How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Traditional Chinese words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 98 at the easy level, 86 at the medium level and 62 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Traditional Chinese vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Traditional Chinese vocabulary: basic verbs

To be, to have, to go, to do, to want: the basic Traditional Chinese verbs, the ones found in almost every sentence.

Here are 100 Traditional Chinese words on “Core verbs”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Traditional Chinese	English
增加	to add
回答	to answer
認識	to be familiar withBe familiar with someone or something
成為	to becomeChange from one state to another
建造	to build
買	to buy
叫	to call
攜帶	to carryHave on you, carry around
來	to come
回來	to come back
創造	to create
死	to die
進入	to enter
解釋	to explain
完成	to finish
回家	to go home
上升	to go up
尋找	to look for
失去	to lose
遇見	to meet
打開	to open
經過	to pass
玩	to play
阻止	to prevent
保護	to protect
拉	to pull
讀	to read
收到	to receive
說	to say
服務	to serve
分享	to share
微笑	to smile
開始	to start
停止	to stop
使用	to use
等待	to waitBe patient, let time pass
想要	to want
納悶	to wonder
工作	to work
寫	to write

Level 2: medium 35 words

Traditional Chinese	English
接受	to accept
攻擊	to attack
需要	to be necessary
打破	to break
帶來	to bringBring something towards the speaker
坦白	to confess
穿越	to cross
哭	to cry
決定	to decide
摧毀	to destroy
消失	to disappear
感覺	to feelPerceive a physical sensation or an emotion
打鬥	to fight
起床	to get up
下降	to go down
想像	to imagine
跳	to jump
愛	to love
移動	to move
注意到	to notice
提議	to offer
組織	to organise
移除	to remove
修理	to repair
替換	to replace
休息	to rest
跑	to run
成功	to succeed
支持	to support
講述	to tellNarrate, tell a story
丟棄	to throw away
摸	to touch
走	to walk
抽出	to withdraw
記下	to write down

Level 3: hard 25 words

Traditional Chinese	English
懇求	to beg
屬於	to belong
抓住	to catch
閒聊	to chat
打掃	to clean
批評	to criticise
要求	to demand
依賴	to depend
分割	to divide
倒空	to empty
估計	to estimate
失敗	to fail
強迫	to force
聚集	to gather
穿衣	to get dressed
居住	to live in
撿起	to pick up
規劃	to plan
偏好	to prefer
坐	to sit down
握緊	to squeeze
開	to switch on
帶走	to take alongTake someone along with you
威脅	to threaten
低聲說	to whisper

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Traditional Chinese words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 98 at the easy level, 86 at the medium level and 62 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Traditional Chinese vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Traditional Chinese vocabulary on iPhone.