Chinese Verbs to Help You Learn Basic Mandarin

In any language, verbs play an important role in ensuring accurate expression. This is also true if you want to learn basic Mandarin. In this article, we look at the most common verbs in Chinese to help kick-start your learning process. By familiarising yourself with these beginner Chinese verbs which will help you to construct sentences that make sense, you will be well on your way to fluency in Mandarin.

So whether you want to brush up on Mandarin verbs in preparation for a trip to China, or for career or personal reasons, this article is for you.

Understanding Chinese Verbs

Unlike many other languages, Mandarin Chinese does not conjugate verbs at all.

The difference is that Mandarin verbs are used in their infinitive form in both written and spoken communication. This is great news if you want to learn basic Mandarin and increase your beginner Chinese words at the same time because you will only need to learn one verb tense – the infinitive.

In Mandarin, infinitive verbs remain unchanged regardless of usage.

This is great news for Mandarin learners because it means you only need to learn one verb tense: the infinitive, which remains unchanged regardless of its usage. However, it's important to note that word order plays a crucial role in spoken, as well as written, Chinese.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to use the infinitive form of a verb, like "to do," and still be understood? Well, while you can’t do this in English or Spanish when it comes to some of the common verbs in Chinese, your wish is granted. As a beginner learning Chinese, you might be wondering, how then do you express time and subject without verb conjugation?

In Mandarin Chinese, we have the advantage of using post-verb modal and temporal structures, which enable us to add context to our words and phrases so that we can improve communication. These structures allow us to convey information regarding:

1. Weather: You can discuss weather conditions using specific modal and temporal expressions.
2. Aspect: You can describe particular aspects using these structures.
3. Order: By using these structures, you can indicate the sequence or order of events or actions.
4. Process: This enables you to express the specific process or procedure involved in a particular situation.

With the help of these post-verb modal and temporal structures, you can use your beginner Chinese words more effectively.

Once you have mastered your beginner Mandarin words and common verbs, you can begin constructing sentences in Chinese to enrich your use of the language.  

A good example of this is the phrase:

1. Chinese PinYin - N? jiào shénme?
2. The literal translation - how-to-be-first-name.
3. The English meaning - what is your first name?

Essential Chinese Verbs:  'To Be'  

Understanding the verb 'to be' is vital for the reading of Chinese texts. Knowing its proper usage, as well as that of other verbs, is essential. Direct translation from English may not always yield accurate Chinese expressions.

In English, the use of 'to be' does not directly translate to the Chinese 'shì.' In Chinese, 'shì' encompasses a group of verbs, which means English speakers need to understand its specific usage. To communicate accurately with native Chinese speakers, translation mistakes need to be avoided.   Here are some examples of how the meaning of ‘to be’ changes:

1. Y?uxiào - To be valid
2. Y?umíng - To be famous
3. y?uqián - To be rich
4. y?u yìsi - to be interesting
5. Y?uy?ng - To be useful

Other Mandarin verbs, though not directly connected ‘to be' are qualitative, which means they express a detailed state.

1. dáà - To be big
2. guì - To be expensive
3. xi?o - To be small
4. h?okàn - To be beautiful

Import Action Chinese Verbs 

Action verbs like “walk” "have," "give," and others are extremely valuable for language learning. In Mandarin Chinese, these action verbs are typically accompanied by particles that provide more specific information. If you want to learn basic Mandarin, by being aware of this when constructing sentences, you will enhance both your grammar and speaking ability.

Common Action Mandarin Verbs Are:

1. kàn - To look
2. p?o- To run
3. zuò- To sit
4. z?u - To go
5. n?- To take
6. xuéxí - To learn or study
7. xi? - To write
8. Yôu - To have
9. tíngzh? - To stop
10. maí- To buy or sell

Using Common Verbs in Chinese to Express a Request

Effective communication is extremely important because it enables us to express our daily needs. Whether you are speaking to a waiter or asking for directions, learning a language encompasses more than just acquiring general speaking skills; it involves using the ability to express ourselves and communicate what truly matters to us. Each language may offer unique methods for achieving this, but regardless of the language we speak, we all aspire to attain sufficient proficiency to effectively convey our priorities.

Even during a Chinese lesson, it becomes necessary to express a request for the teacher to slow down. Being able to articulate our opinions, emotions, and evaluations of various situations is indispensable for daily communication, regardless of whether it's in English, Chinese, or any other language and culture.

Here are some important examples:

• W? bù x?hu?n - I do not like…

This phrase can help you to construct other sentences like:

•  W? bù è - I am not hungry

Here is a list of the main Chinese verbs to demonstrate will or demand:

1. Juédé - To feel
2. Xuéxí - To learn
3. Xi?ng – To desire
4. yáofán - To beg
5. wèn- To ask
6. Yào - To want
7. G?i - to give

Chinese Verbs to Express Enjoyment

The verb xiâng, one of the common verbs in Chinese, can be tricky to understand because it has so many different meanings. See the examples below:

• Thinking about (someone, something).
• Desiring, to want, to want to.
• To miss something.
• Enjoying something.

An example of this is:

• N? xi?ng qù n?l?? - Where would you like to go?

While mastering the sentence structure for the verb "xiâng" may initially seem complex, studying regular usage examples will aid in your understanding. Although "xiâng" is typically pronounced with the third tone, it can exhibit tone changes within a sentence.

Beginner Chinese Words Useful for Travelling

Besides learning how to express yourself regarding actions, situations, or objects, it can be advantageous to memorise both beginner Chinese words and common verbs in Chinese if you are travelling to China.

If you want to learn basic Mandarin, here are a few essential words to add to your phrase book.

1. Dâdiànhuà - To phone someone
2. Dashu - To take water
3. Zhâo- To search (directions, places, friends)
4. Dêng- To wait (for someone)
5. Huídá- To answer
6. Ch?uy?n - To smoke
7. Shuöhuà - To talk

Here are practical examples of verbs in action  

• T?men zài y?q? liáoti?n, translated means they talk together.
• W? zài d?ng w? fùq?n, translated means I am waiting for my father.
• N? g?i w? shu?, translated means you give me water.
• W? d? diànhuà g?i m?m? translated means, I call mom.
• W? juédé hóngchá h?n h?o h? – translated means, black tea is very good.
• W? zh?oqián – translated means, I am looking for money.
• N? mài sh? ma? – translated means, do you sell books?
• W? m?iti?n d? ch?uy?n – translated means, I smoke every day.

So, apart from paying attention to the tonal pronunciation of Mandarin, it is necessary to devote oneself to mastering sentence structure, verbs, and vocabulary to have fluent conversations in Chinese.

Another tip if you want to learn basic Mandarin, is to learn the most common Chinese verbs. You will also want to practise your sentence structure, to do this, try carrying a Chinese-English dictionary around with you to help you construct sentences on the go.

Finally, don’t forget to memorise a selection of essential Mandarin verbs during your studies. Not only will this knowledge support your conversations and facilitate day-to-day interactions if you are residing in China, but it will also help to improve your grades if you are studying. Regardless of your lifestyle, dedicating a significant amount of time to learning Chinese verbs will empower you to improve your fluency and conversational skills, regardless of your location. Come on, are you ready to embark on this adventure?