HSK 1 Vocabulary List — all 150 words

Every word on the official HSK 1 list, ordered by how often it actually appears rather than by pinyin. Each one has native audio you can play, and the words that change tone in real speech are marked.

150
words listed
150
cumulative total
0
multi-reading characters

Download the HSK 1 list as a PDF

The same 150 words in the same frequency order, with pinyin, traditional forms and the native notes on multi-reading characters. 7 pages, no sign-up, free to share.

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HSK 1 is 150 words, and they are not 150 equally useful words. The first twenty here — 的, 我, 你, 是, 了 — carry an enormous share of everything you will hear. Learning them in frequency order means you can read simple sentences long before you finish the list.

Three of these words change tone depending on what follows them, and no dictionary entry will tell you. 不 becomes bú before a fourth tone. 一 has three readings. Two third tones in a row shift the first one up, which is why 你好 is written nǐ hǎo but said ní hǎo. Those are marked below with a note.

Which HSK is this? 2.0 vs 3.0

The list on this page is the 2012 standard, usually called HSK 2.0: six levels, with 150 / 300 / 600 / 1200 / 2500 / 5000 words cumulatively. This is what the great majority of textbooks, apps and prep material still use.

A newer standard published in 2021 — HSK 3.0, formally the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education — restructures the system into three stages and nine levels, and raises the counts sharply: its Level 1 alone is 500 words, and the full nine levels span roughly 11,000.

The two are not interchangeable, so check which one your test provider or textbook specifies before you plan your study. If nothing says otherwise, it is almost certainly the 2012 list below.

How to read this list. Words are in frequency order — the ones you will meet most often come first, so studying top-down pays off immediately. Tap ▶ to hear a native pronunciation. Where a character has more than one reading, a note says which one is being tested; no text-to-speech voice can pronounce those correctly, so the note is doing work the audio cannot.

Words 1–50

  1. 1
    的de

    indicates possession, like adding 's to a noun

    Native note — Always neutral tone de here — never dì. It is the most frequent word in written Chinese, and it is never stressed.

  2. 2
    我wǒ

    I; me

  3. 3
    你nǐ

    you (singular)

  4. 4
    是shì

    be; is; are

  5. 5
    了le

    indicates a completed or finished action

  6. 6
    不bù

    no; not

    Native note — Written bù, but said bú before another 4th tone: 不是 búshì, 不去 búqù, 不要 búyào. Everywhere else it stays bù. This is the single most common beginner tone mistake.

  7. 7
    在zài

    at; on; in

  8. 8
    他tā

    he; him

  9. 9
    我们wǒmentrad. 我們

    we; us

  10. 10
    好hǎo

    good

    Native note — In 你好 two 3rd tones collide, so the first shifts up: written nǐ hǎo, actually said ní hǎo. This happens to every 3rd + 3rd pair in Chinese.

  11. 11
    有yǒu

    have

  12. 12
    这zhètrad. 這

    this

  13. 13
    会huìtrad. 會

    know how to

    Native note — 会 huì = can, in the sense of a learned skill (我会游泳 I can swim, I learned how). Compare 能 néng = physically able or permitted right now. Beginners mix these constantly.

  14. 14
    吗matrad. 嗎

    indicates a yes/no question (added to a statement)

  15. 15
    什么shénmetrad. 什麼

    what? (replaces the noun to turn a statement into a question)

  16. 16
    说shuōtrad. 說

    speak

  17. 17
    她tā

    she

  18. 18
    想xiǎng

    think; believe; suppose

  19. 19
    一yī

    one; once; a

    Native note — Three readings by position: yī when counting or alone; yì before a 1st, 2nd or 3rd tone (一天 yìtiān); yí before a 4th tone (一个 yíge, 一定 yídìng). Dictionaries only show yī.

  20. 20
    很hěn

    very; quite

  21. 21
    人rén

    person; man; people

  22. 22
    那nà

    that; then

  23. 23
    来láitrad. 來

    come; arrive; ever since

  24. 24
    都dōu

    all; both

    Native note — Here it is dōu = all, and it goes before the verb, not after the subject-list: 我们都去 (we all go). The other reading dū means capital city.

  25. 25
    个getrad. 個

    general measure word

  26. 26
    能néng

    can; be able

    Native note — 能 néng = able or allowed in this situation (我今天不能去 I can't go today). Not for learned skills — that is 会 huì.

  27. 27
    去qù

    go; to leave

  28. 28
    和hé

    and; with

  29. 29
    做zuò

    do; make

  30. 30
    上shàng

    above; up

  31. 31
    没有méiyǒutrad. 沒有

    not have; there is not

  32. 32
    看kàn

    see; look at; to watch

  33. 33
    怎么zěnmetrad. 怎麼

    how?

  34. 34
    现在xiànzàitrad. 現在

    now

  35. 35
    点diǎntrad. 點

    a dot; a little; o'clock

  36. 36
    呢ne

    indicates a question; how about...?

