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.

有机会

yǒu jī huì

‘有机会’ literally combines three characters: 有

有空

yǒu kòng

'Yǒu kòng' literally combines 'yǒu' (to have) a

明白了

míng bai le

‘明白了’ (míng bai le) is a common verbal phras

来了

lái le

‘来了’ is a common verb phrase indicating that s

走了

zǒu le

'Zǒu le' literally combines the verb 'zǒu' (to g

不用

bù yòng

‘不用’ (bù yòng) literally combines ‘not’ (

不要

bù yào

'不要' (bù yào) is a two-character verb phrase m

不能

bù néng

不能 (bù néng) is a two-character verb meaning '

Its oracle bone roots show a person deliberately l

This 'capture' character hides a baby in its right

diào

Its left side is metal (钅), its right side means

This 'vinegar' character is literally 'old wine'

退

tuì

Born from an oracle-bone image of a foot backing a

yuè

Its ancient bronze-script form shows a foot vaulti

xún

Born from ancient ritual consultation, 询 looks li

shè

Though only 6 strokes, 设 hides ancient bureaucrac

dìng

This 4-stroke character hides 3,000 years of contr

This character began as a pictograph of a person l