HSK lists
HSK 1 vocabulary
The 518 words at HSK 1 (HSK 3.0), with hanzi, tone-colored pinyin and English meaning. The HSK 2.0 tag appears alongside when the word was also in it.
What HSK 1 is
This page lists 518 entries for HSK 1, covering 507 distinct hanzi — the two figures differ because a word with more than one reading gets one entry per reading. Of those entries, 302 also carry an HSK 2.0 tag (in HSK 2.0 terms: 140 at level 1, 83 at level 2, 55 at level 3, 18 at level 4 and 6 at level 5), and the rest have no 2.0 tag at all. Nothing comes before it, so the running total from HSK 1 is the same 518 entries. The official HSK 3.0 standard (《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》, GF 0025-2021) counts 500 words at this level and 300 characters cumulatively up to it; our list runs higher, mostly because entries are split by reading.
- Entries on this page
- 518
- Distinct hanzi
- 507
- With an HSK 2.0 tag
- 302
- Running total from HSK 1
- 518
- Official standard · words at this level
- 500
- Official standard · characters up to here
- 300
What changes here
This is where the language starts: greetings, numbers, family, food, time, and the handful of verbs that hold a sentence together. Almost everything here is high-frequency and concrete, so most words can be tied to an object, an action or a moment in the day. The official standard pairs this level with 300 characters, which is why so many HSK 1 words are one or two characters long.
How to study it, and how long it takes
The arithmetic is honest and fixed: at 10 new words a day, the 518 entries at HSK 1 take about 52 days — roughly 7 weeks; at 20 a day, about 26 days — roughly 4 weeks. That only counts meeting each word once — what decides whether it stays is the reviews stacked on top, which is why the pace people actually sustain matters more than the pace they plan.
Wanyu handles that part with spaced repetition (FSRS), so each word comes back on the day you are about to forget it rather than on a fixed calendar. Every word sits inside an example sentence and has audio, on the word and on the sentence, so a new entry gets heard and used instead of only read. The app is free — no subscription, no accounts, no ads, no cloud — and for now it runs on iPhone only.
More numbers: how many words are in each HSK level. A worked routine: how to study HSK 4. Why the two standards differ: HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0.
Every word with its hanzi, pinyin and meaning (the glosses start from CC-CEDICT and are reviewed for Wanyu). The audio and example sentences for each one are inside the app, free.
A
爱 to love; to be fond of; to like a lot HSK 2.0 · 1
爱好 hobby; interest HSK 2.0 · 3
B
吧 (particle: suggestion or supposition) HSK 2.0 · 2
爸 dad
八 eight; 8 HSK 2.0 · 1
爸爸 (coll.) father; dad HSK 2.0 · 1
白 white HSK 2.0 · 2
百 hundred; numerous; all kinds of HSK 2.0 · 2
白天 daytime; during the day; day
半 half HSK 2.0 · 3
班 class (group); shift; MW for groups, scheduled transport HSK 2.0 · 3
半年 half a year
半天 a long while; half a day
帮 to help; MW for groups of people
帮忙 to help; to lend a hand HSK 2.0 · 3
包 bag; to wrap; MW for packages HSK 2.0 · 3
包子 bao (steamed stuffed bun) HSK 2.0 · 5
