New HSK (3.0) · 2025 syllabus
HSK 1 word list
The new HSK 1 has 300 words. Every one is below, with pinyin and an English meaning written for learners.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Old HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 爱 | ài | to love; to like (doing) | 1 |
| 八 | bā | eight | 1 |
| 爸爸 | bàba | dad; father | 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | 2 |
| 白天 | báitiān | daytime | – |
| 百 | bǎi | hundred | 2 |
| 半 | bàn | half | 3 |
| 包子 | bāozi | steamed bun (with filling) | 5 |
| 杯子 | bēizi | cup; glass | 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | 1 |
| 边 | biān | side | – |
| 病 | bìng | illness; to be ill | – |
| 不 | bù | not; no | 1 |
| 不客气 | búkèqi | you're welcome | 1 |
| 不要 | búyào | don't | – |
| 菜 | cài | dish (of food); vegetable | 1 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | 1 |
| 唱 | chàng | to sing | – |
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket | 3 |
| 车 | chē | car; vehicle | – |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | 1 |
| 出租车 | chūzūchē | taxi | 1 |
| 穿 | chuān | to wear; to put on (clothes) | 2 |
| 打电话 | dǎdiànhuà | to make a phone call | 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | 1 |
| 大家 | dàjiā | everyone | 2 |
| 大学 | dàxué | university | – |
| 大学生 | dàxuéshēng | university student | – |
| 到 | dào | to arrive; to go to | 2 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | 1 |
| 第 | dì | (before a number) -th, as in 第一 "first" | – |
| 弟弟 | dìdi | younger brother | 2 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | 1 |
| 店 | diàn | shop; store | – |
| 电话 | diànhuà | telephone; phone call | – |
| 电脑 | diànnǎo | computer | 1 |
| 电视 | diànshì | television; TV | 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | 1 |
| 电影院 | diànyǐngyuàn | cinema | – |
| 东西 | dōngxi | thing; stuff | 1 |
| 都 | dōu | all; both | 1 |
| 读 | dú | to read (aloud); to study | 1 |
| 读书 | dúshū | to study; to go to school | – |
| 对 | duì | right; correct; to; toward | 4 |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | sorry | 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | 1 |
| 多少 | duōshao | how many; how much | 1 |
| 儿子 | érzi | son | 1 |
| 二 | èr | two | 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | – |
| 饭店 | fàndiàn | restaurant; hotel | – |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | 2 |
| 非常 | fēicháng | very; extremely | 2 |
| 飞机 | fēijī | airplane | 1 |
| 分 | fēn | minute; (measure word) cent | 3 |
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minute (of time) | 1 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy; glad | 1 |
| 歌 | gē | song | – |
| 哥哥 | gēge | older brother | 2 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | 1 |
| 给 | gěi | to give; for; to | 2 |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company; firm | 2 |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; job; work | 1 |
| 狗 | gǒu | dog | 1 |
| 贵 | guì | expensive | 2 |
| 国 | guó | country | – |
| 还 | hái | still; also | 2 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | 2 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | 1 |
| 汉字 | Hànzì | Chinese character | – |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | 1 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty; delicious | 2 |
| 好看 | hǎokàn | good-looking; nice to watch | – |
| 好听 | hǎotīng | nice to listen to | – |
| 好玩儿 | hǎowánr | fun | – |
| 号 | hào | day of the month; number | 2 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | 1 |
| 和 | hé | and; with | 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | 1 |
| 后 | hòu | behind; back; after | – |
| 回 | huí | to return; to go back | 1 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | 1 |
| 火车 | huǒchē | train | – |
| 鸡蛋 | jīdàn | egg | 2 |
| 几 | jǐ | how many (usually under ten); a few | 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | 1 |
| 家人 | jiārén | family member | – |
| 见 | jiàn | to see; to meet | – |
| 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes, matters, items) | 2 |
| 饺子 | jiǎozi | dumpling | 4 |
| 叫 | jiào | to call; to be called; to shout | 1 |
| 姐姐 | jiějie | older sister | 2 |
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year | – |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | 1 |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine | 1 |
| 觉得 | juéde | to think; to feel | 2 |
| 开 | kāi | to open; to drive; to switch on | 1 |
| 开车 | kāichē | to drive (a car) | – |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | 1 |
| 看病 | kànbìng | to see a doctor | – |
| 看见 | kànjiàn | to see; to catch sight of | 1 |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may | 2 |
| 课 | kè | class; lesson | 2 |
| 口 | kǒu | (measure word for family members) mouth | 3 |
| 块 | kuài | (measure word) piece; yuan (spoken) | 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | 1 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | 1 |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | 1 |
