Appendix B
Chinese Verbs
Here’s a handy list of useful Chinese verbs. For a general description of how verbs work in Chinese, see Chapter 3.
àn (ahn): to press
ānpái (ahn-pye): to arrange; to schedule
ānzhuāng (ahn-jwahng): to install
bāngmáng (bahng-mahng): to help
bō (baw): to dial
cānjiā (tsahn-jyah): to participate
chàng (chahng): to sing
chī (chir): to eat
chǐdào (chir-daow): to be late
chóngxīn kāijī (choong-sheen kye-jee): to reboot
chuān (chwan): to wear
chuī (chway): to blow
cún qián (tswun chyan): to deposit money
dǎ (dah): to hit; to strike; to play
dài (dye): to bring; to carry; to wear (accessories)
děng (duhng): to wait
diǎn (dyan): to order (food)
dǒng (doong): to understand
è (uh): to be hungry
fēi (fay): to fly
fù zhàng (foo jahng): to pay a bill
gǎibiàn (gye-byan): to change
gǎnjué (gahn-jweh): to feel
gǎnxiè (gahn-shyeh): to thank
gàosù (gaow-soo): to tell
gāoxìng (gaow-sheeng): to be happy
gěi (gay): to give
gōngzuò (goong-dzwaw): to work
guà (gwah): to hang up
guān (gwan): to close
gūjì (goo-jee): to estimate
guò (gwaw): to pass
hē (huh): to drink
hézuò (huh-dzwaw): to cooperate
huà (hwah): to paint
huàn (hwahn): to exchange
huānyíng (hwahn-eeng): to welcome
huí (hway): to return
huì (hway): to know how to do something
hūxī (hoo-she): to breathe
jiàn (jyan): to see
jiǎng (jyahng): to speak
jiànlì (jyan-lee): to set up
jiànyì (jyan-ee): to suggest
jiào (jyaow): to call
jiē (jyeh): to answer (a phone call)
jiè (jyeh): to loan; to borrow
jiěfàng (jyeh-fahng): to liberate
jiéhūn (jyeh-hwun): to marry
jiějué (jyeh-jweh ): to solve
jièshào (jyeh-shaow): to introduce
jiézhàng (jyeh-jahng): to pay the bill
jiù (jyoe): to save (a life)
juédìng (jyweh-deeng): to decide
kāi (kye): to open
kāi chē (kye chuh): to drive
kāihuì (kye-hway): to have or be in a meeting
kàn (kahn): to read; to look; to see
kě (kuh): to be thirsty
lái (lye): to come
liànxí (lyan-she): to practice
líkāi (lee-kye): to leave
liú (lyoe): to leave (an object; a message)
mà (mah): to scold
mǎi (my): to buy
mài (my): to sell
máng (mahng): to be busy
mílù (mee-loo): to get lost
ná (nah): to pick up; to take
néng (nuhng): to be able to
pànjué (pahn-jweh): to make a legal decision
qiān rù (chyan roo): to log on
qiān chū (chyan choo): to log off
qǐng (cheeng): to invite
qù (chyew): to go
qǔ qián (chyew chyan): to withdraw money
qǔxiāo (chyew-shyaow): to cancel
ràng (rahng): to permit
rènshi (run-shir): to know (a person); to recognize
shàng (shahng): to get on
shàngwǎng (shahng-wahng): to go online
shì (shir): to be
shōu (show): to receive
shòu (show): to accept (money, tickets, and so on)
shū (shoo): to lose
shuō (shwaw): to speak
sòng (soong): to send
tánpàn (tahn-pahn): to negotiate
tǎolùn (taow-lwun): to discuss
tián (tyan): to fill out (a form)
tīng (teeng): to hear; to listen to
tóngyì (toong-ee): to agree
tuìfáng (tway-fahng): to check out (of hotel room)
tuìhuí (tway-hway): to return (merchandise)
tuōyùn (twaw-yewn): to check in luggage
wǎn (wahn): to play
wàng (wahng): to forget
wèn (one): to ask
xǐ (she): to wash
xià (shyah): to get off
xiǎng (shyahng): to think; to miss
xiàzài (shyah-dzye): to download
xǐhuān (she-hwan): to like; to enjoy
xīn (sheen): to believe
xuǎnzé (shwan-dzuh): to choose
xuéxí (shweh-she): to study
yǎnshì (yan shir): to give a presentation
yào (yaow): to want
yíng (eeng): to win
yòng (yoong): to use
yǒu (yo): to have; there are
yóulǎn (yo-lahn): to sightsee
yóuyǒng (yo-yoong): to swim
yuànyì (ywan-yee): to be willing to
yùsuàn (yew-swan): to budget
zhǎo (jaow): to look for
zhàoxiàng (jaow-shyahng): to take pictures
zhīdào (jir-daow): to know (a fact)
zhù (joo): to reside; to extend wishes
zhuā (jwah): to catch
zhuǎn (jwan): to transfer; to turn
zhuāngrù (jwahng-roo): to pack
zhuǎnzū (jwan-dzoo): to sublet
zhǔchí (joo-chir): to lead
zǒu (lù) (dzoe [loo]): to walk
zū (dzoo): to rent
zuò (dzwaw): to do; to make; to sit
zuò fàn (dzwaw fahn): to cook