensure the courses are highly aligned with the children’s learning pace. This enables them to achieve ideal results in exams and comprehensively enhance their Chinese language abilities.

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Lea | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Lea is a passionate educator and writer,hailing from Beijing Jiaotong University where she graduated with a degree in English.With a deep understanding of education and a knack for making learning engaging,she brings a unique blend of knowledge and creativity to her writing. Whether crafting educational content or sharing tips on making math fun, Lea’s goal is to inspire and empower both parents and children on their learning journey.