Core verbs

하다 ha-da 하다 has no meaning of its own — it is a switch You pick up a noun that is sitting still and flip its switch. The moment it clicks, the word starts running. Korean 5 uses

get ɡet Why one little verb covers mail, chairs, and cold weather Something that was not yours a second ago arrives and lands in your hands. A thing, a message, even a feeling — it crosses over to you. English 5 uses

する suru する: the hand that makes things happen A hand reaching out and making something be the case. Only what appears changes. Japanese 5 uses

打 dǎ One verb, one reaching hand: 打 A hand shooting out and tapping something, and the thing starts happening. Chinese 5 uses

되다 doe-da 되다 is not something you do — it is something filling up Water rising in a glass until it touches the mark. Nobody is pouring — it simply reaches. Korean 5 uses

take teɪk Buses, pills, and ten minutes all get taken Your hand reaches out, closes on one thing, and pulls it back toward you. Only the thing in your grip changes. English 5 uses

开 kāi The moment two halves come apart: 开 Two halves that were pressed shut sliding apart, leaving a gap. Chinese 5 uses

なる naru The verb that arrives on its own: なる Something drifting into a new state and arriving there without a hand pushing it. Japanese 5 uses

가다 ga-da 가다 is one arrow pointing away from you A single arrow leaving the spot where you stand and heading off. Anything moving away rides it. Korean 5 uses

ある aru ある isn't 'to exist' — it's 'to sit there' Something that can't move on its own, sitting quietly in a spot. Only what's sitting there changes. Japanese 5 uses

上 shàng It begins the moment your foot lands: 上 Lifting one foot off the ground and planting it on some platform. Chinese 5 uses

put pʊt Writing a name and delaying a meeting are the same move You lift what is in your hand and set it down on a chosen spot. Only the spot changes. English

오다 o-da 오다 is the arrow coming toward you Something far off getting closer and closer to where you stand. On foot or out of the sky, it still comes at you. Korean 5 uses

いる iru いる: still there, still breathing Something alive staying put where it is — and by extension, a state that stays put. Japanese 5 uses

下 xià Whatever went up has to come down: 下 Stepping off the platform you were standing on and coming back down. Chinese 5 uses

make meɪk Coffee, mistakes, and sleepiness all get made Something that did not exist takes shape under your hands. Coffee in a cup, or a mood in someone's head — same move. English 5 uses

보다 bo-da 보다 is about where you park your eyes A gaze stuck fast to one spot. Stuck to a screen it is watching; stuck to a bag it is guarding. Korean 5 uses

do duː The verb with no meaning of its own — and why it leads the sentence A task sits in front of you, your hand lands on it, and it rolls to done. The content drops away; only the handling is left. English 5 uses

かける kakeru Phones, glasses, dressing: what かける really does Hooking one end of something onto a target, or draping it over the top. Japanese 5 uses

到 dào The instant the arrowhead touches: 到 A flying arrow's tip finally touching the target and stopping there. Chinese 5 uses

주다 ju-da 주다: something crosses from your side to theirs What was in your hand crosses the line in the middle and lands in the other person's hand. Korean 5 uses

have hæv A cough, a meeting, and lunch all sit inside the same fence An invisible fence runs around you, and something is standing inside it. No grip needed — inside your range is enough. English 5 uses

给 gěi Out of my hand, into yours: 给 Something leaving your hand and crossing over toward the other person's. Chinese 5 uses

つく tsuku Stains stick, and so does confidence: つく Something landing on a surface and staying stuck to it. Japanese 5 uses

받다 bat-da 받다: you catch whatever is thrown your way A ball thrown from over there, caught in both your hands. Whatever the ball is, it lands in your arms. Korean 5 uses

つける tsukeru Same picture, your hand on it: つける Your own hand pressing something onto a surface so that it stays. Japanese 5 uses

让 ràng Step aside and the way opens: 让 You were blocking the way; you move aside and the other person goes through. Chinese 5 uses

give ɡɪv Making a call and giving up are the same handover What was in your hand leaves it and crosses over to the other side. It can be an object, your effort, or the grip you were holding. English

들다 deul-da 들다 is the hand that lifts something up Something on the floor grabbed and lifted straight up. Heavy or light, visible or not, the motion is the same. Korean 5 uses

