Browse "Verb" Characters

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

比较

bǐ jiào

比较 (bǐ jiào) is a versatile word meaning 'to c

退步

tuì bù

'退步' (tuì bù) literally means 'to step back'

跑步

pǎo bù

跑步 literally combines 跑 (pǎo, 'to run') and 步

步行

bù xíng

步行 means 'to walk' as a verb, referring specific

享乐

xiǎng lè

享乐 (xiǎng lè) literally combines 享 (to enjoy,

乐于

lè yú

乐于 (lè yú) is a compound expression meaning 'w

守望

shǒu wàng

守望 is a compound verb meaning 'to keep watch' or

失望

shī wàng

失望 (shī wàng) literally means 'to lose hope'

盼望

pàn wàng

盼望 is a verb meaning 'to long for' or 'to look f

转晴

zhuǎn qíng

‘转晴’ is a compound verb meaning ‘to turn clea

放晴

fàng qíng

放晴 (fàng qíng) is a verb meaning 'to clear up'

旅居

lǚ jū

旅居 literally combines 旅 (lǚ), meaning 'travel'

旅游

lǚ yóu

‘旅游’ (lǚ yóu) is a compound word meaning ‘t

旁听

páng tīng

'旁听' literally means 'listen from the side' — c

旁观

páng guān

'旁观' literally means 'to observe from the side'

考证

kǎo zhèng

考证 (kǎo zhèng) is a formal verb meaning 'to ve

考研

kǎo yán

考研 (kǎo yán) literally means 'to take the grad

考察

kǎo chá

‘考察’ (kǎo chá) is a formal verb meaning ‘to

找机会

zhǎo jī huì

'找机会' literally means 'to look for an opportuni

找借口

zhǎo jiè kǒu

'找借口' literally means 'to find an excuse' — it

找麻烦

zhǎo má fan

'找麻烦' literally means 'to look for trouble' —

找工作

zhǎo gōng zuò

'找工作' literally combines '找' (to look for or s

找人

zhǎo rén

‘找人’ literally combines 找 (zhǎo), meaning 't

找到

zhǎo dào

找到 (zhǎo dào) is a compound verb meaning 'to f

洗手

xǐ shǒu

洗手 literally means 'to wash hand(s)' — the verb

不懂装懂

bù dǒng zhuāng dǒng

'Bù dǒng zhuāng dǒng' literally means 'not und

看懂

kàn dǒng

看懂 is a compound verb meaning 'to understand (so

听懂

tīng dǒng

听懂 is a compound verb meaning 'to understand (so

懂得

dǒng de

懂得 (dǒng de) is a verb meaning 'to understand'

怠慢

dài màn

怠慢 (dài màn) is a two-character verb meaning '

慢待

màn dài

‘慢待’ is a formal, slightly literary verb meani

平息

píng xī

平息 (píng xī) is a verb meaning 'to quell' or '

呼吸

hū xī

‘呼吸’ is a compound verb meaning 'to breathe'—

反思

fǎn sī

反思 means 'to reflect (on oneself)' — specifical

思念

sī niàn

思念 (sī niàn) is a compound word expressing dee

思索

sī suǒ

思索 means 'to ponder' or 'to ruminate' — to thin

思考

sī kǎo

思考 (sī kǎo) is a verb meaning 'to think' or 't

忙乎

máng hu

‘忙乎’ is a colloquial verb meaning ‘to bustle

向往

xiàng wǎng

‘向往’ is a verb meaning ‘to yearn for’, ‘to

往来

wǎng lái

‘往来’ (wǎng lái) literally combines ‘往’ (t