杯 MW for cups, glasses; glass; cup
北 north; (classical) to be defeated
北边 north; to the north
北京 Beijing HSK 2.0 · 1
杯子 cup; glass HSK 2.0 · 1
本 MW for books, magazines; root; this HSK 2.0 · 1
本子 notebook
比 to compare; (comparison marker: more... than) HSK 2.0 · 2
别 don't (prohibition); other, different HSK 2.0 · 2
别的 else; other
别人 other people; others; other person HSK 2.0 · 3
病 illness; to get sick; to be sick
病人 sick person; patient; invalid
不 no; not HSK 2.0 · 1
不大 not very; not too; not often
不对 incorrect; wrong; not right
不客气 you're welcome; don't mention it HSK 2.0 · 1
不用 need not
C
菜 dish (food); vegetable HSK 2.0 · 1
差 to lack; bad; inferior HSK 2.0 · 3
茶 tea; tea plant HSK 2.0 · 1
唱 to sing
常 often; frequently
常常 frequently; often
唱歌 to sing a song HSK 2.0 · 2
车 car; vehicle
车票 ticket (for a bus or train)
车上 Car
车站 rail station; bus stop
吃 to eat HSK 2.0 · 1
吃饭 to eat (a meal)
出 to go out; to produce; to take out HSK 2.0 · 2
出来 to come out; to appear; to arise
出来 to come out; (after a verb: outward, or result)
出去 to go out
穿 to wear; to put on (clothes) HSK 2.0 · 2
床 bed; MW for blankets, quilts
次 time (occurrence); MW for occasions, times HSK 2.0 · 2
从 from; since HSK 2.0 · 2
错 mistake; wrong; bad HSK 2.0 · 2
D
大 big; older HSK 2.0 · 1
打 to hit; to play (with the hands); to make (a call)
打车 to take a taxi
打电话 to make a telephone call HSK 2.0 · 1
打开 to open; to turn on
打球 to play ball; to play with a ball
大学 university; college
大学生 university student; college student
到 to arrive; to reach; until HSK 2.0 · 2
的 (possessive/attributive particle: 's, of) HSK 2.0 · 1
地 (adverb particle: -ly, placed before the verb) HSK 2.0 · 3
得到 to get; to obtain; to receive
等 to wait; et cetera; class, rank HSK 2.0 · 4
地 earth; ground; place HSK 2.0 · 3
第 (ordinal prefix: 1st, 2nd...)
弟 younger brother
弟弟 younger brother HSK 2.0 · 2
地点 place; site; location; venue
第二 second
地方 place; spot HSK 2.0 · 3
地上 on the ground; on the floor
地图 map HSK 2.0 · 3
点 point; a little; o'clock; to order (food) HSK 2.0 · 1
电 electricity; (electric) light
电话 telephone; phone call; phone number
电脑 computer HSK 2.0 · 1
电视 television; TV HSK 2.0 · 1
电视机 television set
电影 movie; film HSK 2.0 · 1
电影院 cinema; movie theater
动 to move
东 east HSK 2.0 · 3
东边 east; to the east
东西 thing; stuff; person HSK 2.0 · 1
动作 movement; action HSK 2.0 · 4
都 all; (emphatic) already HSK 2.0 · 1
读 to read HSK 2.0 · 1
读书 to read; to study; to attend school
对 correct; to be right; toward; regarding; MW for couples, pairs HSK 2.0 · 4
对不起 I'm sorry; pardon me; excuse me HSK 2.0 · 1
多 many; much; how much HSK 2.0 · 1
多少 number; amount; somewhat HSK 2.0 · 1
多少 how much; how many HSK 2.0 · 1
E
饿 to be hungry; hungry HSK 2.0 · 3
二 two HSK 2.0 · 1
儿子 son HSK 2.0 · 1
F
饭 meal; cooked rice
饭店 restaurant; hotel
放 to put; to leave (something); to release HSK 2.0 · 3
放假 to have a holiday or vacation
房间 room HSK 2.0 · 2
放学 to get out of school (end of the school day)
房子 house; home
飞 to fly
非常 very; extremely HSK 2.0 · 2
飞机 airplane HSK 2.0 · 1
分 to divide; minute; point (score); cent HSK 2.0 · 3
风 wind
G
干 dry; empty; in vain HSK 2.0 · 4
干 to do; to work HSK 2.0 · 4
干净 clean; neat HSK 2.0 · 3
干什么 what are you doing?; what for?