  37. 37
    太tài

    too (much)

  38. 38
    里lǐtrad. 裡

    inside; Chinese mile (~.5 km)

  39. 39
    听tīngtrad. 聽

    listen; hear

  40. 40
    谁shéitrad. 誰

    who

    Native note — Say shéi. The dictionary reading shuí is correct but sounds formal or bookish; almost nobody says it in conversation.

  41. 41
    多duō

    many

  42. 42
    时候shíhoutrad. 時候

    time

  43. 43
    下xià

    fall; below

  44. 44
    谢谢xièxietrad. 謝謝

    thank you

  45. 45
    先生xiānsheng

    Mr.; Sir

  46. 46
    喜欢xǐhuantrad. 喜歡

    to like

  47. 47
    大dà, dài

    big; large

  48. 48
    东西dōngxitrad. 東西

    things; stuff

  49. 49
    小xiǎo

    small; young

  50. 50
    叫jiào

    to be called

Words 51–100

  1. 51
    爱àitrad. 愛

    love

  2. 52
    年nián

    year

  3. 53
    请qǐngtrad. 請

    please; invite; to treat someone to something

  4. 54
    回huí

    to return; to reply; to go back

  5. 55
    工作gōngzuò

    work; a job

  6. 56
    钱qiántrad. 錢

    money; coin

  7. 57
    吃chī

    eat

  8. 58
    开kāitrad. 開

    to open; to start; to operate (a vehicle)

  9. 59
    家jiā

    family; home

  10. 60
    哪nǎa

    which; how

  11. 61
    朋友péngyou

    friend

  12. 62
    妈妈māmatrad. 媽媽

    mom; mum

    Native note — Second syllable is neutral: māma, not mā mā. Same for 爸爸 bàba, 哥哥 gēge. Doubling a family word always neutralises the second one.

  13. 63
    今天jīntiān

    today

  14. 64
    几jǐtrad. 幾

    how many; several; a few

    Native note — 几 jǐ asks how many when you expect a small number (under about ten). For anything possibly large, use 多少 duōshao. 几 also always needs a measure word after it: 几个人.

  15. 65
    爸爸bàba

    Dad

    Native note — Neutral second syllable: bàba, not bà bà.

  16. 66
    些xiē

    some; few; several

  17. 67
    怎么样zěnmeyàngtrad. 怎麼樣

    how about?; how is/was it?

  18. 68
    对不起duìbuqǐtrad. 對不起

    sorry

  19. 69
    住zhù

    to live; reside; to stop

  20. 70
    三sān

    three

  21. 71
    高兴gāoxìngtrad. 高興

    happy; glad

  22. 72
    买mǎitrad. 買

    to buy

  23. 73
    医生yīshēngtrad. 醫生

    doctor

  24. 74
    哪儿nǎrtrad. 哪兒

    where? (Beijing accent)

    Native note — The 儿 is not a separate syllable — it curls the ending of the syllable before it. Say nǎr, one beat, not nǎ ér. Northern standard; southern speakers often say 哪里 nǎlǐ instead.

  25. 75
    字zì

    letter; character

  26. 76
    名字míngzi

    name

  27. 77
    认识rènshitrad. 認識

    recognize; know (a person)

  28. 78
    坐zuò

    sit

  29. 79
    喝hē

    to drink

  30. 80
    写xiětrad. 寫

    to write; to compose

  31. 81
    月yuè

    moon; month; flesh (radical)

  32. 82
    号hàotrad. 號

    number; day of a month

    Native note — hào is how you say a date out loud: 五月八号. In writing you will usually see 日 rì instead: 五月八日. Same day, different register.

  33. 83
    狗gǒu

    dog

  34. 84
    岁suìtrad. 歲

    years old; age

  35. 85
    看见kànjiàntrad. 看見

    see; catch sight of

    Native note — 见 is a result complement: 看 is the looking, 看见 is the seeing. 我看了但没看见 (I looked but didn't see it) is a perfectly normal sentence.

  36. 86
    打电话dǎ diànhuàtrad. 打電話

    make a phone call

  37. 87
    喂wèi

    hello (on the phone)

    Native note — Dictionary tone is wèi, but when answering the phone almost everyone says it with a rising tone, wéi. Falling wèi sounds like you are shouting at someone.

  38. 88
    儿子érzitrad. 兒子

    son

  39. 89
    漂亮piàoliang

    pretty; beautiful

  40. 90
    分钟fēnzhōngtrad. 分鐘

    minute; (measure word for time)

  41. 91
    再见zàijiàntrad. 再見

    goodbye; see you later

  42. 92
    本běn

    measure word for books

  43. 93
    明天míngtiān

    tomorrow

  44. 94
    少shǎo

    few; little

  45. 95
    多少duōshao

    how much?; how many?

    Native note — 多少 duōshao asks how many or how much with no size expectation, and unlike 几 it can drop the measure word: 多少人 is fine. Note 少 is neutral toned here.

