4 · 40 words

Verbs for causes, results and attitudes in Chinese

The verbs that say what causes what, what something shows, and how people take things.

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From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

These verbs carry the argument of a newspaper article or a report: what led to what, what a fact shows, what was achieved. Most are two syllables and take abstract objects — 实现(shíxiàn)梦想(mèngxiǎng), to realise a dream, 满足(mǎnzú)需要(xūyào), to meet a need — and these pairings are worth learning whole, because the verb that fits one noun often does not fit its English equivalent. Watch three verbs of cause: 引起(yǐnqǐ) is neutral, while 造成(zàochéng) and 导致(dǎozhì) usually lead to something bad.

The words

Verb (40)

影响(yǐngxiǎng)to influence; to affect; influenceVerb3

天气(tiānqì)会(huì)影响(yǐngxiǎng)人(rén)的(de)心情(xīnqíng)。The weather affects people's mood.

Also a noun: 受(shòu)影响(yǐngxiǎng), to be affected.

促进(cùjìn)to promote; to boostVerb4

多(duō)交流(jiāoliú)能(néng)促进(cùjìn)两(liǎng)国(guó)人民(rénmín)的(de)了解(liǎojiě)。More exchange can promote understanding between the people of two countries.

Formal; the object is usually something abstract.

实现(shíxiàn)to realise; to achieve (a goal, a dream)Verb4

她(tā)努力(nǔlì)了(le)十(shí)年(nián)，实现(shíxiàn)了(le)成为(chéngwéi)医生(yīshēng)的(de)梦想(mèngxiǎng)。After ten years of hard work she realised her dream of becoming a doctor.

适应(shìyìng)to adapt to; to get used toVerb4

刚(gāng)来(lái)的(de)时候(shíhou)，我(wǒ)很(hěn)不(bú)适应(shìyìng)这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)气候(qìhòu)。When I first came, I found it hard to get used to the climate here.

满足(mǎnzú)to satisfy; to meet (a need)Verb4

这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)的(de)服务(fúwù)能(néng)满足(mǎnzú)不同(bùtóng)客人(kèrén)的(de)需要(xūyào)。This shop's service can meet the needs of different customers.

Not the same as 满意(mǎnyì), to be pleased with something.

承认(chéngrèn)to admit; to acknowledgeVerb4

他(tā)终于(zhōngyú)承认(chéngrèn)是(shì)自己(zìjǐ)错(cuò)了(le)。He finally admitted that he was the one who was wrong.

否认(fǒurèn)to denyVerb4

他(tā)否认(fǒurèn)自己(zìjǐ)说(shuō)过(guo)这(zhè)句(jù)话(huà)。He denied ever having said that.

证明(zhèngmíng)to prove; to show; proofVerb4

事实(shìshí)证明(zhèngmíng)他(tā)的(de)判断(pànduàn)是(shì)对(duì)的(de)。The facts proved his judgement right.

As a noun also a certificate: 工作(gōngzuò)证明(zhèngmíng).

反映(fǎnyìng)to reflect; to report (a problem to sb.)Verb4

这(zhè)部(bù)电影(diànyǐng)反映(fǎnyìng)了(le)普通(pǔtōng)人(rén)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)。This film reflects the lives of ordinary people.

Not to be confused with 反应(fǎnyìng), a reaction — same sound.

体现(tǐxiàn)to embody; to showVerb4

这些(zhèxiē)小(xiǎo)细节(xìjié)体现(tǐxiàn)了(le)他(tā)对(duì)客人(kèrén)的(de)尊重(zūnzhòng)。These small details show his respect for his guests.

追求(zhuīqiú)to pursue; to seekVerb4

每(měi)个(ge)人(rén)都(dōu)有(yǒu)权利(quánlì)追求(zhuīqiú)幸福(xìngfú)。Everyone has the right to pursue happiness.

Also to court someone.

依靠(yīkào)to rely on; to depend onVerb4

他(tā)不(bù)想(xiǎng)再(zài)依靠(yīkào)父母(fùmǔ)生活(shēnghuó)。He doesn't want to depend on his parents any longer.

避免(bìmiǎn)to avoidVerb4

为了(wèile)避免(bìmiǎn)堵车(dǔchē)，我们(wǒmen)早上(zǎoshang)六(liù)点(diǎn)就(jiù)出发(chūfā)了(le)。To avoid the traffic, we set off at six in the morning.

加强(jiāqiáng)to strengthen; to step upVerb4

学校(xuéxiào)决定(juédìng)加强(jiāqiáng)对(duì)学生(xuésheng)的(de)安全(ānquán)教育(jiàoyù)。The school has decided to step up safety education for its pupils.

扩大(kuòdà)to expand; to enlargeVerb4

公司(gōngsī)打算(dǎsuàn)明年(míngnián)扩大(kuòdà)生产(shēngchǎn)。The company plans to expand production next year.

改善(gǎishàn)to improve (conditions, relations)Verb4

搬(bān)到(dào)新(xīn)家(jiā)以后(yǐhòu)，他们(tāmen)的(de)生活(shēnghuó)条件(tiáojiàn)改善(gǎishàn)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)。Their living conditions improved a great deal after they moved.

For conditions and relations; a skill or a level is 提高(tígāo).

取得(qǔdé)to obtain; to achieve (results)Verb4

她(tā)在(zài)比赛(bǐsài)中(zhōng)取得(qǔdé)了(le)好(hǎo)成绩(chéngjì)。She did well in the competition.

