1 · 40 words

Basic verbs

The verbs a first conversation cannot do without, and the two words that say no.

A Chinese verb has one form and keeps it: 去(qù) is go, goes, went and gone, and the time is carried by other words in the sentence. Negation comes in two kinds — 不(bù) for what is not done now, usually or in future, 没(méi) for what did not happen and for 有(yǒu). Three words cover English “can”: 会(huì) for a skill, 能(néng) when circumstances allow, 可以(kěyǐ) for permission.

The words

Verb (35)

是(shì)to beVerb1

她(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)老师(lǎoshī)。She's my teacher.

Joins two nouns, but not a noun and an adjective: 我(wǒ)很(hěn)忙(máng), “I am busy”.

有(yǒu)to have; there isVerb1

你(nǐ)有(yǒu)笔(bǐ)吗(ma)？Have you got a pen?

Negated only with 没(méi): 没有(méiyǒu).

在(zài)to be (at, in); to be doingVerb1

你(nǐ)妈妈(māma)在(zài)家(jiā)吗(ma)？Is your mum at home?

Before a verb it means the action is going on: 他(tā)在(zài)吃饭(chīfàn), he is eating.

去(qù)to goVerb1

明天(míngtiān)我(wǒ)去(qù)上海(Shànghǎi)。I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow.

No “to” before the place: 去(qù)北京(Běijīng).

来(lái)to comeVerb1

我(wǒ)朋友(péngyou)明天(míngtiān)来(lái)我(wǒ)家(jiā)。A friend of mine is coming to my place tomorrow.

Towards the speaker; 去(qù) is away from them.

回(huí)to go back; to returnVerb1

我(wǒ)下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)回(huí)英国(Yīngguó)。I'm going back to Britain next month.

走(zǒu)to walk; to leaveVerb1

太(tài)晚(wǎn)了(le)，我们(wǒmen)走(zǒu)吧(ba)。It's late — let's go.

他(tā)走(zǒu)了(le) means “he has left”, not “he walked”.

到(dào)to arrive; to reachVerb1

火车(huǒchē)几(jǐ)点(diǎn)到(dào)？What time does the train get in?

进(jìn)to enter; to come inVerb1

请(qǐng)从(cóng)这(zhè)个(ge)门(mén)进(jìn)。Please come in by this door.

看(kàn)to look; to watch; to readVerb1

我(wǒ)喜欢(xǐhuan)看(kàn)书(shū)。I like reading.

Also “to visit”: 看(kàn)朋友(péngyou).

看见(kànjiàn)to seeVerb1

你(nǐ)看见(kànjiàn)我(wǒ)的(de)手机(shǒujī)了(le)吗(ma)？Have you seen my phone?

看(kàn) is looking; 看见(kànjiàn) is actually seeing.

见(jiàn)to see; to meetVerb1

我(wǒ)明天(míngtiān)要(yào)见(jiàn)一(yí)个(ge)朋友(péngyou)。I'm meeting a friend tomorrow.

听(tīng)to listen; to hearVerb1

他(tā)在(zài)听(tīng)音乐(yīnyuè)。He's listening to music.

说(shuō)to speak; to sayVerb1

请(qǐng)说(shuō)慢(màn)一点儿(yìdiǎnr)。Please speak a bit more slowly.

问(wèn)to askVerb1

我(wǒ)可以(kěyǐ)问(wèn)你(nǐ)一(yí)个(ge)问题(wèntí)吗(ma)？May I ask you a question?

叫(jiào)to be called; to callVerb1

这(zhè)个(ge)用(yòng)汉语(Hànyǔ)叫(jiào)什么(shénme)？What is this called in Chinese?

吃(chī)to eatVerb1

我(wǒ)不(bù)吃(chī)辣(là)的(de)。I don't eat spicy food.

喝(hē)to drinkVerb1

晚上(wǎnshang)别(bié)喝(hē)咖啡(kāfēi)。Don't drink coffee in the evening.

做(zuò)to do; to makeVerb1

你(nǐ)在(zài)做(zuò)什么(shénme)？What are you doing?

买(mǎi)to buyVerb1

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)买(mǎi)一(yì)双(shuāng)鞋(xié)。I'd like to buy a pair of shoes.

Third tone; 卖(mài), with the fourth, is to sell.

住(zhù)to live; to stayVerb1

你(nǐ)住(zhù)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？Where do you live?

坐(zuò)to sit; to travel byVerb1

我们(wǒmen)坐(zuò)地铁(dìtiě)去(qù)吧(ba)。Let's take the metro.

For buses, trains and planes: 坐(zuò)火车(huǒchē), by train.

睡觉(shuìjiào)to sleep; to go to bedVerb1

我(wǒ)很(hěn)累(lèi)，想(xiǎng)睡觉(shuìjiào)。I'm tired and want to go to bed.

Can split: 睡(shuì)午觉(wǔjiào), to have a nap.

想(xiǎng)to want to; to think; to missVerb1

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)回家(huíjiā)。I want to go home.

With a person it means “to miss”: 我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)你(nǐ).

要(yào)to want; to need to; to be going toVerb1

我(wǒ)明天(míngtiān)要(yào)上班(shàngbān)。I have to work tomorrow.

知道(zhīdao)to know (a fact)Verb1

我(wǒ)不(bù)知道(zhīdao)他(tā)的(de)名字(míngzi)。I don't know his name.

懂(dǒng)to understandVerb1

你(nǐ)懂(dǒng)我(wǒ)的(de)意思(yìsi)吗(ma)？Do you understand what I mean?

学(xué)to learn; to studyVerb1

我(wǒ)在(zài)学(xué)汉语(Hànyǔ)。I'm learning Chinese.

教(jiāo)to teachVerb1

她(tā)教(jiāo)我(wǒ)做(zuò)中国菜(Zhōngguócài)。She's teaching me to cook Chinese food.

Read jiào in nouns such as 教室(jiàoshì), classroom.

写(xiě)to writeVerb1

这(zhè)个(ge)字(zì)怎么(zěnme)写(xiě)？How do you write this character?

读(dú)to read (aloud)Verb1

老师(lǎoshī)读(dú)，我们(wǒmen)听(tīng)。The teacher reads aloud and we listen.

打(dǎ)to hit; to play (a ball game)Verb1

我们(wǒmen)下午(xiàwǔ)去(qù)打(dǎ)球(qiú)吧(ba)。Let's go and play ball this afternoon.

The verb for many things done with the hands: 打(dǎ)电话(diànhuà), to make a call.

洗(xǐ)to washVerb1

吃饭(chīfàn)前(qián)要(yào)洗(xǐ)手(shǒu)。You should wash your hands before eating.

笑(xiào)to laugh; to smileVerb1

孩子们(háizimen)都(dōu)笑(xiào)了(le)。The children all laughed.

没有(méiyǒu)not to have; there is notVerb1

我(wǒ)没有(méiyǒu)哥哥(gēge)。I haven't got an older brother.

Never 不(bù)有(yǒu).

Adverb (2)

不(bù)not; noAdverb1

我(wǒ)不(bú)是(shì)老师(lǎoshī)。I'm not a teacher.

Becomes bú before a fourth tone: 不(bú)是(shì).

没(méi)not (did not, have not)Adverb1

他(tā)还(hái)没(méi)来(lái)。He hasn't come yet.

For the past and for 有(yǒu); 不(bù) for the present, habits and the future.

This list belongs to The scaffolding — 21 lists and 842 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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