New HSK (3.0) · 2025 syllabus

HSK 3 characters

The syllabus has two character lists for each level: characters to recognise when reading, and a shorter list to write by hand. HSK 3 adds 284 reading characters (655 in total) and 150 handwriting characters (250 in total).

HSK 3 handwriting characters (150)

Pick a character to watch its stroke order, then switch to “Write” and draw it yourself. The tool checks each stroke.

HSK 3 reading characters (284)

New characters to recognise at this level, with a reading and the first words on the HSK lists that use them.

• 阿 ā · prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity; abbreviation for country names beginning with 阿, e.g. 阿富汗 "Afghanistan" 阿姨
• 矮 ǎi · short (height); low
• 安 ān · calm; peaceful; to calm; to set at ease; safe; secure; in good health 安静、安全、安检
• 把 bǎ · (marks the object before the verb: 把书放好); (measure word for chairs, umbrellas) 把握、把柄、把关
• 般 bān · sort; kind 一般、百般
• 搬 bān · to move; to carry 搬家、搬迁
• 板 bǎn · board; plank 黑板、老板、板块
• 办 bàn · to do; to handle; to arrange 办法、办公室、怎么办
• 饱 bǎo · full (after eating) 饱和、饱满、饱经沧桑
• 报 bào · to report; to inform; to announce; to respond; to reply; to sign up for; to register for (abbr. for 报名) 报纸、报考、报名
• 北 běi · north 北方、东北、西北
• 被 bèi · (marks a passive sentence: by) 被子、被动、被迫
• 必 bì · certainly; must; will 必须、不必、必然
• 变 biàn · to change 变成、变化、改变
• 遍 biàn · (measure word for actions, from start to finish), as in 再说一遍 "say it once more" 普遍、遍地、遍布
• 宾 bīn · visitor; guest 宾馆、嘉宾、贵宾
• 冰 bīng · ice 冰箱、冰激凌、滑冰
• 才 cái · only then; only; just 刚才、人才、才华
• 参 cān 参加、参观、参赛
• 草 cǎo · grass 草地、草原、草案
• 层 céng · floor; storey; layer 层次、层面、高层
• 查 chá · to check; to look up 检查、查看、查找
• 差 chà · poor (quality); to be short of 差不多、出差、差点儿
• 尝 cháng · to taste 尝试、品尝
• 衬 chèn · (of garments) against the skin; to line 衬衫、衬托
• 成 chéng · to succeed; to finish; to complete 变成、成绩、完成
• 城 chéng · city; town 城市、城区、城镇
• 迟 chí · late 迟到、推迟、迟迟
• 持 chí · to hold; to grasp; to support 坚持、支持、保持
• 初 chū · at first; initially; first; early; (in lunar calendar dates, before numerals 1–10) days 1 to 10 of a month, as in 初三 "the third" 初中、初级、初期
• 除 chú · to get rid of; to remove; to exclude 除了、除夕、删除
• 楚 chǔ · distinct; clear 清楚
• 处 chǔ · to reside; to live; to dwell 到处、好处、坏处
• 船 chuán · boat; ship 船只、轮船、船舶
• 春 chūn 春天、青春、青春期
• 聪 cōng · acute (of hearing); clever; intelligent; sharp 聪明
• 答 dá · to answer 回答、答应、答案
• 带 dài · to bring; to take along 带动、领带、安全带
• 担 dān · to undertake; to carry; to shoulder 担心、承担、担任
• 单 dān · bill; list; form 菜单、简单、名单
• 当 dāng · to work as; to be; when (当…的时候) 当然、当时、当地
• 灯 dēng · lamp; light 红绿灯、灯光、台灯
• 典 diǎn · canon; law 词典、字典、经典
