4 · 40 words

Verbs for causes, results and attitudes

The verbs that say what causes what, what something shows, and how people take things.

These verbs carry the argument of a newspaper article or a report: what led to what, what a fact shows, what was achieved. Most are two syllables and take abstract objects — 实现(shíxiàn)梦想(mèngxiǎng), to realise a dream, 满足(mǎnzú)需要(xūyào), to meet a need — and these pairings are worth learning whole, because the verb that fits one noun often does not fit its English equivalent. Watch three verbs of cause: 引起(yǐnqǐ) is neutral, while 造成(zàochéng) and 导致(dǎozhì) usually lead to something bad.

The words

Verb (40)

影响(yǐngxiǎng)to influence; to affect; influenceVerb3

天气(tiānqì)会(huì)影响(yǐngxiǎng)人(rén)的(de)心情(xīnqíng)。The weather affects people's mood.

Also a noun: 受(shòu)影响(yǐngxiǎng), to be affected.

促进(cùjìn)to promote; to boostVerb4

多(duō)交流(jiāoliú)能(néng)促进(cùjìn)两(liǎng)国(guó)人民(rénmín)的(de)了解(liǎojiě)。More exchange can promote understanding between the people of two countries.

Formal; the object is usually something abstract.

实现(shíxiàn)to realise; to achieve (a goal, a dream)Verb4

她(tā)努力(nǔlì)了(le)十(shí)年(nián)，实现(shíxiàn)了(le)成为(chéngwéi)医生(yīshēng)的(de)梦想(mèngxiǎng)。After ten years of hard work she realised her dream of becoming a doctor.

适应(shìyìng)to adapt to; to get used toVerb4

刚(gāng)来(lái)的(de)时候(shíhou)，我(wǒ)很(hěn)不(bú)适应(shìyìng)这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)气候(qìhòu)。When I first came, I found it hard to get used to the climate here.

满足(mǎnzú)to satisfy; to meet (a need)Verb4

这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)的(de)服务(fúwù)能(néng)满足(mǎnzú)不同(bùtóng)客人(kèrén)的(de)需要(xūyào)。This shop's service can meet the needs of different customers.

Not the same as 满意(mǎnyì), to be pleased with something.

承认(chéngrèn)to admit; to acknowledgeVerb4

他(tā)终于(zhōngyú)承认(chéngrèn)是(shì)自己(zìjǐ)错(cuò)了(le)。He finally admitted that he was the one who was wrong.

否认(fǒurèn)to denyVerb4

他(tā)否认(fǒurèn)自己(zìjǐ)说(shuō)过(guo)这(zhè)句(jù)话(huà)。He denied ever having said that.

证明(zhèngmíng)to prove; to show; proofVerb4

事实(shìshí)证明(zhèngmíng)他(tā)的(de)判断(pànduàn)是(shì)对(duì)的(de)。The facts proved his judgement right.

As a noun also a certificate: 工作(gōngzuò)证明(zhèngmíng).

反映(fǎnyìng)to reflect; to report (a problem to sb.)Verb4

这(zhè)部(bù)电影(diànyǐng)反映(fǎnyìng)了(le)普通(pǔtōng)人(rén)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)。This film reflects the lives of ordinary people.

Not to be confused with 反应(fǎnyìng), a reaction — same sound.

体现(tǐxiàn)to embody; to showVerb4

这些(zhèxiē)小(xiǎo)细节(xìjié)体现(tǐxiàn)了(le)他(tā)对(duì)客人(kèrén)的(de)尊重(zūnzhòng)。These small details show his respect for his guests.

追求(zhuīqiú)to pursue; to seekVerb4

每(měi)个(ge)人(rén)都(dōu)有(yǒu)权利(quánlì)追求(zhuīqiú)幸福(xìngfú)。Everyone has the right to pursue happiness.

Also to court someone.

依靠(yīkào)to rely on; to depend onVerb4

他(tā)不(bù)想(xiǎng)再(zài)依靠(yīkào)父母(fùmǔ)生活(shēnghuó)。He doesn't want to depend on his parents any longer.

避免(bìmiǎn)to avoidVerb4

为了(wèile)避免(bìmiǎn)堵车(dǔchē)，我们(wǒmen)早上(zǎoshang)六(liù)点(diǎn)就(jiù)出发(chūfā)了(le)。To avoid the traffic, we set off at six in the morning.

加强(jiāqiáng)to strengthen; to step upVerb4

学校(xuéxiào)决定(juédìng)加强(jiāqiáng)对(duì)学生(xuésheng)的(de)安全(ānquán)教育(jiàoyù)。The school has decided to step up safety education for its pupils.

扩大(kuòdà)to expand; to enlargeVerb4

公司(gōngsī)打算(dǎsuàn)明年(míngnián)扩大(kuòdà)生产(shēngchǎn)。The company plans to expand production next year.

改善(gǎishàn)to improve (conditions, relations)Verb4

搬(bān)到(dào)新(xīn)家(jiā)以后(yǐhòu)，他们(tāmen)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)条件(tiáojiàn)改善(gǎishàn)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)。Their living conditions improved a great deal after they moved.

For conditions and relations; a skill or a level is 提高(tígāo).

取得(qǔdé)to obtain; to achieve (results)Verb4

她(tā)在(zài)比赛(bǐsài)中(zhōng)取得(qǔdé)了(le)好(hǎo)成绩(chéngjì)。She did well in the competition.

