What is the HSK exam?

The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, 汉语水平考试) is China's official standardized test for measuring Mandarin Chinese proficiency in non-native speakers. It belongs to the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education and is run by Chinese Testing International. It is the most widely recognized Chinese language certification in the world, accepted for university admissions, employment, and work permits in China and internationally.

How many levels does HSK 3.0 have?

HSK 3.0 has 9 proficiency levels organized into 7 test bands. HSK 1 through HSK 6 are individual levels, while HSK 7, 8, and 9 are combined into a single advanced band (HSK 7-9). The levels range from absolute beginner (300 words at HSK 1) to near-native proficiency (11,000 cumulative words at HSK 7-9).

How many words do I need to know for each HSK level?

HSK 1 requires 300 words. HSK 2 covers 500 cumulative words, HSK 3 reaches 1,000, HSK 4 requires 2,000, HSK 5 covers 3,600, HSK 6 reaches 5,400, and HSK 7-9 requires a total of 11,000 words. Each level builds on the vocabulary of the levels below it.

What changed between HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0?

HSK 3.0 expanded from 6 levels to 9 (with 7 test bands) and significantly increased vocabulary requirements — the old HSK 6 required 5,000 words, while HSK 7-9 now requires 11,000. The new system sets explicit character, handwriting, grammar, and topic requirements at each level. HSK 7-9 has been tested since 2022, and new exams for HSK 1-6 are replacing HSK 2.0 during 2026.

How long does it take to pass each HSK level?

There is no official figure; it depends on your study time, your native language, and how much Chinese you hear and use. As a rough guide from learners and teachers, HSK 1-2 takes a few months of regular study, HSK 3-4 one to two years, HSK 5-6 several years, and HSK 7-9 usually many years of study or immersion.

Is HSK recognized internationally?

Yes. HSK is the most widely accepted Chinese language proficiency certificate worldwide. It is recognized by universities, employers, and government agencies both in China and internationally. China’s Ministry of Education asks degree programs taught in Chinese to admit international students at about level 4, and each university sets its own requirements, often higher for graduate programs.

What is the difference between HSK and TOCFL?

HSK is mainland China's official proficiency test and uses simplified Chinese characters, while TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) is Taiwan's equivalent; it is written in traditional characters, though overseas candidates can choose a simplified version. HSK is more widely recognized internationally, but TOCFL is preferred for study or work in Taiwan. Both test listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

Can I take the HSK exam online?

Yes. Besides paper tests, the HSK is offered on computers at test centers, and since May 2020 as a home-based online test. Registration is through the official HSK website (chinesetest.cn). Test formats, dates, and availability vary by country and level.

HSK Vocabulary List

The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is China's standardized test for measuring Chinese language proficiency in non-native speakers. It's the most widely recognized Chinese proficiency exam in the world, used for university admissions, job applications, and work permits in China and internationally.

The HSK 3.0 syllabus, published in November 2025, organizes vocabulary across 9 levels — from 300 words at HSK 1 for absolute beginners to 11,000 words in total by HSK 7-9 for advanced learners. Below you can browse the complete vocabulary list for each level, search for specific terms, and download the full lists as JSON or PDF.

HSK 3.0 is replacing the older HSK 2.0 system, expanding from 6 levels to 9 (tested across 7 bands). The new standard significantly increases vocabulary requirements — the previous HSK 6 ceiling of 5,000 words has grown to 11,000 at HSK 7-9. HSK 3.0 also sets explicit requirements for character recognition, handwriting, grammar structures, and topics at each level. Its new exams are replacing HSK 2.0 during 2026.

Use this tool to browse the complete HSK 3.0 vocabulary for any level. You can search across all levels by character, pinyin, or English meaning, and download the full word lists as PDF or JSON for offline study, flashcard creation, or integration into your own learning tools.