• 调 diào · to transfer; to move (troops or cadres); to investigate 空调、调查、调研
• 定 dìng · to decide; to fix 决定、一定、规定
• 丢 diū · to lose (something) 丢失、丢脸、丢弃
• 冬 dōng · winter 冬天、寒冬
• 短 duǎn · short (length, time) 短裤、短信、短处
• 段 duàn · (measure word for a section, a period of time, a stretch of road) 阶段、手段、地段
• 锻 duàn · to forge; to discipline 锻炼
• 朵 duǒ · classifier for flowers, clouds etc; flower; earlobe 耳朵、花朵
• 饿 è · hungry 饥饿
• 而 ér · and; but; while 而且、然而、从而
• 耳 ěr · ear; handle (archaeology) 耳朵、耳机、耳环
• 发 fā · to send; to issue 出发、发烧、发生
• 法 fǎ · law; method 办法、方法、法律
• 方 fāng · square; power or involution (math.); upright 北方、地方、东方
• 放 fàng · to put; to place 放假、放心、放学
• 风 fēng · wind 风景、风格、风俗
• 封 fēng · (measure word for letters) 信封、封闭、封顶
• 附 fù · to add; to attach; to be close to; to be attached 附近、附件、附带
• 复 fù · to go and return; to return 复习、复印、复杂
• 该 gāi · should; ought to 应该、活该
• 概 gài · general; approximate; without exception; categorically; bearing; deportment 大概、概括、概念
• 感 gǎn · feeling; sense (as in 幸福感) 感到、感冒、感兴趣
• 干 gàn · to do; to work 干净、饼干、干杯
• 刚 gāng · just (now); only just 刚才、刚刚、刚好
• 糕 gāo · cake 蛋糕、雪糕、糟糕
• 根 gēn · classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings; root; basis 根据、根本、根基
• 更 gèng · even more; more 更加、更换、更新
• 共 gòng · in total; together 一共、公共、共同
• 故 gù · happening; instance; reason 故事、故意、故乡
• 顾 gù · to look after; to take into consideration; to attend to 照顾、顾客、不顾
• 瓜 guā · melon; gourd; squash; (slang) a piece of gossip 西瓜、黄瓜、瓜分
• 刮 guā · to blow (of wind); to scrape 刮目相看
• 怪 guài · odd; strange; uncanny; monster; supernatural being; to find strange; to regard as odd 奇怪、古怪、怪物
• 惯 guàn · accustomed to; used to; indulge 习惯、惯例、惯性
• 海 hǎi · sea 海洋、海关、海外
• 害 hài · to do harm to; to cause trouble to; harm 害怕、害羞、厉害
• 合 hé · to close; to join; to fit 合适、符合、合格
• 河 hé · river 河流、河畔、运河
• 乎 hū · (classical particle similar to 于) in; at 几乎、似乎、在乎
• 护 hù · to protect; to guard; to defend (sb) out of partiality 护照、保护、护士
• 化 huà · to make into; to change into; -ization 变化、文化、化学
• 环 huán · classifier for scores in archery etc; ring; hoop 环境、环保、环节
• 换 huàn · to change; to exchange 换乘、更换、交换
• 黄 huáng · yellow; pornographic; to fall through 黄色、黄瓜、黄金
• 婚 hūn · marriage; wedding; to marry 结婚、婚礼、离婚
• 活 huó · to live; alive 生活、活动、活泼
• 或 huò · or 或者、或是、或许
• 激 jī · to arouse; to incite 冰激凌、激动、刺激
• 级 jí · classifier: step, level; level; grade 班级、年级、超级
• 极 jí · extremely 积极、极其、消极
• 急 jí · urgent; in a hurry; anxious 着急、急忙、急需
• 季 jì · season 季节、四季、季度
• 绩 jì · to spin (hemp etc); merit 成绩、绩效、业绩
• 加 jiā · to add; plus 参加、更加、加班
• 假 jiǎ · fake; false 放假、假期、请假
• 坚 jiān · strong; solid 坚持、坚强、坚定