高 tall; high HSK 2.0 · 2
告诉 to tell; to inform; to let know HSK 2.0 · 2
高兴 happy; cheerful HSK 2.0 · 1
个 MW for people and things (general) HSK 2.0 · 1
歌 song; to sing
哥 elder brother
哥哥 older brother HSK 2.0 · 2
给 to give; to; for (someone's benefit) HSK 2.0 · 2
跟 with; to follow HSK 2.0 · 3
工人 worker HSK 2.0 · 5
工作 to work; work; job HSK 2.0 · 1
关 to close; to turn off HSK 2.0 · 3
关上 to close (door, window); to turn off
贵 expensive HSK 2.0 · 2
过 to pass; to cross; (particle: past experience) HSK 2.0 · 4
过 (experienced action marker) HSK 2.0 · 4
国 country; nation
国家 country; nation; state HSK 2.0 · 3
国外 abroad; overseas
H
还 still; yet; in addition HSK 2.0 · 2
还是 still; or (in questions); had better HSK 2.0 · 3
还有 in addition; also; there is still some left
孩子 child HSK 2.0 · 2
汉语 Chinese language HSK 2.0 · 1
汉字 Chinese character
好 good; well HSK 2.0 · 1
好 to be fond of; to be prone to HSK 2.0 · 1
号 number; day of the month; size HSK 2.0 · 2
好吃 tasty; delicious HSK 2.0 · 2
好看 pretty; good-looking; good, interesting (book, movie)
好听 pleasant to hear
好玩儿 fun; entertaining
和 and; with HSK 2.0 · 1
喝 to drink HSK 2.0 · 1
很 very HSK 2.0 · 1
后 behind; after; later
后边 behind; the back; the rear
后天 the day after tomorrow
话 words; speech; what is said
花 flower; to spend (money or time) HSK 2.0 · 3
坏 bad; spoiled; broken HSK 2.0 · 3
会 to know how to; can; will (likely future) HSK 2.0 · 1
回 to go back; to return; MW for times HSK 2.0 · 1
回答 to answer; to reply; answer HSK 2.0 · 2
回到 to return to
回家 to return home
回来 to return; to come back
回去 to return; to go back
火车 train
J
几 how many; a few HSK 2.0 · 1
记 to note down; to remember
机场 airport HSK 2.0 · 2
鸡蛋 (chicken) egg; hen's egg HSK 2.0 · 2
记得 to remember HSK 2.0 · 3
机票 air ticket; passenger ticket
记住 to remember; to memorize; to keep in mind
家 home; family; MW for companies, shops HSK 2.0 · 1
家里 home
家人 family members; one's family
见 to see; to meet
间 MW for rooms; between
见面 to meet; to see each other HSK 2.0 · 3
叫 to call; to be called; to shout; to ask for HSK 2.0 · 1
教 to teach HSK 2.0 · 3
教 religion; teaching, education HSK 2.0 · 3
教学楼 teaching block; school building
姐 older sister
姐姐 older sister HSK 2.0 · 2
介绍 to introduce; to present; to recommend HSK 2.0 · 2
进 to enter; to advance HSK 2.0 · 2
进来 to come in
今年 this year
进去 to go in
今天 today HSK 2.0 · 1
就 then; precisely; right away HSK 2.0 · 2
九 nine; 9 HSK 2.0 · 1
觉得 to think that; to feel that; to seem HSK 2.0 · 2
K
开 to open; to turn on; to drive HSK 2.0 · 1
开车 to drive a car
开会 to have a meeting; to meet
开玩笑 to joke; to play a joke HSK 2.0 · 4
看 to see; to look at; to read HSK 2.0 · 1
看病 to visit a doctor; to see a patient
看到 to see
看见 to see; to catch sight of HSK 2.0 · 1
考 to examine; to take an exam
考试 to take an exam; exam HSK 2.0 · 2
课 class; lesson; subject HSK 2.0 · 2
渴 thirsty HSK 2.0 · 3
课本 textbook
课文 text
口 mouth; MW for family members HSK 2.0 · 3
快 fast; quickly; soon; about to HSK 2.0 · 2
块 MW for pieces, chunks; yuan (colloquial) HSK 2.0 · 1
L
来 to come HSK 2.0 · 1
来到 to arrive; to come
老 old; elderly; long-standing HSK 2.0 · 3
老人 elderly person; older person
老师 teacher HSK 2.0 · 1
了 (particle: completed action or change of state) HSK 2.0 · 1
累 tired HSK 2.0 · 2
冷 cold HSK 2.0 · 1
里 inside; in HSK 2.0 · 1
里边 inside
两 two (quantity) HSK 2.0 · 2
零 zero HSK 2.0 · 1
六 six; 6 HSK 2.0 · 1
楼 building; floor, story HSK 2.0 · 3
楼上 upstairs
楼下 downstairs
路 road; street; route; line (bus) HSK 2.0 · 2
