Chinese Vocabulary · 中文词汇
Action and Change Words in Chinese (Part 2)
动作与变化词汇（二） dòngzuò yǔ biànhuà cíhuì
Next time you walk up to a door in a Chinese-speaking place, look for two tiny signs: 推 (tuī, “push”) and 拉 (lā, “pull”). Getting them wrong is a classic beginner moment, and a good reminder that Chinese has a whole family of one-character hand verbs. This lesson is full of them, plus some bigger words for doing, holding and canceling things.
With your hands and body
Hand and Body Action Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 举 | jǔ | To raise; to lift | 들다 | 上げる; 挙げる |
| 拉 | lā | To pull; to drag | 당기다; 끌다 | 引く |
| 量 | liáng | To measure | 재다 | 測る |
| 落 | luò | To fall; to drop | 떨어지다 | 落ちる |
| 拍 | pāi | To take a photo; to pat; to clap | 찍다; 치다; 박수 치다 | 撮る; たたく; 拍手する |
| 敲 | qiāo | To knock; to tap | 두드리다 | たたく; ノックする |
| 扔 | rēng | To throw; to toss | 던지다; 버리다 | 投げる; 捨てる |
| 抬 | tái | To lift; to raise | 들어 올리다 | 持ち上げる |
| 抬头 | táitóu | To raise one’s head; look up | 고개를 들다 | 顔を上げる |
| 弹 | tán | To play (an instrument); to bounce | 연주하다; 튀다 | 弾く; 跳ねる |
| 躺 | tǎng | To lie down | 눕다 | 横になる |
| 提 | tí | To carry; to lift; to mention; to raise | 들다; 언급하다 | 提げる; 言及する |
| 停 | tíng | To stop; to park | 멈추다; 주차하다 | 止まる; 駐車する |
| 推 | tuī | To push | 밀다 | 押す |
| 吸 | xī | To breathe in; to inhale; to absorb | 들이마시다; 흡수하다 | 吸う |
| 压 | yā | To press; to push down | 누르다 | 押さえる; 圧する |
扔 (rēng) vs 丟 (diū)
Both mean “to throw.” Mainland China says 扔 (rēng), while Taiwan more often says 丢 (diū), as in 扔垃圾 (rēng lājī) (throw away the trash). Taiwanese people still understand 扔 (rēng), but you will hear 丟 (diū) much more.
提 (tí) has many jobs
One character, several meanings: to carry something by its handle (提袋子 (tí dàizi)), to lift, to mention something (提到 (tídào) means “to bring up”), and to raise a question (提问 (tíwèn)).
量: liáng or liàng?
As a verb, 量 is liáng, which means “to measure” (量体温 (liáng tǐwēn) means “to take your temperature”). As a noun, it is liàng, which means “amount,” like in 数量 (shùliàng).
Putting it all together
Examples
他躺在床上，用手機拍了一張照片他躺在床上，用手机拍了一张照片He lay on the bed and took a photo with his phone.
我抬頭一看，有人在敲門我抬头一看，有人在敲门I looked up and saw someone knocking on the door.
Getting things done
Doing and Handling Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 交 | jiāo | To hand in; to give; to pay | 내다; 제출하다 | 出す; 渡す; 払う |
| 进入 | jìnrù | To enter | 들어가다 | 入る |
| 进行 | jìnxíng | To carry out; to conduct | 진행하다 | 行う; 進める |
| 举办 | jǔbàn | To hold; to organize | 개최하다 | 開催する |
| 空 | kòng | Empty; vacant | 비다; 틈 | 空く; 空き |
| 留下 | liúxià | To stay; to leave behind | 남기다; 머물다 | 残す; 留まる |
| 面对 | miànduì | To face; to confront | 마주하다; 직면하다 | 向き合う; 直面する |
| 弄 | nòng | To do; to make; to handle | 만지다; 하다 | いじる; する |
| 取得 | qǔdé | To obtain; to achieve | 얻다; 취득하다 | 取得する; 得る |
| 取消 | qǔxiāo | To cancel | 취소하다 | 取り消す; キャンセルする |
| 使用 | shǐyòng | To use | 사용하다 | 使用する |
| 通过 | tōngguò | To pass; to go through; by means of | 통과하다; ~을 통해 | 通過する; ~を通じて |
| 下降 | xiàjiàng | To fall; to decrease; to descend | 하락하다; 내려가다 | 下がる; 下降する |
| 修理 | xiūlǐ | To repair; to fix | 수리하다 | 修理する |
空: kòng or kōng?
When 空 means “free time” or “vacant,” it is kòng (有空 (yǒu kòng) means “to have free time”). When it means “empty” or “sky,” it is kōng, as in 空气 (kōngqì, “air”).
进行 (jìnxíng) vs 举办 (jǔbàn)
举办 (jǔbàn) is for organizing and holding an event, like a sports day or a party. 进行 (jìnxíng) is broader: it means that an activity is going on or being carried out, like a meeting, a test or a discussion.
Putting it all together
Examples
學校下個月要舉辦運動會，請大家先交報名費学校下个月要举办运动会，请大家先交报名费The school will hold a sports day next month; everyone please pay the registration fee first.
下雨了，比賽被取消了，我有空去看電影下雨了，比赛被取消了，我有空去看电影It rained and the game was canceled, so I have time to go see a movie.
Test yourself
Vocabulary Quiz