• 检 jiǎn · to check; to examine 检查、检票、安检
• 简 jiǎn · simple; uncomplicated 简单、简历、简直
• 健 jiàn · healthy; to invigorate 健康、健身、健身房
• 讲 jiǎng · to speak; to explain; to tell (a story) 讲话、讲究、讲述
• 蕉 jiāo · banana 香蕉
• 角 jiǎo · jiao (one tenth of a yuan) 角度、角色、角落
• 饺 jiǎo · dumplings with meat filling 饺子
• 脚 jiǎo · foot 脚步、脚印、手脚
• 较 jiào · to compare; to dispute; compared to 比较、较为、计较
• 接 jiē · to pick up (someone); to receive; to answer (the phone) 接受、接着、直接
• 街 jiē · street 街道、街头、街坊
• 节 jié · (measure word for lessons and classes); festival 过节、季节、节目
• 结 jié · knot; sturdy; bond 结婚、结束、结果
• 解 jiě · to divide; to break up; to split 解决、了解、解释
• 界 jiè · boundary; border; realm 世界、外界、边界
• 借 jiè · to borrow; to lend 凭借、借鉴、借助
• 斤 jīn · jin (half a kilogram) 公斤
• 净 jìng · clean; completely; only 干净、洁净、净化
• 静 jìng · still; calm; quiet 安静、冷静、平静
• 境 jìng · border; place 环境、出境、入境
• 久 jiǔ · long (time) 不久、好久、长久
• 旧 jiù · old (not new) 仍旧、依旧、陈旧
• 居 jī 邻居、居民、居然
• 句 jù · (measure word for sentences) 句子
• 据 jù · according to; to act in accordance with; to depend on 根据、据说、数据
• 决 jué · to decide; to determine 解决、决定、决赛
• 卡 kǎ · card 信用卡、银行卡、打卡
• 康 kāng · healthy; peaceful 健康、康复、小康
• 渴 kě · thirsty 渴望、解渴
• 刻 kè · quarter (of an hour) 立刻、深刻、时刻
• 空 kōng · empty 空调、空气、空间
• 哭 kū · to cry 哭泣、哭笑不得
• 筷 kuài · chopstick 筷子
• 矿 kuàng · mineral deposit; ore deposit; ore; a mine 矿泉水、采矿、矿藏
• 蓝 lán · blue 蓝图、蔚蓝
• 礼 lǐ · gift; rite 礼物、礼貌、婚礼
• 李 lǐ · plum 行李
• 理 lǐ · texture; grain (of wood); inner essence 经理、办理、管理
• 力 lì · power; force; strength 努力、力气、能力
• 历 lì 历史、经历、简历
• 脸 liǎn · face 脸色、丢脸、脸颊
• 练 liàn · to practise 练习、教练、熟练
• 炼 liàn · to refine; to smelt 锻炼、磨炼、提炼
• 凉 liáng · cool; cold 凉快、着凉、荒凉
• 辆 liàng · (measure word for vehicles) 车辆
• 聊 liáo · to chat 聊天儿、无聊
• 料 liào · material; stuff; grain 饮料、材料、塑料
• 邻 lín · neighbor; adjacent 邻居
• 凌 líng · to approach; to rise high 冰激凌、凌晨、盛气凌人
• 马 mǎ · horse 马路、马上、马虎
• 码 mǎ · classifier for matters, items, situations etc (esp. when indicating whether they are the same or different, as in 不是一码事 "not the same thing"); standard weight used with a balance scale; number 号码、密码、扫码
• 满 mǎn · full 满意、不满、充满
• 毛 máo · mao (one tenth of a yuan, spoken) 羽毛球、毛巾、毛衣
• 冒 mào · to emit; to give off; to send out (or up, forth); to brave; to face; reckless 感冒、冒险、假冒
• 末 mò · end (of a period), as in 周末 周末、期末、粉末
• 目 mù · eye; to look; to regard 节目、目标、目的
• 南 nán · south 东南、南方、西南
• 难 nán · difficult 难过、难看、难题
• 努 nǔ · to exert; to strive 努力
• 爬 pá · to climb; to crawl
• 怕 pà · to be afraid of 害怕、恐怕、可怕
• 拍 pāi · to pat; to film; to take (a photo) 拍照、拍摄、拍板
• 盘 pán · classifier for things resembling a plate or dish; classifier for coils; classifier for games or matches (chess, table tennis etc) 盘子、键盘、光盘