路口 crossing; intersection (of roads)
路上 on the road; on the way
M
吗 (yes-no question particle) HSK 2.0 · 1
妈 ma; mom; mother
马路 street; road
妈妈 mom HSK 2.0 · 1
马上 right away; immediately HSK 2.0 · 3
买 to buy; to purchase HSK 2.0 · 1
慢 slow HSK 2.0 · 2
忙 busy; to be busy HSK 2.0 · 2
毛 hair; wool; mao (0.1 yuan) HSK 2.0 · 5
没 to not have; (past negation: didn't) HSK 2.0 · 1
妹 younger sister
没关系 it doesn't matter HSK 2.0 · 1
妹妹 younger sister; young woman HSK 2.0 · 2
没什么 nothing; it's nothing; never mind
没事儿 it's nothing; to be free
没有 to not have; there is not
门 door; MW for school subjects, courses HSK 2.0 · 2
们 (plural marker for pronouns and people)
门口 doorway; gate
门票 ticket (for theater, cinema etc)
米饭 (cooked) rice HSK 2.0 · 1
面包 bread HSK 2.0 · 3
面条儿 noodles
明白 to understand; clear HSK 2.0 · 3
明年 next year
明天 tomorrow HSK 2.0 · 1
名字 name (of a person or thing) HSK 2.0 · 1
N
那 that; those HSK 2.0 · 1
拿 to take; to hold; to carry HSK 2.0 · 3
哪 which; what HSK 2.0 · 1
哪 (emphatic sentence-final particle after a word ending in -n) HSK 2.0 · 1
那边 over there; yonder
哪里 where
那里 there; that place
那些 those
哪些 which ones?; who?; what?
奶 milk
奶奶 grandmother (paternal) HSK 2.0 · 3
难 difficult HSK 2.0 · 3
男 male; man
南 south HSK 2.0 · 3
南边 south; to the south
男孩儿 boy
男朋友 boyfriend
男人 man HSK 2.0 · 2
男生 boy; male student
哪儿 where
那儿 there
呢 (question particle: and...?, what about...?) HSK 2.0 · 1
能 can; to be able to HSK 2.0 · 1
你 you HSK 2.0 · 1
你好 hello; hi; how do you do HSK 2.0 · 1
你们 you (plural)
年 year HSK 2.0 · 1
您 you (polite) HSK 2.0 · 2
牛奶 cow's milk HSK 2.0 · 2
女 female; woman; daughter
女儿 daughter HSK 2.0 · 1
女孩儿 girl
女朋友 girlfriend
女人 woman HSK 2.0 · 2
女人 wife HSK 2.0 · 2
女生 schoolgirl; female student; girl
P
旁边 side; adjacent place HSK 2.0 · 2
跑 to run
朋友 friend HSK 2.0 · 1
票 ticket HSK 2.0 · 2
Q
起 to raise; to get up; to start; to arise; MW for incidents, cases
七 seven; 7 HSK 2.0 · 1
汽车 car; automobile; bus
起床 to get out of bed; to get up HSK 2.0 · 2
起来 to get up; (after a verb: to start doing; upward) HSK 2.0 · 4
起来 to get up; (after a verb: to start doing) HSK 2.0 · 4
前 front; before; previous
钱 money HSK 2.0 · 1
钱包 purse; wallet
前边 front; the front side; in front of
前天 the day before yesterday
请 to ask; to invite; please HSK 2.0 · 1
请假 to request leave of absence HSK 2.0 · 4
请进 "please come in"
请问 Excuse me, may I ask...?
请坐 please, have a seat
球 ball; ball game
去 to go HSK 2.0 · 1
去年 last year HSK 2.0 · 2
R
热 hot; heat HSK 2.0 · 1
人 person; people HSK 2.0 · 1
认识 to know (someone); to recognize HSK 2.0 · 1
认真 serious; conscientious; carefully HSK 2.0 · 3
日 sun; day; date, day of the month HSK 2.0 · 1
日期 date HSK 2.0 · 5
肉 meat
S
三 three; 3 HSK 2.0 · 1
山 mountain; hill
上 up; above; to go up; previous HSK 2.0 · 1
上班 to go to work; to work HSK 2.0 · 2
上边 above; on top; the upper part
商场 shopping mall; department store
上车 to get on (a vehicle)
上次 last time
商店 store; shop HSK 2.0 · 1
上课 to have class; to teach a class
上网 to go online; to browse the internet HSK 2.0 · 3
上午 morning HSK 2.0 · 1
上学 to go to school; to go to class
少 few; little; to lack HSK 2.0 · 1
谁 who HSK 2.0 · 1
什么 what?; something; anything HSK 2.0 · 1
身上 on the body; at hand; among
身体 the body; one's health; in person HSK 2.0 · 2
生病 to fall ill HSK 2.0 · 2
生气 to get angry; to be angry HSK 2.0 · 3
生日 birthday HSK 2.0 · 2
是 to be; yes; correct HSK 2.0 · 1
事 matter; thing; affair
十 ten; 10 HSK 2.0 · 1
试 to try; to attempt; exam HSK 2.0 · 4
是不是 is it or isn't it?; right?