| 里 | lǐ | inside; in | 1 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | 2 |
| 零 | líng | zero | 1 |
| 六 | liù | six | 1 |
| 妈妈 | māma | mum; mother | 1 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle for yes/no questions) | 1 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | 1 |
| 卖 | mài | to sell | 2 |
| 忙 | máng | busy | 2 |
| 猫 | māo | cat | 1 |
| 没关系 | méiguānxi | it doesn't matter; that's OK | 1 |
| 没事 | méishì | it's nothing; I'm fine | – |
| 没有 | méiyǒu | not have; there isn't; did not | – |
| 妹妹 | mèimei | younger sister | 2 |
| 们 | men | (plural ending for people, as in 我们) | – |
| 米饭 | mǐfàn | cooked rice | 1 |
| 面包 | miànbāo | bread | 3 |
| 面条儿 | miàntiáor | noodles | – |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year | – |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | 1 |
| 名字 | míngzi | name | 1 |
| 哪 | nǎ | which | 1 |
| 哪个 | nǎge | which one | – |
| 哪里 | nǎlǐ | where | – |
| 哪儿 | nǎr | where | – |
| 哪些 | nǎxiē | which ones | – |
| 那 | nà | that; then | 1 |
| 那边 | nàbiān | over there | – |
| 那个 | nàge | that one | – |
| 那里 | nàlǐ | there | – |
| 那儿 | nàr | there | – |
| 那些 | nàxiē | those | – |
| 男 | nán | male; man | – |
| 男朋友 | nánpéngyou | boyfriend | – |
| 呢 | ne | (particle: "what about…?"; also marks an ongoing state) | 1 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | 1 |
| 你好 | nǐhǎo | hello | – |
| 你们 | nǐmen | you (plural) | – |
| 年 | nián | year | 1 |
| 您 | nín | you (polite) | 2 |
| 牛奶 | niúnǎi | milk | 2 |
| 女 | nǚ | female; woman | – |
| 女儿 | nǚ’ér | daughter | 1 |
| 女朋友 | nǚpéngyou | girlfriend | – |
| 女士 | nǚshì | Ms.; lady | 5 |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friend | 1 |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap | 2 |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | pretty; beautiful | 1 |
| 苹果 | píngguǒ | apple | 1 |
| 七 | qī | seven | 1 |
| 起床 | qǐchuáng | to get up (out of bed) | 2 |
| 千 | qiān | thousand | 2 |
| 前 | qián | in front; before; ago | – |
| 钱 | qián | money | 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite; to treat (pay for) | 1 |
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | excuse me, may I ask… | – |
| 去 | qù | to go | 1 |
| 去年 | qùnián | last year | 2 |
| 热 | rè | hot | 1 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | 1 |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (someone); to recognize | 1 |
| 日 | rì | day; date (written) | 1 |
| 三 | sān | three | 1 |
| 商店 | shāngdiàn | shop; store | 1 |
| 上 | shàng | up; on; above; to go up; to get on; previous | 1 |
| 上班 | shàngbān | to go to work | 2 |
| 上课 | shàngkè | to have class; to start class | – |
| 上午 | shàngwǔ | morning | 1 |
| 上学 | shàngxué | to go to school | – |
| 少 | shǎo | few; little; less | 1 |
| 谁 | shéi/shuí | who | 1 |
| 什么 | shénme | what | 1 |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to get sick | 2 |
| 十 | shí | ten | 1 |
| 时候 | shíhou | time; when (as in …的时候) | 1 |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | 2 |
| 事 | shì | matter; thing (to do) | – |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | 2 |
| 书 | shū | book | 1 |
| 书店 | shūdiàn | bookstore | – |
| 水 | shuǐ | water | 1 |
| 水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit | 1 |
| 睡 | shuì | to sleep | – |
| 睡觉 | shuìjiào | to sleep; to go to bed | 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | – |
| 说话 | shuōhuà | to talk; to speak | 1 |
| 四 | sì | four | 1 |
| 岁 | suì | years (of age) | 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | 1 |
| 它 | tā | it | 2 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | 1 |
| 他们 | tāmen | they; them | – |
| 它们 | tāmen | they (things, animals) | – |
| 她们 | tāmen | they (women) | – |
| 太 | tài | too; extremely | 1 |
| 天 | tiān | day; sky | – |
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | 1 |
| 听 | tīng | to listen; to hear | 1 |
| 听见 | tīngjiàn | to hear | – |
| 同学 | tóngxué | classmate | 1 |
| 外 | wài | outside | 2 |
| 外边 | wàibian | outside | – |
| 玩 | wán | to play; to have fun | 2 |
| 晚 | wǎn | late; evening | – |
| 晚饭 | wǎnfàn | dinner | – |
| 晚上 | wǎnshang | evening; night | 2 |
| 喂 | wèi | hello (on the phone); hey | 1 |
| 问 | wèn | to ask | 2 |
| 问题 | wèntí | question; problem | 2 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | 1 |
| 五 | wǔ | five | 1 |
| 午饭 | wǔfàn | lunch | – |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | 1 |
| 下 | xià | down; below; to go down; to get off; next | 1 |
| 下雨 | xiàyǔ | to rain | 1 |
| 下班 | xiàbān | to finish work | – |
| 下课 | xiàkè | to finish class | – |
| 下午 | xiàwǔ | afternoon | 1 |
| 先生 | xiānsheng | Mr.; sir; husband | 1 |
| 现在 | xiànzài | now | 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | 1 |
| 小 | xiǎo | small; little; young | 1 |
| 小朋友 | xiǎopéngyǒu | child; kids | – |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour | 2 |