• 胖 pàng · fat; plump 肥胖、胖乎乎
• 啤 pí · beer 啤酒
• 片 piàn · slice; piece; (measure word for flat pieces, areas) 照片、图片、名片
• 平 píng · flat; level; smooth; to make even; to level; equal; on the same level 平时、水平、平常
• 瓶 píng · bottle; vase 瓶子、瓶颈
• 其 qí · his; her; its 其实、其他、其次
• 奇 jī · odd (number) 奇怪、好奇、奇迹
• 骑 qí · to ride (a bike, horse)
• 汽 qì · steam; vapor 汽车、汽水、汽油
• 铅 qiān 铅笔
• 且 qiě · and; moreover; yet 而且、并且、姑且
• 轻 qīng · light (weight); gentle 年轻、减轻、轻松
• 清 qīng · (of water etc) clear; clean; quiet; still; pure; uncorrupted 清楚、清晨、清淡
• 秋 qiū · autumn; fall 秋天
• 求 qiú · to seek; to look for; to request 要求、请求、需求
• 区 qū · district; area 小区、郊区、景区
• 趣 qù · interesting; to interest 兴趣、感兴趣、有趣
• 全 quán · whole; all 安全、全部、全都
• 泉 quán · spring (small stream); mouth of a spring 矿泉水、喷泉、温泉
• 裙 qún 裙子
• 容 róng · to hold; to contain 容易、内容、形容
• 如 rú · as; as if; such as 比如、如果、不如
• 赛 sài · to compete; competition; match 比赛、参赛、大赛
• 伞 sǎn · umbrella 跳伞
• 扫 sǎo · to sweep 打扫、扫码、清扫
• 沙 shā · granule; hoarse 沙发、沙漠、沙子
• 山 shān · mountain; hill 山区、山顶、山峰
• 衫 shān · garment; jacket with open slits in place of sleeves 衬衫
• 烧 shāo · to burn; to set on fire; to heat (over a fire); to boil (water, tea etc); to braise 发烧、燃烧、烧烤
• 勺 sháo · spoon; ladle 勺子
• 声 shēng · sound; (measure word for sounds) 声音、歌声、响声
• 实 shí · real; true 其实、诚实、确实
• 史 shǐ · history; annals 历史、史无前例
• 世 shì · life; age 世界、世纪、去世
• 适 kuò 合适、适合、适应
• 收 shōu · to receive; to collect 收到、收费、收入
• 受 shòu · to receive; to suffer 受到、感受、接受
• 瘦 shòu · thin
• 叔 shū · uncle; father's younger brother 叔叔
• 束 shù · classifier for bunches, bundles, beams of light etc; to bind; bunch 结束、约束、拘束
• 树 shù · tree 树林、树木、树立
• 数 shù · number 数学、多数、分数
• 刷 shuā · to brush; to swipe (a card) 牙刷、印刷、刷新
• 双 shuāng · pair (measure word) 双方、双边、双重
• 算 suàn · to calculate; to count as 打算、计算、计算机
• 糖 táng · sugar; sweets 糖果、喜糖、口香糖
• 特 tè · special; unique; distinguished 特别、特点、独特
• 梯 tī · ladder; stairs 电梯、楼梯、滑梯
• 提 tí · to carry (in the hand); to mention 提高、提出、提到
• 甜 tián · sweet 甜品、酸甜苦辣、甜美
• 挺 tǐng · quite; rather 挺拔
• 突 tū · to dash; to move forward quickly 突然、突出、冲突
• 图 tú · picture; diagram 地图、图书馆、图片
• 腿 tuǐ · leg 火腿
• 碗 wǎn · bowl 饭碗
• 卫 wèi · to guard; to protect 卫生间、卫生、保卫
• 闻 wén · to smell 新闻、闻名、丑闻
• 屋 wū · house; room 屋子、房屋、屋檐
• 务 wù · affair; business 服务、任务、家务
• 物 wù · thing; the outside world as distinct from oneself; people other than oneself 动物、礼物、动物园
• 戏 xì · trick; drama; play 游戏、戏剧、戏曲
• 夏 xià · summer 夏天、夏令营、盛夏
• 鲜 xiān · fresh 新鲜、鲜花、海鲜
• 相 xiāng · each other; one another 相信、相机、照相
• 香 xiāng · fragrant; smells good 香蕉、香肠、香水
• 箱 xiāng · box; trunk 冰箱、箱子、邮箱