时候 moment; a while; when HSK 2.0 · 1
时间 time; point in time HSK 2.0 · 2
手 hand
手机 cell phone; mobile phone HSK 2.0 · 2
书 book HSK 2.0 · 1
树 tree HSK 2.0 · 3
书包 schoolbag; satchel; bookbag
书店 bookstore
水 water HSK 2.0 · 1
睡 to sleep; to lie down
水果 fruit HSK 2.0 · 1
睡觉 to go to bed; to sleep HSK 2.0 · 1
说 to speak; to say
说话 to speak; to chat HSK 2.0 · 1
四 four; 4 HSK 2.0 · 1
送 to send; to give as a gift; to accompany HSK 2.0 · 2
岁 years old HSK 2.0 · 1
T
他 he; him HSK 2.0 · 1
她 she HSK 2.0 · 1
他们 they
她们 they; them (for females)
太 too; excessively HSK 2.0 · 1
天 day; sky; heaven
天气 weather HSK 2.0 · 1
听 to listen; to hear; MW for cans HSK 2.0 · 1
听到 to hear
听见 to hear
听写 dictation; to take dictation
同学 classmate HSK 2.0 · 1
图书馆 library HSK 2.0 · 3
W
外 outside; exterior; foreign HSK 2.0 · 2
外边 outside; the exterior
外国 foreign (country)
外语 foreign language
晚 evening; night; late
晚饭 dinner
晚上 evening; night; in the evening HSK 2.0 · 2
忘 to forget
忘记 to forget HSK 2.0 · 3
网上 online
网友 online friend; Internet user
玩儿 to play; to have fun; to hang out
问 to ask; to inquire HSK 2.0 · 2
我 I; me; my HSK 2.0 · 1
我们 we; us HSK 2.0 · 1
五 five; 5 HSK 2.0 · 1
午饭 lunch
X
西 west HSK 2.0 · 3
洗 to wash HSK 2.0 · 2
西边 west; to the west
喜欢 to like; to be fond of HSK 2.0 · 1
洗手间 toilet; lavatory; washroom HSK 2.0 · 3
下 down; below; to go down; next; MW for times an action occurs HSK 2.0 · 1
下班 to finish work; to get off work
下边 under; the underside; below
下车 to get off (a vehicle)
下次 next time
下课 to get out of class; to finish class
下午 afternoon HSK 2.0 · 1
下雨 to rain HSK 2.0 · 1
先 first; before HSK 2.0 · 3
先生 mister; teacher; husband HSK 2.0 · 1
现在 now; at the moment HSK 2.0 · 1
想 to want; to think; to miss HSK 2.0 · 1
小 small; young HSK 2.0 · 1
笑 to laugh; to smile; to laugh at HSK 2.0 · 2
小孩儿 child; kid
小姐 miss; young lady HSK 2.0 · 1
小朋友 child
小时 hour HSK 2.0 · 2
小学 elementary school; primary school
小学生 elementary school student
写 to write HSK 2.0 · 1
谢谢 thanks HSK 2.0 · 1
新 new HSK 2.0 · 2
新年 New Year
行 to go; to walk; to be valid; to be OK HSK 2.0 · 4
星期 week; day of the week; Sunday HSK 2.0 · 1
星期日 Sunday
星期天 Sunday
休息 rest; to rest HSK 2.0 · 2
学 to learn; to study
学生 student; schoolchild HSK 2.0 · 1
学习 to learn; to study HSK 2.0 · 1
学校 school HSK 2.0 · 1
学院 college; institute; school
Y
要 to want; to need; going to (future) HSK 2.0 · 2
也 also; too HSK 2.0 · 2
页 page; leaf HSK 2.0 · 4
爷爷 grandfather (paternal) HSK 2.0 · 3
一 one; a HSK 2.0 · 1
一半 half
一边 one side; at the same time; while HSK 2.0 · 3
一点儿 a little; a bit
衣服 clothes HSK 2.0 · 1
一会儿 a while; a moment; in a moment HSK 2.0 · 3
一块儿 together
一起 together; in common HSK 2.0 · 2
医生 doctor HSK 2.0 · 1
一下儿 a moment; once (brief action)
一些 some; a few; a little
一样 same; the same (as) HSK 2.0 · 3
医院 hospital HSK 2.0 · 1