  46. 96
    块kuàitrad. 塊

    lump; piece; sum of money

    Native note — 块 kuài is the spoken word for the currency unit; 元 yuán is the written one. A price tag says 元, a shopkeeper says 块.

  47. 97
    女儿nǚ'értrad. 女兒

    daughter

  48. 98
    小姐xiǎojie

    young lady; miss; Ms.

  49. 99
    衣服yīfu

    clothes

  50. 100
    水shuǐ

    water

Words 101–150

  1. 101
    学校xuéxiàotrad. 學校

    school

  2. 102
    电影diànyǐngtrad. 電影

    movie; film

  3. 103
    书shūtrad. 書

    book; letter

  4. 104
    四sì

    four

  5. 105
    五wǔ

    five

  6. 106
    医院yīyuàntrad. 醫院

    hospital

  7. 107
    没关系méi guānxitrad. 沒關系

    it doesn't matter; never mind

  8. 108
    飞机fēijītrad. 飛機

    airplane

  9. 109
    二èr

    two

    Native note — 二 èr is for counting and for numbers themselves. Before a measure word you must switch to 两 liǎng: 两个人, never 二个人.

  10. 110
    电视diànshìtrad. 電視

    television; TV

  11. 111
    读dútrad. 讀

    to read; to study

  12. 112
    后面hòumian

    back; behind

  13. 113
    昨天zuótiān

    yesterday

  14. 114
    睡觉shuì jiàotrad. 睡覺

    to sleep; go to bed

  15. 115
    六liù

    six

  16. 116
    老师lǎoshītrad. 老師

    teacher

  17. 117
    星期xīngqī

    week

  18. 118
    十shí

    ten

  19. 119
    猫māotrad. 貓

    cat

  20. 120
    电脑diànnǎotrad. 電腦

    computer

  21. 121
    热rètrad. 熱

    heat; hot

  22. 122
    学生xuéshengtrad. 學生

    student

  23. 123
    下午xiàwǔ

    afternoon

  24. 124
    学习xuéxítrad. 學習

    learn; to study

  25. 125
    冷lěng

    cold

  26. 126
    不客气bú kèqitrad. 不客氣

    you're welcome; don't be polite

  27. 127
    前面qiánmiàn

    in front

  28. 128
    八bā

    eight

  29. 129
    中国Zhōngguótrad. 中國

    China

  30. 130
    七qī

    seven

  31. 131
    菜cài

    dish (type of food); vegetables

  32. 132
    桌子zhuōzi

    table; desk

  33. 133
    出租车chūzūchētrad. 出租車

    taxi; cab

  34. 134
    天气tiānqìtrad. 天氣

    weather

  35. 135
    茶chá

    tea

  36. 136
    九jiǔ

    nine

  37. 137
    商店shāngdiàn

    shop; store

  38. 138
    椅子yǐzi

    chair

  39. 139
    同学tóngxuétrad. 同學

    fellow student; schoolmate

  40. 140
    一点儿yìdiǎnrtrad. 一點兒

    a bit; a few

    Native note — Said yìdiǎnr — three characters, but the last two are one syllable. Note 一 is yì here (before a 3rd tone).

  41. 141
    苹果píngguǒtrad. 蘋果

    apple

  42. 142
    饭店fàndiàntrad. 飯店

    restaurant; hotel

  43. 143
    中午zhōngwǔ

    noon; midday

  44. 144
    上午shàngwǔ

    late morning (before noon)

  45. 145
    水果shuǐguǒ

    fruit

  46. 146
    杯子bēizi

    cup; glass

  47. 147
    下雨xiàyǔ

    to rain

  48. 148
    米饭mǐfàntrad. 米飯

    (cooked) rice

  49. 149
    北京Běijīng

    Beijing

  50. 150
    汉语Hànyǔtrad. 漢語

    Chinese language

Other HSK levels

HSK 2 Vocabulary List — the new words151 words, 300 cumulative — every entry with audio.HSK 3 Vocabulary List — the 300 new words300 words, 600 cumulative — every entry with audio.HSK 4 Vocabulary List — the 600 new words600 words, 1200 cumulative — every entry with audio.HSK 5 Vocabulary List — the 1300 new words1300 words, 2500 cumulative — every entry with audio.

FAQ

How long does HSK 1 take?

Most learners studying a few hours a week reach HSK 1 in two to three months. The vocabulary is small; what takes the time is tones and getting your ear used to hearing them. Playing the audio for each word matters more at this level than reading the pinyin.

Do I need to write the characters?

The HSK 1 test is multiple choice and does not ask you to hand-write characters. You do need to recognise them. Many learners at this level read pinyin instead of characters and get stuck later, so it is worth reading the characters from the start even if you never write them.

Is HSK 1 enough to talk to anyone?

Not really — 150 words covers greetings, numbers, family, and a few everyday verbs. It is enough to be understood in short exchanges, and enough to make HSK 2 feel easy. Treat it as the foundation rather than a usable level.