HSK 3.0 levels at a glance

Level	New words	Total words	Download
HSK 1	300	300	PDF CSV Anki JSON
HSK 2	200	500	PDF CSV Anki JSON
HSK 3	500	1,000	PDF CSV Anki JSON
HSK 4	1,000	2,000	PDF CSV Anki JSON
HSK 5	1,600	3,600	PDF CSV Anki JSON
HSK 6	1,800	5,400	PDF CSV Anki JSON
HSK 7-9	5,600	11,000	PDF CSV Anki JSON

HSK 1 Vocabulary List

PDF CSV Anki JSON

300 words in HSK 1
★ marks words taught in Second Language’s free Mandarin course.

#	Simplified	Traditional	Pinyin	English
1	爱Taught in Second Language	愛	ài	to love; to be fond of
2	八Taught in Second Language	八	bā	eight
3	爸爸Taught in Second Language	爸爸	bàba	dad; father
4	吧	吧	ba	(particle indicating suggestion or surmise)
5	白天	白天	báitiān	daytime
6	百	百	bǎi	hundred
7	半	半	bàn	half
8	包子	包子	bāozi	steamed stuffed bun
9	杯子	杯子	bēizi	cup; glass
10	本	本	běn	measure word for books, periodicals, files
11	边	邊	biān	side; edge
12	病	病	bìng	illness; to fall ill
13	不Taught in Second Language	不	bù	not; no
14	不客气	不客氣	bú kèqi	you're welcome
15	不要Taught in Second Language	不要	búyào	don't; must not
16	菜	菜	cài	dish; vegetable
17	茶Taught in Second Language	茶	chá	tea
18	唱	唱	chàng	to sing
19	超市	超市	chāoshì	supermarket
20	车	車	chē	car; vehicle
21	吃Taught in Second Language	吃	chī	to eat
22	出租车	出租車	chūzūchē	taxi
23	穿	穿	chuān	to wear; to put on
24	打电话	打電話	dǎ diànhuà	to make a phone call
25	大Taught in Second Language	大	dà	big; large
26	大家Taught in Second Language	大家	dàjiā	everyone
27	大学	大學	dàxué	university; college
28	大学生	大學生	dàxuéshēng	university student
29	到Taught in Second Language	到	dào	to arrive; to reach
30	的	的	de	(possessive particle)
31	第	第	dì	(ordinal number prefix)
32	弟弟Taught in Second Language	弟弟	dìdi	younger brother
33	点Taught in Second Language	點	diǎn	o'clock; a little bit
34	店	店	diàn	shop; store
35	电话Taught in Second Language	電話	diànhuà	telephone; phone call
36	电脑	電腦	diànnǎo	computer
37	电视	電視	diànshì	television; TV
38	电影	電影	diànyǐng	movie; film
39	电影院	電影院	diànyǐngyuàn	cinema; movie theater
40	东西Taught in Second Language	東西	dōngxi	thing; stuff
41	都Taught in Second Language	都	dōu	all; both
42	读	讀	dú	to read; to study
43	读书	讀書	dúshū	to study; to read a book
44	对Taught in Second Language	對	duì	correct; right; toward; to
45	对不起Taught in Second Language	對不起	duìbuqǐ	sorry; excuse me
46	多Taught in Second Language	多	duō	many; much
47	多少Taught in Second Language	多少	duōshao	how much; how many
48	儿子	兒子	érzi	son
49	二Taught in Second Language	二	èr	two
50	饭Taught in Second Language	飯	fàn	cooked rice; meal
51	饭店	飯店	fàndiàn	restaurant; hotel
52	房间	房間	fángjiān	room
53	非常Taught in Second Language	非常	fēicháng	very; extremely
54	飞机	飛機	fēijī	airplane
55	分	分	fēn	minute; point (score)
56	分钟	分鐘	fēnzhōng	minute
57	高兴Taught in Second Language	高興	gāoxìng	happy; glad
58	歌	歌	gē	song
59	哥哥Taught in Second Language	哥哥	gēge	older brother
60	个	個	gè	measure word (general classifier)
61	给Taught in Second Language	給	gěi	to give; for
62	公司	公司	gōngsī	company; firm
63	工作Taught in Second Language	工作	gōngzuò	to work; job
64	狗	狗	gǒu	dog
65	贵Taught in Second Language	貴	guì	expensive
66	国	國	guó	country; nation
67	还Taught in Second Language	還	hái	still; also; in addition
68	孩子Taught in Second Language	孩子	háizi	child
69	汉语	漢語	Hànyǔ	Chinese language
70	汉字	漢字	Hànzì	Chinese character
