Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Action-Verbs-and-Stative-Verbs

Mandarin Chinese Grammar → Verbs and Verb Usage → Action Verbs and Stative Verbs

As a Mandarin Chinese language teacher of 20 years, I can confidently say that verbs are one of the most important parts of the Chinese language. Not only are they essential for constructing meaningful sentences, but they also convey important information about actions, states of being, and relationships between people and objects. In this lesson, we will focus specifically on the differentiation between action verbs and stative verbs, with examples and usage rules to help you understand the nuances of Mandarin Chinese verb usage.

Action Verbs

Action verbs, as the name suggests, describe actions or movements that are taken by a subject. They are verbs that require an object to complete the action. For example: "I eat an apple". Here, "eat" is the action verb, and "apple" is the object that is being acted upon.

In Mandarin Chinese, action verbs are generally formed by adding the suffix "-le" (了) to the end of the verb. This indicates a completed action, or a change in state that has already occurred. For example:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English
吃 (chī)	/tʂʰi⁵¹/	To eat
吃了 (chīle)	/tʂʰi⁵¹ ləʊ̯²¹/	Ate
喝 (hē)	/xɤ⁵¹/	To drink
喝了 (hēle)	/xɤ⁵¹ ləʊ̯²¹/	Drank

Keep in mind that Mandarin Chinese uses different verbs for eating, drinking, and other actions depending on the context. For example, "吃" (chī) is used specifically for eating solid foods, while "喝" (hē) is used for drinking liquids.

Some other common examples of action verbs in Mandarin Chinese include:

• 跑 (pǎo) - To run
• 跳 (tiào) - To jump
• 看 (kàn) - To look or see
• 听 (tīng) - To listen

Stative Verbs

While action verbs describe actions and movements, stative verbs describe states of being or conditions that exist. They are often used to convey emotions, thoughts, feelings, or other intangible ideas. Unlike action verbs, stative verbs do not require an object to complete the sentence. For example, "I am happy."

In Mandarin Chinese, stative verbs are generally formed by adding the verb "是" (shì) to the beginning of the adjective. For example:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English
快乐 (kuàilè)	/kʰwaɪ̯⁵¹ lɤ⁵¹/	Happy
是快乐 (shì kuàilè)	/ʂɤ⁵¹ kʰwaɪ̯⁵¹ lɤ⁵¹/	Am happy
高兴 (gāoxìng)	/kaʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/	Glad
是高兴 (shì gāoxìng)	/ʂɤ⁵¹ kaʊ̯⁵¹ ɕiŋ⁵¹/	Am glad

Keep in mind that stative verbs in Mandarin Chinese can also be formed using other words and phrases, such as "感觉" (gǎnjué), which means "to feel", or "觉得" (juéde), which means "to think" or "to believe".

Some other common examples of stative verbs in Mandarin Chinese include:

• 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) - Nervous
• 感激 (gǎnjī) - Grateful
• 生气 (shēngqì) - Angry
• 担心 (dānxīn) - Worried

Usage Tips

When using action and stative verbs in Mandarin Chinese, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

• Action verbs require an object to complete the sentence, while stative verbs do not.
• The suffix "-le" (了) is used to indicate a completed action or change in state for action verbs.
• Stative verbs can be formed using the verb "是" (shì), or other words and phrases that convey emotions or thoughts.
• Depending on the context, different verbs may be used for similar actions, such as eating or drinking.

By understanding the differences between action verbs and stative verbs, and how to use them correctly, you will be able to construct more meaningful and nuanced sentences in Mandarin Chinese.

Sources

• Chinese Grammar: Verbs
• Chinese Grammar: Stative Verbs

Table of Contents - Mandarin Chinese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Pinyin and Tones

• Pinyin Introduction
• Tones Introduction
• Tone Pairs

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Greeting People
• Basic Expressions
• Numbers and Counters

  ---

Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object Structure
• Question Words and Question Structure
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Negation and Conjunctions
• Particles and Structure Particles

  ---

Daily Life and Survival Expressions

• Asking for Directions
• Ordering Food and Drinks
• Shopping and Bargaining
• Transport and Travel
• Emergencies and Medical Care

  ---

Chinese Festivals and Traditions

• Spring Festival and Chunyun
• Mid-Autumn Festival and Mooncakes
• Dragon Boat Festival and Zongzi
• Double Ninth Festival and Chongyang Cake

  ---

Verbs and Verb Usage

• Action Verbs and Stative Verbs
• Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs
• Complex Verb Phrases

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Hobbies, Sports and Activities

• Leisure Activities and Hobbies
• Sports and Exercise
• Outdoor Activities and Nature
• Music and Film

  ---

China's Geography and Landmarks

• China's Four Great Ancient Capitals
• Famous Chinese Mountains and Rivers
• China's Great Wall

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Common and Proper Nouns
• Personal Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns

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Professions and Personality Traits

• Professions and Jobs
• Personality Traits and Characteristics
• Emotions and Feelings

  ---

Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts

• Chinese Calligraphy and Painting
• Chinese Opera and Drama
• Chinese Knots and Paper-cutting

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Comparative and Superlative

• Comparative Form and Usage
• Superlative Form and Usage

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Cities, Countries and Tourist Destinations

• Chinese and International Cities
• Country Names and Nationalities
• Tourist Attractions and Transportation

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Modern China and Current Events

• China's Economy and Business Landscape
• Chinese Art and Entertainment Scene
• Current Events and Issues in China and Beyond

Related Lessons

• Express possession with 有 (yǒu)
• Particles and Structure Particles
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Transition words
• Subject Verb Object Structure
• Tones Introduction
• Questions
• Ask for directions in Chinese
• 0 to A1 Course
• Time