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Words learners often confuse

Many common Chinese words share one English translation: “can”, “know”, “again”, “or”. The HSK tests the difference, especially in reading gap fills and the writing section. Here are 22 pairs that teachers see mixed up most often, with a simple rule and an example for each.

HSK 1–2

不 bù · HSK 1没有 méiyǒu · HSK 1

Both make a verb negative.

不 is for now, the future, habits and wishes. 没有 (often just 没) is for things that didn’t happen, and for “don’t have”.

  • 我明天不去。
  • 我昨天没去。
  • 我没有钱。

Grammar point: 没 / 没有: did not, have not

二 èr · HSK 1两 liǎng · HSK 1

Both mean two.

二 is the number itself: counting, phone numbers, 十二, 第二. 两 goes before a measure word: 两个, 两本, 两天.

  • 一、二、三
  • 我有两个哥哥。

Grammar point: 两 or 二: two

会 huì · HSK 1能 néng · HSK 1可以 kěyǐ · HSK 1

English “can” covers all three.

会 is a skill you learned. 能 is being able to, because of ability or circumstances. 可以 is permission, or a polite suggestion.

  • 我会游泳。
  • 我今天能去。
  • 这里可以坐吗？

Grammar point: 会, 能, 可以: can

认识 rènshi · HSK 1知道 zhīdào · HSK 1

Both translate as “know”.

认识 is knowing a person, a place or a character, being familiar with it. 知道 is knowing a fact.

  • 我认识她。
  • 我知道她的名字。

再 zài · HSK 1在 zài · HSK 1

They sound the same (zài).

在 is “at, in” or “in the middle of doing”. 再 is “again” or “and then”, for the future.

  • 我在家。
  • 我明天再来。

Grammar point: 在 / 正在: doing something right now

有点儿 yǒudiǎnr · HSK 1一点儿 yìdiǎnr · HSK 1

Both mean “a little”.

有点儿 goes before an adjective and usually sounds negative. 一点儿 goes after an adjective, often in comparisons and requests.

  • 今天有点儿冷。
  • 请说得慢一点儿。

Grammar point: 有点儿 or 一点儿: a little

的 de · HSK 1得 de · HSK 2地 de · HSK 2

All three are pronounced de.

的 joins a description to a noun. 得 comes after a verb, before a comment on how it was done. 地 turns a word into a description of how an action is done, before the verb.

  • 我的书
  • 他说得很好。
  • 他高兴地笑了。

Grammar point: 的, 得, 地: three “de” particles

看 kàn · HSK 1看见 kànjiàn · HSK 1

Both are about seeing.

看 is the action of looking or reading. 看见 is the result: you actually saw something.

  • 我在看书。
  • 我看见他了。

Grammar point: Result complements: 看完, 听懂, 写错

想 xiǎng · HSK 1要 yào · HSK 1

Both mean “want”.

想 is softer: would like, or think about. 要 is firmer: want, need, or be going to.

  • 我想喝茶。
  • 我要一杯咖啡。

Grammar point: 想 and 要: want to, going to

说 shuō · HSK 1告诉 gàosu · HSK 2

Both are about saying something.

说 is “say” or “speak”. 告诉 is “tell” and needs a person after it.

  • 他说汉语。
  • 他告诉我一件事。

和 hé · HSK 1跟 gēn · HSK 2

Both mean “and” or “with”.

和 is the usual “and” between nouns. 跟 is more often “with someone”, before a verb.

  • 我和他都是学生。
  • 我跟朋友去看电影。

HSK 3

还是 háishi · HSK 2或者 huòzhě · HSK 3

Both mean “or”.

还是 is “or” in a question. 或者 is “or” in a statement.

  • 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
  • 我们明天或者后天去。

Grammar point: 还是: or (in questions); had better

又 yòu · HSK 3再 zài · HSK 1

Both mean “again”.

又 is for something that has already happened again. 再 is for something that will happen again.

  • 他今天又迟到了。
  • 请再说一遍。

Grammar point: 又 or 再: again

见 jiàn · HSK 1见面 jiànmiàn · HSK 3

Both mean “meet”.

见 takes a person after it: 见朋友. 见面 already contains its object, so the other person goes before it with 跟 or 和.

  • 我明天去见老师。
  • 我明天跟老师见面。

刚 gāng · HSK 3刚才 gāngcái · HSK 3

Both mean “just”.

刚 is an adverb before a verb and can mean a while ago (刚来中国的时候). 刚才 is a time word, “a moment ago”, and can come before the subject.

  • 我刚到。
  • 刚才有人给你打电话。

帮助 bāngzhù · HSK 3帮忙 bāngmáng · HSK 2

Both mean “help”.

帮助 takes an object: 帮助别人. 帮忙 doesn’t; the person goes in the middle: 帮我一个忙, or before it with 给.

  • 谢谢你帮助我。
  • 你能帮个忙吗？

以为 yǐwéi · HSK 3认为 rènwéi · HSK 3

Both translate as “think”.

认为 is an opinion. 以为 is a belief that turned out to be wrong.

  • 我认为这个办法很好。
  • 我以为他是老师，其实他是学生。

HSK 4 and above

穿 chuān · HSK 1戴 dài · HSK 4

Both mean “wear”.

穿 is for clothes and shoes, things you put your body into. 戴 is for things you put on: hats, glasses, watches.

  • 穿衣服、穿鞋
  • 戴帽子、戴眼镜

经过 jīngguò · HSK 3通过 tōngguò · HSK 4

Both can mean “go through” or “pass”.

经过 is passing a place, or going through a period or process. 通过 is passing a test or getting through by some means.

  • 我每天经过这个公园。
  • 他通过了考试。

经验 jīngyàn · HSK 4经历 jīnglì · HSK 4

Both relate to experience.

经验 is know-how you gain. 经历 is something you went through.

  • 他有很多工作经验。
  • 这是一次难忘的经历。

提高 tígāo · HSK 3改善 gǎishàn · HSK 5

Both translate as “improve”.

提高 is raising a level: a score, a skill, quality. 改善 is making conditions or a situation better.

  • 提高汉语水平
  • 改善生活条件

常常 chángcháng · HSK 3往往 wǎngwǎng · HSK 4

Both mean “often”.

常常 is simply “often” and can be about the future. 往往 describes a pattern seen so far, usually with a condition.

  • 你要常常来玩儿。
  • 周末这里往往人很多。

How to stop mixing them up

  1. Learn the pair together. When you meet one word, look up its partner and write one sentence with each.
  2. Learn a phrase, not a translation. A flashcard that says only “can” will keep mixing 会, 能 and 可以. A card that says 我会游泳 won’t.
  3. Notice them in reading. When you see one of these words in a story, stop and ask why the writer chose it.
  4. Check your writing for them. In the writing section, these are the words most worth a second look.

More word help: measure words by level and the full HSK word lists. For learning methods, see the vocabulary guide.