获得(huòdé)to gain; to win; to obtainVerb4

这(zhè)部(bù)小说(xiǎoshuō)获得(huòdé)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)读者(dúzhě)的(de)喜爱(xǐ'ài)。This novel has won the affection of many readers.

对待(duìdài)to treat; to deal withVerb4

他(tā)对待(duìdài)每(měi)个(ge)客人(kèrén)都(dōu)很(hěn)热情(rèqíng)。He treats every guest warmly.

具备(jùbèi)to possess; to have (the conditions, qualities)Verb4

这个(zhège)工作(gōngzuò)要求(yāoqiú)具备(jùbèi)一定(yídìng)的(de)经验(jīngyàn)。This job requires a certain amount of experience.

存在(cúnzài)to existVerb4

这个(zhège)计划(jìhuà)还(hái)存在(cúnzài)一些(yìxiē)问题(wèntí)。There are still some problems with this plan.

属于(shǔyú)to belong toVerb4

这些(zhèxiē)书(shū)属于(shǔyú)学校(xuéxiào)图书馆(túshūguǎn)，不(bù)能(néng)带回(dàihuí)家(jiā)。These books belong to the school library and cannot be taken home.

包括(bāokuò)to includeVerb4

房租(fángzū)包括(bāokuò)水费(shuǐfèi)和(hé)电费(diànfèi)。The rent includes water and electricity.

符合(fúhé)to conform to; to meet (requirements)Verb4

你(nǐ)的(de)条件(tiáojiàn)完全(wánquán)符合(fúhé)我们(wǒmen)的(de)要求(yāoqiú)。You fully meet our requirements.

引起(yǐnqǐ)to cause; to give rise to; to attract (attention)Verb4

他(tā)的(de)话(huà)引起(yǐnqǐ)了(le)大家(dàjiā)的(de)注意(zhùyì)。What he said caught everyone's attention.

造成(zàochéng)to cause (usually something bad)Verb4

这(zhè)场(cháng)大(dà)雪(xuě)造成(zàochéng)了(le)严重(yánzhòng)的(de)交通(jiāotōng)问题(wèntí)。The heavy snow caused serious traffic problems.

导致(dǎozhì)to lead to; to result inVerb4

长期(chángqī)熬夜(áoyè)会(huì)导致(dǎozhì)身体(shēntǐ)变(biàn)差(chà)。Staying up late over long periods leads to poorer health.

产生(chǎnshēng)to produce; to give rise to; to ariseVerb4

两(liǎng)个(ge)人(rén)之间(zhījiān)产生(chǎnshēng)了(le)误会(wùhuì)。A misunderstanding arose between the two of them.

形成(xíngchéng)to form; to take shapeVerb4

这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)湖(hú)是(shì)几(jǐ)千(qiān)年(nián)前(qián)形成(xíngchéng)的(de)。The lakes here formed several thousand years ago.

表明(biǎomíng)to show; to make clearVerb4

调查(diàochá)表明(biǎomíng)，年轻人(niánqīngrén)越来越(yuèláiyuè)喜欢(xǐhuan)在(zài)网上(wǎngshàng)买(mǎi)东西(dōngxi)。Surveys show that young people increasingly like to shop online.

意味着(yìwèizhe)to mean; to signifyVerb4

换(huàn)工作(gōngzuò)意味着(yìwèizhe)要(yào)重新(chóngxīn)开始(kāishǐ)。Changing jobs means starting again from the beginning.

What something entails; what a word means is 意思(yìsi).

掌握(zhǎngwò)to master; to graspVerb4

学(xué)一(yì)门(mén)外语(wàiyǔ)，首先(shǒuxiān)要(yào)掌握(zhǎngwò)发音(fāyīn)。To learn a foreign language, you first have to master the pronunciation.

显示(xiǎnshì)to show; to displayVerb4

屏幕(píngmù)显示(xiǎnshì)电池(diànchí)快(kuài)没(méi)电(diàn)了(le)。The screen shows that the battery is nearly flat.

发挥(fāhuī)to bring into play; to perform (on the day)Verb4

这(zhè)次(cì)考试(kǎoshì)他(tā)发挥(fāhuī)得(de)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。He performed well in this exam.

面对(miànduì)to face; to confrontVerb4

遇到(yùdào)困难(kùnnan)的(de)时候(shíhou)，要(yào)勇敢(yǒnggǎn)地(de)面对(miànduì)。When you meet difficulties, face them bravely.

缩小(suōxiǎo)to reduce; to narrowVerb4

城市(chéngshì)和(hé)农村(nóngcūn)的(de)差距(chājù)正在(zhèngzài)缩小(suōxiǎo)。The gap between town and country is narrowing.

重视(zhòngshì)to attach importance to; to take seriouslyVerb4

这(zhè)家(jiā)公司(gōngsī)很(hěn)重视(zhòngshì)员工(yuángōng)的(de)意见(yìjiàn)。This company takes its staff's opinions seriously.

忽视(hūshì)to neglect; to overlookVerb4

工作(gōngzuò)再(zài)忙(máng)，也(yě)不(bù)能(néng)忽视(hūshì)健康(jiànkāng)。However busy you are at work, you must not neglect your health.

减轻(jiǎnqīng)to lighten; to easeVerb4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)药(yào)可以(kěyǐ)减轻(jiǎnqīng)疼痛(téngtòng)。This medicine can ease the pain.

克服(kèfú)to overcomeVerb4

她(tā)克服(kèfú)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)困难(kùnnan)，终于(zhōngyú)毕业(bìyè)了(le)。She overcame many difficulties and finally graduated.

This list belongs to Opinions and abstract words — eight lists and 320 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.