Giving, taking, looking for, waiting, lending, remembering and forgetting.
The verbs of handling things and dealing with people. Several of them leave the direction open that English builds into the verb: 借 is both “borrow” and “lend”, and only 借给 makes it “lend to”; 送 is giving a present, seeing somebody off and delivering. A few, like 帮忙 and 见面, already contain their object and cannot take another.
The words
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Verb (40)
帮助to help; helpVerb2
她常常帮助新同学。She often helps new classmates.
In speech often just 帮.
帮忙to help, do a favourVerb2
你能帮我一个忙吗？Could you do me a favour?
Separable, with no object of its own: 帮我一个忙, never 帮忙我.
找to look forVerb2
你在找什么？What are you looking for?
Looking; finding is 找到.
等to wait (for)Verb2
等我一下，我马上来。Wait for me a moment — I’m coming.
给to giveVerb1
他给了我一本书。He gave me a book.
Also a preposition, “to, for”: 给妈妈打电话.
送to give (as a present); to see off; to take, deliverVerb2
我开车送你去机场。I’ll drive you to the airport.
带to take, bring (along)Verb2
今天会下雨，带把伞吧。It’s going to rain today — take an umbrella.
拿to take, hold, carry (in the hand)Verb2
请帮我拿一下这个包。Could you hold this bag for me for a moment?
用to useVerb2
我可以用一下你的笔吗？May I use your pen for a moment?
开to open; to switch on; to driveVerb2
太热了，开窗户吧。It’s too hot — let’s open the window.
Also for lights and machines: 开灯, to switch the light on.
打开to open; to switch onVerb2
请打开书，看第十页。Please open your books at page ten.
关to close, shut; to switch offVerb2
睡觉前请关好门。Please shut the door properly before you go to bed.
告诉to tellVerb2
请告诉我你的地址。Please tell me your address.
介绍to introduceVerb2
我来介绍一下，这是我的同事小李。Let me introduce you: this is my colleague Xiao Li.
准备to prepare, get readyVerb2
我在准备明天的考试。I’m preparing for tomorrow’s exam.
借to borrow; to lendVerb2
我能借你的自行车吗？Can I borrow your bike?
To lend: 借给他, to lend to him.
还to give back, returnVerb2
书看完了，我明天还你。I’ve finished the book — I’ll give it back to you tomorrow.
huán here; hái is the adverb “still”.
放to put, placeVerb2
你把钥匙放在哪儿了？Where did you put the keys?
丢to lose; to throw awayVerb2
我的钱包丢了。I’ve lost my wallet.
扔to throw; to throw awayVerb2
别把纸扔在地上。Don’t throw paper on the floor.
忘记to forgetVerb2
我忘记他叫什么名字了。I’ve forgotten what his name is.
In speech often just 忘: 我忘了.
记得to rememberVerb2
你还记得我吗？Do you still remember me?
记住to memorise, keep in mindVerb2
请记住我的电话号码。Please remember my phone number.
记得 is having it in memory; 记住 is fixing it there.
掉to fall, drop; to loseVerb2
手机掉在地上了。My phone fell on the floor.
Also after a verb, “away, off”: 扔掉, to throw away.
出to go out, come outVerb2
出了地铁站往右走。When you come out of the underground station, turn right.
完to finish; to be overVerb2
作业写完了吗？Have you finished your homework?
Mostly after another verb: 吃完, 看完.
开始to begin, startVerb2
会议九点开始。The meeting starts at nine.
结束to end, finishVerb2
比赛什么时候结束？When does the match finish?
接to pick up, meet (a person); to answer (the phone); to catchVerb2
我去火车站接朋友。I’m going to the station to meet a friend.
The opposite of 送 when somebody travels: you meet them on arrival and see them off.
让to let; to make (somebody do)Verb2
妈妈不让我晚上出去。Mum doesn’t let me go out in the evening.
需要to needVerb2
你需要帮忙吗？Do you need any help?
见面to meet, see each otherVerb2
我们明天在哪儿见面？Where shall we meet tomorrow?
Takes no object: 跟他见面, never 见面他.
留to stay; to keep; to leave (behind)Verb2
给我留一个座位吧。Save a seat for me.
碰to touch; to bump intoVerb2
别碰这个，很热！Don’t touch that, it’s hot!
Meeting by chance: 碰到, to run into.
装to put in, pack, fillVerb2
箱子里装满了书。The box is packed full of books.
猜to guessVerb2
你猜我今天见到谁了？Guess who I saw today!
讲to tell; to explain; to speakVerb2
奶奶每天晚上给我讲故事。Grandma tells me a story every evening.
寄to send (by post)Verb2
我给朋友寄了一张明信片。I sent a friend a postcard.
请客to treat (somebody), pay for othersVerb2
今天我请客，你们随便点。Today it’s my treat — order whatever you like.