获得(huòdé)to gain; to win; to obtainVerb4

这(zhè)部(bù)小说(xiǎoshuō)获得(huòdé)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)读者(dúzhě)的(de)喜爱(xǐ'ài)。This novel has won the affection of many readers.

对待(duìdài)to treat; to deal withVerb4

他(tā)对待(duìdài)每(měi)个(ge)客人(kèrén)都(dōu)很(hěn)热情(rèqíng)。He treats every guest warmly.

具备(jùbèi)to possess; to have (the conditions, qualities)Verb4

这个(zhège)工作(gōngzuò)要求(yāoqiú)具备(jùbèi)一定(yídìng)的(de)经验(jīngyàn)。This job requires a certain amount of experience.

存在(cúnzài)to existVerb4

这个(zhège)计划(jìhuà)还(hái)存在(cúnzài)一些(yìxiē)问题(wèntí)。There are still some problems with this plan.

属于(shǔyú)to belong toVerb4

这些(zhèxiē)书(shū)属于(shǔyú)学校(xuéxiào)图书馆(túshūguǎn)，不(bù)能(néng)带回(dàihuí)家(jiā)。These books belong to the school library and cannot be taken home.

包括(bāokuò)to includeVerb4

房租(fángzū)包括(bāokuò)水费(shuǐfèi)和(hé)电费(diànfèi)。The rent includes water and electricity.

符合(fúhé)to conform to; to meet (requirements)Verb4

你(nǐ)的(de)条件(tiáojiàn)完全(wánquán)符合(fúhé)我们(wǒmen)的(de)要求(yāoqiú)。You fully meet our requirements.

引起(yǐnqǐ)to cause; to give rise to; to attract (attention)Verb4

他(tā)的(de)话(huà)引起(yǐnqǐ)了(le)大家(dàjiā)的(de)注意(zhùyì)。What he said caught everyone's attention.

造成(zàochéng)to cause (usually something bad)Verb4

这(zhè)场(cháng)大(dà)雪(xuě)造成(zàochéng)了(le)严重(yánzhòng)的(de)交通(jiāotōng)问题(wèntí)。The heavy snow caused serious traffic problems.

导致(dǎozhì)to lead to; to result inVerb4

长期(chángqī)熬夜(áoyè)会(huì)导致(dǎozhì)身体(shēntǐ)变(biàn)差(chà)。Staying up late over long periods leads to poorer health.

产生(chǎnshēng)to produce; to give rise to; to ariseVerb4

两(liǎng)个(ge)人(rén)之间(zhījiān)产生(chǎnshēng)了(le)误会(wùhuì)。A misunderstanding arose between the two of them.

形成(xíngchéng)to form; to take shapeVerb4

这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)湖(hú)是(shì)几(jǐ)千(qiān)年(nián)前(qián)形成(xíngchéng)的(de)。The lakes here formed several thousand years ago.

表明(biǎomíng)to show; to make clearVerb4

调查(diàochá)表明(biǎomíng)，年轻人(niánqīngrén)越来越(yuèláiyuè)喜欢(xǐhuan)在(zài)网上(wǎngshàng)买(mǎi)东西(dōngxi)。Surveys show that young people increasingly like to shop online.

意味着(yìwèizhe)to mean; to signifyVerb4

换(huàn)工作(gōngzuò)意味着(yìwèizhe)要(yào)重新(chóngxīn)开始(kāishǐ)。Changing jobs means starting again from the beginning.

What something entails; what a word means is 意思(yìsi).

掌握(zhǎngwò)to master; to graspVerb4

学(xué)一(yì)门(mén)外语(wàiyǔ)，首先(shǒuxiān)要(yào)掌握(zhǎngwò)发音(fāyīn)。To learn a foreign language, you first have to master the pronunciation.

显示(xiǎnshì)to show; to displayVerb4

屏幕(píngmù)显示(xiǎnshì)电池(diànchí)快(kuài)没(méi)电(diàn)了(le)。The screen shows that the battery is nearly flat.

发挥(fāhuī)to bring into play; to perform (on the day)Verb4

这(zhè)次(cì)考试(kǎoshì)他(tā)发挥(fāhuī)得(de)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。He performed well in this exam.

面对(miànduì)to face; to confrontVerb4

遇到(yùdào)困难(kùnnan)的(de)时候(shíhou)，要(yào)勇敢(yǒnggǎn)地(de)面对(miànduì)。When you meet difficulties, face them bravely.

缩小(suōxiǎo)to reduce; to narrowVerb4

城市(chéngshì)和(hé)农村(nóngcūn)的(de)差距(chājù)正在(zhèngzài)缩小(suōxiǎo)。The gap between town and country is narrowing.

重视(zhòngshì)to attach importance to; to take seriouslyVerb4

这(zhè)家(jiā)公司(gōngsī)很(hěn)重视(zhòngshì)员工(yuángōng)的(de)意见(yìjiàn)。This company takes its staff's opinions seriously.

忽视(hūshì)to neglect; to overlookVerb4

工作(gōngzuò)再(zài)忙(máng)，也(yě)不(bù)能(néng)忽视(hūshì)健康(jiànkāng)。However busy you are at work, you must not neglect your health.

减轻(jiǎnqīng)to lighten; to easeVerb4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)药(yào)可以(kěyǐ)减轻(jiǎnqīng)疼痛(téngtòng)。This medicine can ease the pain.

克服(kèfú)to overcomeVerb4

她(tā)克服(kèfú)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)困难(kùnnan)，终于(zhōngyú)毕业(bìyè)了(le)。She overcame many difficulties and finally graduated.

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