| 小学 | xiǎoxué | primary school | – |
| 小学生 | xiǎoxuéshēng | primary school student | – |
| 些 | xiē | some; a few | 1 |
| 写 | xiě | to write | 1 |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | 1 |
| 新 | xīn | new | 2 |
| 星期 | xīngqī | week | 1 |
| 星期日 | xīngqīrì | Sunday | – |
| 星期天 | xīngqītiān | Sunday | – |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest; rest | 2 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | – |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student | 1 |
| 学习 | xuéxí | to study; to learn | 1 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | 1 |
| 雪 | xuě | snow | 2 |
| 要 | yào | to want; will; should | 2 |
| 也 | yě | also; too | 2 |
| 一 | yī | one | 1 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | 1 |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor | 1 |
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital | 1 |
| 一半 | yíbàn | half | – |
| 一下 | yíxià | (after a verb) a bit; one time | – |
| 椅子 | yǐzi | chair | 1 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little; a bit | – |
| 一些 | yìxiē | some | – |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | 1 |
| 有的 | yǒude | some (of them) | – |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | a little; somewhat | – |
| 有些 | yǒuxiē | some; somewhat | – |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain | – |
| 元 | yuán | yuan (Chinese money) | 2 |
| 月 | yuè | month; moon | 1 |
| 再 | zài | again | 2 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | 1 |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye | 1 |
| 早 | zǎo | early; good morning | – |
| 早饭 | zǎofàn | breakfast | – |
| 早上 | zǎoshang | morning | 2 |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how; why | 1 |
| 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | how; how about it | 1 |
| 找 | zhǎo | to look for; to find | 2 |
| 这 | zhè | this | 1 |
| 这边 | zhèbiān | this side; here | – |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | – |
| 这里 | zhèlǐ | here | – |
| 这儿 | zhèr | here | – |
| 这些 | zhèxiē | these | – |
| 真 | zhēn | really; truly | 2 |
| 正在 | zhèngzài | in the middle of (doing) | 2 |
| 只 | zhī | (measure word for animals, and one of a pair) | 3 |
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know (a fact) | 2 |
| 中国 | Zhōngguó | China | 1 |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | 4 |
| 中午 | zhōngwǔ | noon | 1 |
| 中学 | zhōngxué | middle school; secondary school | – |
| 中学生 | zhōngxuéshēng | middle school student | – |
| 住 | zhù | to live (somewhere); to stay | 1 |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table; desk | 1 |
| 字 | zì | character; word (written) | 1 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | 1 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit; to take (bus, plane) | 1 |
| 做 | zuò | to do; to make | 1 |
| 做饭 | zuòfàn | to cook | – |
English meanings for HSK 1–4 are written by WordSwing for learners. “Old HSK” shows the level a word had on the HSK 2.0 lists, matched by characters; “new” means it was not on those lists.
About the HSK 1 words
The new HSK 1 list has 300 words. About half were on the old HSK 1 list; many of the rest are everyday words the old test left out, such as 白天, 电影院, 火车 and 面条儿, and question words like 哪里 and 哪些.
How these words appear on the test
HSK 1 prints pinyin above the Chinese, but listening is half the test, so you need to know these words by sound. Numbers, times, prices and question words appear in almost every part.
What to focus on
- Question words: 谁, 什么, 哪儿, 几, 多少, 怎么, 怎么样. Several question types are built on them.
- Measure words: 个, 本, 口, 块, 件, 只, 岁. Learn each with a noun (一本书, 三口人).
- Time words: 今天, 明天, 昨天, 上午, 下午, 晚上, 星期, 点, 分钟.
- Pairs that sound or look alike: 买 / 卖, 他 / 她 / 它, 哪 / 那.
People and family
爸爸 妈妈 哥哥 姐姐 弟弟 妹妹 儿子 女儿 朋友 老师 医生
Places
学校 医院 商店 超市 饭店 书店 电影院 中国 家 房间
Daily actions
吃 喝 看 听 说 读 写 买 卖 坐 住 做饭 睡觉 起床
How this list compares with the old HSK 1
Of the 300 new HSK 1 words, 143 were also HSK 1 words on the HSK 2.0 lists, 0 were at a lower old level, 66 were at a higher old level, and 91 were not on the old lists at all. If you studied with an older HSK 1 book or deck, the old vs new word list comparison shows exactly which words to add.
Characters at this level
HSK 1 adds 246 characters to recognise (246 in total). See the HSK 1 character list for stroke order.
How to learn them
Learn words in short daily sessions with sound, then meet them again in reading. Our guide to learning HSK vocabulary explains a simple routine, and the HSK 1 guide explains how the words are tested.
Sources
- HSK 考试大纲 (HSK Test Syllabus), released November 2025 — Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC). Checked 2026-10-20.
- CC-CEDICT Chinese–English dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) — MDBG / CC-CEDICT contributors (not official). Checked 2026-10-20.