List of Verbs for Kids with Chinese Translations & Pinyin

Last updated: 08/22/2025

When children begin learning a new language, verbs are some of the most exciting words to start with. Verbs are “action words” like run, jump, eat, sing, all things kids love to do. For parents and teachers, having a list of verbs for kids in both English and Chinese can open the door to playful, bilingual learning. By pairing each verb with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and simple example sentences, children can expand vocabulary while developing cultural connections.

At WuKong Education, our teachers use everyday actions to help kids practice Mandarin and English in meaningful ways. Through games, stories, and interactive classes, verbs become more than just vocabulary, they become part of real-life communication.

WuKong ELA offers a structured and comprehensive approach to enhancing the writing skills, tailored for students from kindergarten to grade 6.

list of verb for kids

What Are Verbs for Kids?

Verbs are words that describe actions, states of being, or occurrences. For example, “jump” is an action verb, while “is” or “am” are being verbs. According to Primarily Learning and EuroKids, introducing verbs to children helps them form complete sentences and express themselves more clearly.

For kids, learning verbs in English and Chinese together creates double the benefits:

Language connections: They see how actions are described in two languages.
Cognitive growth: Bilingual learning strengthens memory and problem-solving.
Cultural understanding: Learning Chinese verbs connects kids to stories, traditions, and everyday life in Mandarin-speaking communities.

In short, verbs are the building blocks of communication, and when introduced through bilingual learning, they create fun and lasting results.

To help children develop a love for reading and improve their writing skills, the WuKong ELA Reading and Writing Program is highly recommended. This program offers tailored lessons, small class sizes, and a rich array of English resources.

List of Verbs for Kids in Chinese

Below is a comprehensive list of 60 verbs for kids, organized into categories. Each verb includes the English word, Chinese character, Pinyin, and an example sentence.

Action Verbs for Kids

English Verb	Chinese	Pinyin	Example Sentence
Run	跑	pǎo	The dog runs fast. 狗跑得快。
Jump	跳	tiào	The boy jumps high. 男孩跳得很高。
Eat	吃	chī	She eats an apple. 她吃苹果。
Drink	喝	hē	I drink water. 我喝水。
Write	写	xiě	He writes homework. 他写作业。
Read	读	dú	She reads a book. 她读书。
Sing	唱	chàng	They sing loudly. 他们大声唱歌。
Dance	跳舞	tiào wǔ	We dance together. 我们一起跳舞。
Play	玩	wán	Kids play outside. 孩子们在外面玩。
Draw	画	huà	She draws a flower. 她画花。

Daily Routine Verbs for Kids

English Verb	Chinese	Pinyin	Example Sentence
Wake up	起床	qǐ chuáng	I wake up early. 我早起床。
Sleep	睡觉	shuì jiào	The baby sleeps. 宝宝睡觉。
Wash	洗	xǐ	Wash hands! 洗手！
Brush teeth	刷牙	shuā yá	He brushes teeth. 他刷牙。
Go to school	上学	shàng xué	I go to school. 我上学。
Eat breakfast	吃早餐	chī zǎo cān	She eats breakfast. 她吃早餐。
Do homework	做作业	zuò zuò yè	He does homework. 他做作业。
Take a bath	洗澡	xǐ zǎo	She takes a bath. 她洗澡。
Watch TV	看电视	kàn diàn shì	We watch TV. 我们看电视。
Sleep (again)	睡觉	shuì jiào	Kids sleep early. 孩子们早睡觉。

Sports & Outdoor Verbs for Kids

English Verb	Chinese	Pinyin	Example Sentence
Swim	游泳	yóu yǒng	He swims fast. 他游泳很快。
Kick	踢	tī	Kick the ball! 踢球！
Throw	扔	rēng	She throws a toy. 她扔玩具。
Catch	接	jiē	Catch the ball! 接球！
Ride	骑	qí	I ride a bike. 我骑自行车。
Climb	爬	pá	The boy climbs a tree. 男孩爬树。
Skate	滑冰	huá bīng	They skate on ice. 他们滑冰。
Jump rope	跳绳	tiào shéng	She jumps rope. 她跳绳。
Run race	赛跑	sài pǎo	Kids run a race. 孩子们赛跑。
Hike	徒步	tú bù	We hike in the park. 我们在公园徒步。

Helping Verbs / Being Verbs for Kids

English Verb	Chinese	Pinyin	Example Sentence
Is	是	shì	She is my friend. 她是我的朋友。
Am	是	shì	I am happy. 我是快乐的。
Are	是	shì	They are students. 他们是学生。
Have	有	yǒu	I have a book. 我有一本书。
Can	能	néng	I can swim. 我能游泳。
Will	会	huì	She will sing. 她会唱歌。
Want	想	xiǎng	I want food. 我想吃东西。
Like	喜欢	xǐ huān	He likes dogs. 他喜欢狗。
Need	需要	xū yào	We need help. 我们需要帮助。
Must	必须	bì xū	You must try. 你必须试试。

Verbs for Kids Pronunciation and Examples

Learning how to pronounce verbs correctly is important for confidence. Chinese words are written in Pinyin, which shows sounds with tones. For example:

pǎo (跑, run) has a rising tone.
chī (吃, eat) has a high flat tone.

Tips for kids:

Watch short YouTube pronunciation videos for verbs.
Repeat verbs while doing the action (say “跳 tiào” while jumping).
Practice in sentences:
- Run – 跑 pǎo: The dog runs fast. 狗跑得快。
- Eat – 吃 chī: I eat noodles. 我吃面条。

Quick Verb Quiz for Kids

Test your knowledge! Match the English verb with its correct Chinese meaning.

Question	Options	Answer
1. Run	A. 吃 B. 跑 C. 睡觉	B
2. Eat	A. 读 B. 写 C. 吃	C
3. Sleep	A. 睡觉 B. 玩 C. 喝	A
4. Read	A. 唱 B. 读 C. 画	B
5. Dance	A. 跳舞 B. 跳绳 C. 洗澡	A

Conclusion

A list of verbs for kids is more than vocabulary, it’s a gateway to bilingual communication and fun learning. With characters, Pinyin, examples, and activities, children can confidently express actions in both English and Mandarin.

Start today with WuKong Education’s engaging classes and free resources!

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Roxy | WuKong Chinese Teacher

I have been deeply involved in the K12 education field for many years, acquiring rich professional knowledge and experience. My extensive understanding of Chinese culture and education enhances my ability to integrate diverse educational methodologies. I hold a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Melbourne, which bolsters my expertise and pedagogical skills. Passionate about fostering educational environments that inspire and empower, I am committed to creating inclusive learning experiences. My aim is to positively impact students’ lives and equip them with tools for success in a globalized world.