71	好Taught in Second Language	好	hǎo	good
72	好吃Taught in Second Language	好吃	hǎochī	tasty; delicious
73	好看	好看	hǎokàn	good-looking; nice-looking
74	好听	好聽	hǎotīng	nice-sounding; pleasant to hear
75	好玩儿	好玩兒	hǎowánr	fun; interesting
76	号	號	hào	number; day of the month
77	喝Taught in Second Language	喝	hē	to drink
78	和Taught in Second Language	和	hé	and; with
79	很Taught in Second Language	很	hěn	very
80	后Taught in Second Language	後	hòu	behind; after
81	回	回	huí	to return; to go back
82	会Taught in Second Language	會	huì	can; to know how to
83	火车	火車	huǒchē	train
84	鸡蛋	雞蛋	jīdàn	egg
85	几Taught in Second Language	幾	jǐ	how many; several
86	家Taught in Second Language	家	jiā	home; family
87	家人	家人	jiārén	family member
88	见Taught in Second Language	見	jiàn	to see; to meet
89	件	件	jiàn	measure word for items, clothes, etc.
90	饺子	餃子	jiǎozi	dumpling
91	叫Taught in Second Language	叫	jiào	to call; to be called
92	姐姐Taught in Second Language	姐姐	jiějie	older sister
93	今年	今年	jīnnián	this year
94	今天Taught in Second Language	今天	jīntiān	today
95	九Taught in Second Language	九	jiǔ	nine
96	觉得Taught in Second Language	覺得	juéde	to feel; to think
97	开	開	kāi	to open; to turn on
98	开车	開車	kāichē	to drive (a car)
99	看Taught in Second Language	看	kàn	to see; to look; to watch
100	看病	看病	kànbìng	to see a doctor
101	看见	看見	kànjiàn	to see; to catch sight of
102	可以Taught in Second Language	可以	kěyǐ	can; may
103	课	課	kè	class; lesson
104	口	口	kǒu	mouth; measure word for people
105	块	塊	kuài	piece; yuan (currency)
106	来Taught in Second Language	來	lái	to come
107	老师Taught in Second Language	老師	lǎoshī	teacher
108	了	了	le	(particle marking completed action or change of state)
109	冷Taught in Second Language	冷	lěng	cold
110	里Taught in Second Language	裡	lǐ	inside; interior
111	两Taught in Second Language	兩	liǎng	two; a couple of
112	零	零	líng	zero
113	六Taught in Second Language	六	liù	six
114	妈妈Taught in Second Language	媽媽	māma	mom; mother
115	吗	嗎	ma	(question particle)
116	买Taught in Second Language	買	mǎi	to buy
117	卖	賣	mài	to sell
118	忙Taught in Second Language	忙	máng	busy
119	猫	貓	māo	cat
120	没关系	沒關係	méi guānxi	it doesn't matter
121	没事Taught in Second Language	沒事	méishì	it's nothing; no problem
122	没有Taught in Second Language	沒有	méiyǒu	to not have; there isn't
123	妹妹Taught in Second Language	妹妹	mèimei	younger sister
124	们	們	men	(plural marker)
125	米饭Taught in Second Language	米飯	mǐfàn	cooked rice
126	面包	麵包	miànbāo	bread
127	面条儿	麵條兒	miàntiáor	noodles
128	明年	明年	míngnián	next year
129	明天Taught in Second Language	明天	míngtiān	tomorrow
130	名字Taught in Second Language	名字	míngzi	name
131	哪Taught in Second Language	哪	nǎ	which; what
132	哪个	哪個	nǎge	which one
133	哪里Taught in Second Language	哪裡	nǎlǐ	where
134	哪儿Taught in Second Language	哪兒	nǎr	where
135	哪些	哪些	nǎxiē	which ones
136	那Taught in Second Language	那	nà	that; then
137	那边	那邊	nàbiān	over there
138	那个Taught in Second Language	那個	nàge	that one
139	那里Taught in Second Language	那裡	nàlǐ	there; that place
140	那儿	那兒	nàr	there
141	那些Taught in Second Language	那些	nàxiē	those
142	男	男	nán	male
143	男朋友	男朋友	nánpéngyou	boyfriend
144	呢	呢	ne	(question or continuation particle)
145	能Taught in Second Language	能	néng	can; to be able to
146	你Taught in Second Language	你	nǐ	you
147	你好Taught in Second Language	你好	nǐ hǎo	hello; hi