• 响 xiǎng · to ring; to make a sound; loud 影响、响声、反响
• 向 xiàng · toward; to 方向、面向、向上
• 像 xiàng · to look like; like 好像、录像、偶像
• 鞋 xié · shoe 皮鞋、拖鞋
• 心 xīn · heart; mind 担心、放心、关心
• 信 xìn · letter; to believe 相信、信用卡、短信
• 行 xíng · OK; all right 不行、行李、银行
• 熊 xióng · bear 大熊猫
• 须 xū · must; to have to; to wait 必须、无须、须知
• 需 xū · to require; to need; to want 需要、必需、急需
• 选 xuǎn · to choose 选择、挑选、选手
• 牙 yá · tooth 牙刷、牙膏、牙齿
• 言 yán · words; speech 语言、发言、留言
• 演 yǎn · to act; to perform 表演、演唱、演出
• 羊 yáng · sheep; goat 亡羊补牢
• 阳 yáng · positive (electric.); sun 太阳、阳光、阳台
• 养 yǎng · to raise (animals); to keep (a pet) 养成、培养、营养
• 业 yè · line of business; industry; occupation 作业、毕业、职业
• 页 yè · page 网页、主页
• 姨 yí · mother's sister; aunt 阿姨
• 议 yì · to comment on; to discuss; to suggest 会议、建议、协议
• 易 yì · easy; amiable 容易、交易、轻易
• 音 yīn · sound; noise 声音、音乐、读音
• 银 yín · silver; silver-colored; relating to money or currency 银行、银行卡、银牌
• 饮 yǐn 饮料、餐饮、饮食
• 应 yìng · to answer; to respond; to comply with 应该、答应、适应
• 迎 yíng · to welcome; to meet; to forge ahead (esp. in the face of difficulties); to meet face to face 欢迎、迎接、迎合
• 用 yòng · to use 不用、常用、有用
• 邮 yóu · post (office); mail 邮件、邮箱、邮寄
• 又 yòu · again; and also
• 于 yú · to go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle 关于、终于、便于
• 羽 yǔ · feather; 5th note in pentatonic scale 羽毛球、羽绒服
• 育 yù · to have children; to raise or bring up 体育、体育馆、教育
• 遇 yù · to encounter; to happen upon; to meet unplanned; to treat; to receive 遇到、遇见、待遇
• 园 yuán · garden; park 公园、花园、校园
• 员 yuán · member; person (in a job), as in 服务员 运动员、队员、会员
• 愿 yuàn · honest and prudent; wish; hope; desire; to be willing 愿意、愿望、志愿者
• 越 yuè · (越…越…) the more… the more… 超越、穿越、跨越
• 咱 zán 咱们
• 脏 zāng · dirty 心脏、内脏
• 澡 zǎo · bath 洗澡
• 择 zé · to select; to choose 选择、抉择
• 展 zhǎn · to spread out; to open up 发展、开展、展出
• 张 zhāng · (measure word for flat things: paper, tables, tickets); to open 紧张、夸张、主张
• 照 zhào · to take (a photo); to shine 护照、拍照、照顾
• 者 zhě · (ending for a person who does something, as in 作者 "author") 或者、读者、记者
• 直 zhí · straight; to straighten; fair and reasonable 一直、直到、直接
• 纸 zhǐ · paper 报纸、纸巾、图纸
• 终 zhōng · end; finish 终于、最终、始终
• 种 zhǒng · kind; type 各种、品种、种类
• 重 chóng · again; once more 重要、重新、体重
• 主 zhǔ · owner; master 主要、主意、车主
• 助 zhù · to help; to assist 帮助、有助于、辅助
• 注 zhù · to pour into; to flow into; to inject; to focus (one's spirit, gaze etc) on a single point; to concentrate; stake (in gambling) 关注、注意、注册
• 总 zǒng · always 总是、总结、总部
• 嘴 zuǐ · mouth 嘴巴、插嘴、咧嘴

Stroke animations use Hanzi Writer with stroke data from Make Me a Hanzi (Arphic Public License). Readings for characters that are not words on their own are from CC-CEDICT.