Pushing, pulling, lifting, bending and the gestures people make.
Chinese has its own verb for many movements that English lumps together under "carry", "hold" or "lift": a child is held in the arms, 抱, a heavy thing is lifted or carried between people, 抬, a hand is gripped, 握. Many gestures are a verb plus the part of the body it moves — 点头, 摇头, 挥手, 弯腰 — and a doubled verb makes a movement brief: 揉了揉眼睛, gave his eyes a quick rub.
The words
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Verb (40)
抬to raise; to lift; to carry (between people)Verb3
他抬起头看了一眼天空。He raised his head and glanced at the sky.
To raise a part of the body, or for two or more people to carry something between them.
推to pushVerb2
车坏了，我们只好下来推。The car broke down, so we had to get out and push.
拉to pullVerb2
这扇门要拉，不是推。This door is a pull, not a push.
踢to kickVerb3
别在屋子里踢球！Do not play football in the house!
扛to carry on the shoulderVerb3
他扛着一袋米上了五楼。He carried a sack of rice up to the fifth floor on his shoulder.
握to hold; to gripVerb3
她紧紧地握着妈妈的手。She held her mother’s hand tight.
握手to shake handsVerb3
第一次见面，两个人握手问好。Meeting for the first time, the two of them shook hands and said hello.
抱to hold in the arms; to hugVerb3
她抱着孩子等公交车。She is waiting for the bus with the child in her arms.
拥抱to embrace; to hugVerb3
毕业那天，同学们互相拥抱。On graduation day the classmates hugged each other.
The fuller, more formal word; in speech a hug is usually just 抱, which is also the word for holding a child.
躺to lie (down)Verb3
我头疼，想躺一会儿。I have a headache and want to lie down for a while.
蹲to squat; to crouchVerb3
他蹲在地上找钥匙。He is crouching on the ground looking for his keys.
跪to kneelVerb3
他跪在地上擦地板。He is on his knees scrubbing the floor.
爬to crawl; to climbVerb3
我们的孩子八个月就会爬了。Our baby could crawl at eight months.
弯to bendVerb3
把腿弯一下，再慢慢站起来。Bend your legs, then slowly stand up.
弯腰to bend downVerb3
他弯腰把书捡了起来。He bent down and picked up the book.
低头to lower the head; to look downVerb3
很多人走路的时候也低头看手机。Many people look down at their phones even while walking.
摸to touch; to stroke; to feelVerb3
这只猫不让人摸。This cat does not let anyone stroke it.
揉to rubVerb3
别用手揉眼睛。Do not rub your eyes with your hands.
跳to jumpVerb2
小狗高兴得跳了起来。The puppy jumped up with joy.
跑to runVerb2
他跑得比我快多了。He runs much faster than I do.
走路to walk; to go on footVerb2
我家离公司很近，走路十分钟就到。My home is close to the office; it is only ten minutes on foot.
摔倒to fall overVerb3
路很滑，我差点儿摔倒。The road was slippery, and I nearly fell over.
捂to cover (with the hand)Verb3
她捂着嘴笑了。She laughed with her hand over her mouth.
伸懒腰to stretch (oneself)Verb3
坐了一上午，他站起来伸懒腰。After sitting all morning, he stood up and had a stretch.
Literally "to stretch the lazy waist".
招手to beckon; to wave (somebody over)Verb3
在路边招手就能叫到出租车。You can hail a taxi just by waving at the roadside.
招手 calls somebody over; 挥手 waves hello or goodbye.
举to hold up; to raiseVerb3
他举着一个牌子在出口等我。He was waiting for me at the exit, holding up a sign.
伸to stretch out; to stick outVerb3
别把头伸出车窗外。Do not stick your head out of the car window.
挥手to wave (the hand)Verb3
她站在门口向我们挥手。She stood at the door waving to us.
点头to nodVerb3
他没说话，只是点头。He said nothing and only nodded.
摇头to shake one’s headVerb3
我问她饿不饿，她摇头说不饿。I asked her if she was hungry; she shook her head and said no.
As in English, shaking the head means no and nodding, 点头, means yes.
回头to turn one’s head; to look backVerb3
听到有人叫我，我回头一看，是我的老同学。I heard someone call me, looked round, and it was an old classmate.
Also an adverb in speech: 回头见, see you later.
转身to turn roundVerb3
他没说再见，转身就走了。He turned and left without saying goodbye.
靠to lean (against)Verb3
请不要靠在车门上。Please do not lean on the doors.
鞠躬to bowVerb3
他向老师深深地鞠了一个躬。He made a deep bow to the teacher.
Separable, as here: 鞠了一个躬.
打哈欠to yawnVerb3
他一边听课一边打哈欠。He kept yawning all through the lesson.
鼓掌to applaudVerb3
表演结束后，大家都站起来鼓掌。When the performance ended, everyone stood up and applauded.
深呼吸to take a deep breathVerb3
紧张的时候先深呼吸几次。When you feel nervous, first take a few deep breaths.
指to point (at)Verb3
他指着地图告诉我怎么走。Pointing at the map, he showed me which way to go.
眨眼to blink; to winkVerb3
一眨眼的工夫，孩子就不见了。In the blink of an eye the child was gone.
动to moveVerb2
别动，你头发上有一片叶子。Do not move — there is a leaf in your hair.
This list belongs to The body and health — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.