148	你们Taught in Second Language	你們	nǐmen	you (plural)
149	年Taught in Second Language	年	nián	year
150	您Taught in Second Language	您	nín	you (polite form)
151	牛奶	牛奶	niúnǎi	milk; cow's milk
152	女	女	nǚ	female
153	女儿	女兒	nǚ’ér	daughter
154	女朋友	女朋友	nǚpéngyou	girlfriend
155	女士	女士	nǚshì	lady; madam; Ms.
156	朋友Taught in Second Language	朋友	péngyou	friend
157	便宜	便宜	piányi	cheap; inexpensive
158	漂亮	漂亮	piàoliang	pretty; beautiful
159	苹果Taught in Second Language	蘋果	píngguǒ	apple
160	七Taught in Second Language	七	qī	seven
161	起床	起床	qǐchuáng	to get out of bed; to get up
162	千	千	qiān	thousand
163	前Taught in Second Language	前	qián	front; ahead; before
164	钱Taught in Second Language	錢	qián	money
165	请Taught in Second Language	請	qǐng	to invite; to ask; please
166	请问	請問	qǐngwèn	excuse me; may I ask
167	去Taught in Second Language	去	qù	to go
168	去年	去年	qùnián	last year
169	热Taught in Second Language	熱	rè	hot
170	人Taught in Second Language	人	rén	person; people
171	认识	認識	rènshi	to know; to recognize
172	日	日	rì	day; day of the month
173	三Taught in Second Language	三	sān	three
174	商店	商店	shāngdiàn	shop; store
175	上Taught in Second Language	上	shàng	on; above; to get on; to go up
176	上班	上班	shàngbān	to go to work
177	上课	上課	shàngkè	to attend class
178	上午	上午	shàngwǔ	morning
179	上学	上學	shàngxué	to go to school
180	少	少	shǎo	few; little; to lack
181	谁Taught in Second Language	誰	shéi/shuí	who
182	什么Taught in Second Language	什麼	shénme	what
183	生病	生病	shēngbìng	to fall ill
184	十Taught in Second Language	十	shí	ten
185	时候Taught in Second Language	時候	shíhou	time; moment
186	时间Taught in Second Language	時間	shíjiān	time
187	事Taught in Second Language	事	shì	matter; thing; affair
188	是Taught in Second Language	是	shì	to be; is; are
189	手机	手機	shǒujī	cell phone; mobile phone
190	书Taught in Second Language	書	shū	book
191	书店	書店	shūdiàn	bookstore
192	水Taught in Second Language	水	shuǐ	water
193	水果Taught in Second Language	水果	shuǐguǒ	fruit
194	睡	睡	shuì	to sleep
195	睡觉	睡覺	shuìjiào	to sleep; to go to bed
196	说Taught in Second Language	說	shuō	to speak; to say
197	说话	說話	shuōhuà	to speak; to talk
198	四Taught in Second Language	四	sì	four
199	岁	歲	suì	years old
200	他Taught in Second Language	他	tā	he; him
201	它Taught in Second Language	它	tā	it
202	她Taught in Second Language	她	tā	she; her
203	他们Taught in Second Language	他們	tāmen	they; them
204	它们	它們	tāmen	they; them (things/animals)
205	她们	她們	tāmen	they; them (females)
206	太Taught in Second Language	太	tài	too; extremely
207	天Taught in Second Language	天	tiān	day; sky
208	天气	天氣	tiānqì	weather
209	听Taught in Second Language	聽	tīng	to listen to; to hear
210	听见	聽見	tīngjiàn	to hear
211	同学	同學	tóngxué	classmate
212	外	外	wài	outside; external
213	外边	外邊	wàibian	outside
214	玩	玩	wán	to play; to have fun
215	晚	晚	wǎn	late; evening
216	晚饭	晚飯	wǎnfàn	dinner; evening meal
217	晚上	晚上	wǎnshang	evening; night
218	喂Taught in Second Language	喂	wèi	hello (on telephone); hey
219	问Taught in Second Language	問	wèn	to ask; to inquire
220	问题Taught in Second Language	問題	wèntí	question; problem
221	我Taught in Second Language	我	wǒ	I; me
222	我们Taught in Second Language	我們	wǒmen	we; us
223	五Taught in Second Language	五	wǔ	five
224	午饭	午飯	wǔfàn	lunch
225	喜欢Taught in Second Language	喜歡	xǐhuan	to like; to be fond of
226	下Taught in Second Language	下	xià	down; below; next; to go down