とる toru Reach out and it's yours: とる Reaching out, pulling something loose, and holding it in your hand. Japanese 5 uses

做 zuò The verb that shapes something out of nothing: 做 Hands working material until a shape exists that wasn't there before. Chinese 5 uses

go ɡoʊ Even milk goes — why spoiling is a kind of leaving You peel yourself off this spot and move away from it. Not only people leave — a condition can slide away from where it started too. English 5 uses

나다 na-da 나다 is what pushes up from inside to the surface A sprout pushing through the soil into the open. What was hidden inside now shows outside. Korean 5 uses

come kʌm Why "I'm coming" means you're going over there Something out there moves toward the spot the conversation sits on and arrives. People, prices, even pain arrive at that spot. English 5 uses

起 qǐ Whatever was pinned down lifts: 起 Something that was flat against the ground floating up off it. Chinese 5 uses

だす dasu Everything だす does is 'out' Pushing something that was inside out into the open. Only the container changes. Japanese 5 uses

내다 nae-da 내다 is you pushing what was inside out Your hand shoving something from inside out into the open. 나다 comes out on its own; 내다 you push. Korean 5 uses

run rʌn Shops run, buses run, and so does your paper supply Something started and now keeps rolling without stopping. Legs, motors, or a business — while it keeps rolling, it runs. English

かかる kakaru Caught and can't get off: かかる Something hooked onto a thing and hanging there, unable to come off. Japanese 5 uses

看 kàn Anything you rest your eyes on is 看 Shading your brow and letting your gaze settle on something. Chinese 5 uses

놓다 no-ta 놓다 is letting go and leaving it there You take your hand off what you were holding and leave it exactly there. The hand goes; the thing stays. Korean 5 uses

说 shuō Words unspooling from the mouth: 说 Words unspooling from your mouth like thread, reaching toward the other person. Chinese 5 uses

hold hoʊld You hold a box, a phone line, and a meeting the same way Your hand closes on something and keeps it from moving off. It is the force that stops what would otherwise drift away. English 5 uses

きる kiru One cut, and the line is broken: きる Something continuous being cut clean in two. Japanese 5 uses

잡다 jap-da 잡다 is pinning down whatever is moving Something in motion seized by the hand and held so it cannot move any more. Korean 5 uses

keep kiːp hold is the grab; keep is the not-letting-go Once you have it, you don't let go — the thing stays exactly as it is while time passes. English 5 uses

いく iku In Japanese you 'go' to the person calling you: いく Moving away from the spot where you are standing right now. Japanese 5 uses

走 zǒu The moment your foot leaves this spot: 走 A foot lifting off this spot and carrying you away from it. Chinese 5 uses

걸다 geol-da 걸다 is hooking one end onto something A hook slipped onto a nail. Once it catches, the two sides stay linked and hanging together. Korean 5 uses

过 guò Cross one line and it's 过 Arcing over a line and landing on the far side of it. Chinese 5 uses

くる kuru The moment it reaches you: くる Something out there moving toward the spot where you stand. Japanese 5 uses

turn tɜːrn Why the same word steers a car and cools the weather Something swings around and ends up facing a new way. English 5 uses

쓰다 sseu-da 쓰다 is pressing one thing against another Whatever is in your hand pressed against something else. Pen to paper, money to a price, hat to a head. Korean 5 uses

みる miru みる is one move: put your eyes on it Placing your eyes on something to find out how it is. Keep them there and it becomes 'look after'; act first and check after, and it becomes 'try it'. Japanese 5 uses

出 chū What was inside comes out: 出 Something that was held inside a boundary pushing out past it. Chinese 5 uses

break breɪk A cracked screen and a coffee break share one snapped line Something continuous gives way and snaps at a single point. English 5 uses

열다 yeol-da Why doors, shops, and hearts all open the same way Two things that were pressed together part, the inside shows, and a way in and out appears. Korean 5 uses

bring brɪŋ A glass of water and a wave of stress arrive the same way Something that was over there travels to where you are standing. English 5 uses

放 fàng 放: the verb for letting go Your grip loosens and the thing stays right where you left it. Chinese 5 uses

出る de-ru Why a fever comes out in Japanese Something that was inside crosses the edge and shows up on the outside. Japanese 5 uses