用 to use HSK 2.0 · 3
有 to have; there is HSK 2.0 · 1
右 right
右边 right side; right, to the right HSK 2.0 · 2
有的 some
有名 famous; well-known HSK 2.0 · 3
有时 sometimes; now and then
有时候 sometimes
有些 some; somewhat
有一些 somewhat; rather; some
有用 useful
雨 rain
远 far; distant HSK 2.0 · 2
元 yuan (currency unit) HSK 2.0 · 2
月 moon; month; monthly HSK 2.0 · 1
Z
在 to be (located) at; in; (marks action in progress) HSK 2.0 · 1
再 again; then; later HSK 2.0 · 2
在家 to be at home
再见 goodbye; see you again later HSK 2.0 · 1
早 early; (good morning)
早饭 breakfast
早上 early morning HSK 2.0 · 2
怎么 how; why (with surprise); what HSK 2.0 · 1
站 station; to stand; to stop; MW for stops HSK 2.0 · 3
找 to look for; to give change HSK 2.0 · 2
找到 to find; to come across
这 this; these HSK 2.0 · 1
着 (particle: ongoing action or state) HSK 2.0 · 2
这边 this side; here
这里 here
这些 these
真 real; truly; really HSK 2.0 · 2
真的 really, truly, indeed
正 straight; exactly; (action happening right now) HSK 2.0 · 5
正在 (in the middle of doing something) HSK 2.0 · 2
这儿 here
知道 to know; to find out about HSK 2.0 · 2
知识 knowledge; intellectual HSK 2.0 · 4
中 middle; center; within
重 heavy; serious; important HSK 2.0 · 5
中国 China HSK 2.0 · 1
中间 in the middle; the center; between HSK 2.0 · 3
中文 Chinese language HSK 2.0 · 4
中午 noon; midday HSK 2.0 · 1
中学 middle school
中学生 middle or high school student
重要 important HSK 2.0 · 3
住 to live; to reside; to stay HSK 2.0 · 1
准备 to prepare; to be about to HSK 2.0 · 2
桌子 table; desk HSK 2.0 · 1
子 son; seed; (noun suffix)
子 (noun suffix)
字 character; letter; written word HSK 2.0 · 1
走 to walk; to go; to leave HSK 2.0 · 2
走路 to walk; to go on foot
最 the most; -est HSK 2.0 · 2
最好 best; had better HSK 2.0 · 4
最后 final; last; finally; ultimate HSK 2.0 · 4
做 to do; to make HSK 2.0 · 1
坐 to sit; to take (a vehicle) HSK 2.0 · 1
左 left
左边 left; the left side; to the left of HSK 2.0 · 2
昨天 yesterday HSK 2.0 · 1
坐下 to sit down
Frequently asked questions
How many words are in HSK 1?
This page lists 518 entries for HSK 1 (507 distinct hanzi: a word with two readings gets one entry per reading). The official HSK 3.0 standard counts 500 words at this level, and 300 characters cumulatively up to it.
Is HSK 1 (HSK 3.0) the same as HSK 1 (HSK 2.0)?
No. HSK 3.0 and HSK 2.0 are different standards, and the same number does not mark the same bar. That is why this list shows both tags: 302 of the 518 entries here also appeared somewhere in HSK 2.0 (spread across 2.0 levels 1 to 5), and the rest have no 2.0 tag at all.
How long does HSK 1 take?
That depends on your time and your starting point, but the arithmetic is fixed: at 10 new words a day, the 518 entries take about 52 days — roughly 7 weeks; at 20 a day, about 26 days — roughly 4 weeks. Reviews on top of that are what decide whether the words stay.