227	下雨	下雨	xià yǔ	to rain
228	下班	下班	xiàbān	to finish work; to get off work
229	下课	下課	xiàkè	to finish class
230	下午	下午	xiàwǔ	afternoon
231	先生Taught in Second Language	先生	xiānsheng	Mr.; sir; gentleman
232	现在Taught in Second Language	現在	xiànzài	now; at present
233	想Taught in Second Language	想	xiǎng	to want to; to think; to miss
234	小Taught in Second Language	小	xiǎo	small; little
235	小朋友	小朋友	xiǎopéngyǒu	child; kid
236	小时	小時	xiǎoshí	hour
237	小学	小學	xiǎoxué	primary school; elementary school
238	小学生	小學生	xiǎoxuéshēng	primary school student
239	些	些	xiē	some; a few
240	写Taught in Second Language	寫	xiě	to write
241	谢谢Taught in Second Language	謝謝	xièxie	to thank; thank you
242	新	新	xīn	new
243	星期	星期	xīngqī	week
244	星期日	星期日	xīngqīrì	Sunday
245	星期天	星期天	xīngqītiān	Sunday
246	休息	休息	xiūxi	to rest
247	学Taught in Second Language	學	xué	to study; to learn
248	学生Taught in Second Language	學生	xuéshēng	student
249	学习	學習	xuéxí	to study; to learn
250	学校Taught in Second Language	學校	xuéxiào	school
251	雪	雪	xuě	snow
252	要Taught in Second Language	要	yào	to want; to need
253	也Taught in Second Language	也	yě	also; too; as well
254	一Taught in Second Language	一	yī	one
255	衣服Taught in Second Language	衣服	yīfu	clothes
256	医生	醫生	yīshēng	doctor
257	医院	醫院	yīyuàn	hospital
258	一半	一半	yíbàn	half
259	一下Taught in Second Language	一下	yíxià	(after a verb) a little; briefly
260	椅子	椅子	yǐzi	chair
261	一点儿	一點兒	yìdiǎnr	a little; a bit
262	一些Taught in Second Language	一些	yìxiē	some; a few; a little
263	有Taught in Second Language	有	yǒu	to have; there is
264	有的	有的	yǒude	some
265	有点儿	有點兒	yǒudiǎnr	slightly; a little; somewhat
266	有些	有些	yǒuxiē	some
267	雨	雨	yǔ	rain
268	元	元	yuán	measure word for yuan (currency)
269	月	月	yuè	month; moon
270	再Taught in Second Language	再	zài	again; once more
271	在Taught in Second Language	在	zài	to be at; at; in; (indicates ongoing action)
272	再见Taught in Second Language	再見	zàijiàn	goodbye
273	早	早	zǎo	early; morning
274	早饭	早飯	zǎofàn	breakfast
275	早上	早上	zǎoshang	morning
276	怎么Taught in Second Language	怎麼	zěnme	how; why
277	怎么样Taught in Second Language	怎麼樣	zěnmeyàng	how; how about
278	找Taught in Second Language	找	zhǎo	to look for
279	这Taught in Second Language	這	zhè	this; these
280	这边	這邊	zhèbiān	this side; here
281	这个Taught in Second Language	這個	zhège	this; this one
282	这里Taught in Second Language	這裡	zhèlǐ	here
283	这儿Taught in Second Language	這兒	zhèr	here
284	这些Taught in Second Language	這些	zhèxiē	these
285	真Taught in Second Language	真	zhēn	really; truly
286	正在	正在	zhèngzài	in the process of; currently
287	只Taught in Second Language	隻	zhī	measure word for birds and certain animals
288	知道Taught in Second Language	知道	zhīdào	to know
289	中国Taught in Second Language	中國	Zhōngguó	China
290	中文Taught in Second Language	中文	Zhōngwén	Chinese (language)
291	中午	中午	zhōngwǔ	noon; midday
292	中学	中學	zhōngxué	middle school; secondary school
293	中学生	中學生	zhōngxuéshēng	middle school student
294	住Taught in Second Language	住	zhù	to live; to reside; to stay
295	桌子	桌子	zhuōzi	table; desk
296	字	字	zì	character; word
297	昨天Taught in Second Language	昨天	zuótiān	yesterday
298	坐Taught in Second Language	坐	zuò	to sit; to take (a bus etc)
299	做Taught in Second Language	做	zuò	to make; to do
300	做饭	做飯	zuò fàn	to cook; to prepare a meal

