Every entry
| to be (identity) | ||
| to have; there is | ||
| to be at; to be doing | ||
| to go | ||
| to come | ||
| to return | ||
| to arrive; to reach | ||
| to walk; to leave | ||
| to run | ||
| to enter | ||
| to go out | ||
| to go up; to get on | ||
| to go down; to get off | ||
| to open; to drive | ||
| to close; to turn off | ||
| to sit; to travel by | ||
| to stand | ||
| to live; to stay | ||
| to travel | ||
| to travel for leisure | ||
| to look; to watch; to read | ||
| to see | ||
| to listen | ||
| to hear | ||
| to speak; to say | ||
| to talk | ||
| to ask | ||
| to answer | ||
| to call; to be named | ||
| to tell | ||
| to read aloud; to read | ||
| to write | ||
| to learn | ||
| to study; to learn | ||
| to teach | ||
| to know a fact | ||
| to know a person; to recognize | ||
| to understand | ||
| to understand clearly | ||
| to think; to want | ||
| to feel; to think | ||
| to consider; to believe | ||
| to remember | ||
| to forget | ||
| to hope | ||
| to like | ||
| to love | ||
| to want; to need | ||
| to need | ||
| can; to be able to | ||
| can (learned skill); will | ||
| may; can (permission or possibility) | ||
| to do; to make | ||
| to work; work | ||
| to help | ||
| to help; assistance | ||
| to use | ||
| to try | ||
| to practice; practice | ||
| to look for | ||
| to find | ||
| to wait | ||
| to begin | ||
| to finish; to end | ||
| to continue | ||
| to stop | ||
| to prepare | ||
| to decide | ||
| to choose | ||
| to buy | ||
| to sell | ||
| to pay | ||
| to spend (money or time) | ||
| to give; for | ||
| to take; to hold | ||
| to bring; to take along | ||
| to put; to place | ||
| to deliver; to give as a gift | ||
| to receive; to collect | ||
| to borrow; to lend | ||
| to change; to exchange | ||
| to eat | ||
| to drink | ||
| to cook a meal | ||
| to sleep | ||
| to sleep | ||
| to get out of bed | ||
| to wash | ||
| to wear; to put on clothing | ||
| to take off clothing | ||
| to play; to have fun | ||
| to hit; to play certain sports | ||
| to sing | ||
| to dance | ||
| to swim | ||
| to smile; to laugh | ||
| to cry | ||
| to become ill | ||
| to rest | ||
| to exercise; exercise |
Selection method and sources
Common verbs and modal verbs with concise selected senses. Chinese word classes depend on context and some entries also act as nouns. Learn them through sentence patterns rather than assuming English grammar transfers. Pinyin shows dictionary tones; no audio.
Pack content: CC BY-SA 4.0. Attribution: Assist With Languages and the sources below. Curated or adapted for learners; original sources retain their listed licenses.
- CC-CEDICT / MDBG Chinese-English dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Dictionary reference for simplified forms, canonical pinyin and meanings. These entries adapt pronunciation and definitions into concise selected-sense learner glosses; selection, organization and teaching notes are modifications. Pinyin is stored as spaced numbered syllables; 5 is neutral tone. The interface renders tone marks. Pinyin shows dictionary tones, not every connected-speech tone change. Original travel phrases are supplied without recordings.
- Official HSK syllabus (late-2025 edition) (Reference only; no open compilation license confirmed). Used only to understand curriculum scope and separate vocabulary, character recognition and handwriting. This collection is an original practical selection, not an official HSK list, level, complete syllabus or exact frequency ranking.
- Wikivoyage Chinese phrasebook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Reference for useful travel situations. Travel selection and concise learner wording are adapted; source recordings are not included.