Words and pinyin: the official HSK 3.0 syllabus (2025). Traditional characters and English meanings are adapted from CC-CEDICT and shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complete guide to HSK 3.0: levels, changes, and how to prepare →

Frequently Asked Questions about the HSK

What is the HSK exam?: The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, 汉语水平考试) is China's official standardized test for measuring Mandarin Chinese proficiency in non-native speakers. It belongs to the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education and is run by Chinese Testing International. It is the most widely recognized Chinese language certification in the world, accepted for university admissions, employment, and work permits in China and internationally.
How many levels does HSK 3.0 have?: HSK 3.0 has 9 proficiency levels organized into 7 test bands. HSK 1 through HSK 6 are individual levels, while HSK 7, 8, and 9 are combined into a single advanced band (HSK 7-9). The levels range from absolute beginner (300 words at HSK 1) to near-native proficiency (11,000 cumulative words at HSK 7-9).
How many words do I need to know for each HSK level?: HSK 1 requires 300 words. HSK 2 covers 500 cumulative words, HSK 3 reaches 1,000, HSK 4 requires 2,000, HSK 5 covers 3,600, HSK 6 reaches 5,400, and HSK 7-9 requires a total of 11,000 words. Each level builds on the vocabulary of the levels below it.
What changed between HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0?: HSK 3.0 expanded from 6 levels to 9 (with 7 test bands) and significantly increased vocabulary requirements — the old HSK 6 required 5,000 words, while HSK 7-9 now requires 11,000. The new system sets explicit character, handwriting, grammar, and topic requirements at each level. HSK 7-9 has been tested since 2022, and new exams for HSK 1-6 are replacing HSK 2.0 during 2026.
How long does it take to pass each HSK level?: There is no official figure; it depends on your study time, your native language, and how much Chinese you hear and use. As a rough guide from learners and teachers, HSK 1-2 takes a few months of regular study, HSK 3-4 one to two years, HSK 5-6 several years, and HSK 7-9 usually many years of study or immersion.
Is HSK recognized internationally?: Yes. HSK is the most widely accepted Chinese language proficiency certificate worldwide. It is recognized by universities, employers, and government agencies both in China and internationally. China’s Ministry of Education asks degree programs taught in Chinese to admit international students at about level 4, and each university sets its own requirements, often higher for graduate programs.
What is the difference between HSK and TOCFL?: HSK is mainland China's official proficiency test and uses simplified Chinese characters, while TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) is Taiwan's equivalent; it is written in traditional characters, though overseas candidates can choose a simplified version. HSK is more widely recognized internationally, but TOCFL is preferred for study or work in Taiwan. Both test listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
Can I take the HSK exam online?: Yes. Besides paper tests, the HSK is offered on computers at test centers, and since May 2020 as a home-based online test. Registration is through the official HSK website (chinesetest.cn). Test formats, dates, and availability vary by country and level.