HSK 2 Vocabulary List — the new words

HSK 2 takes you from 150 words to 300. These are the words it adds, ordered by how often they actually appear, each with audio you can play.

151
words listed
300
cumulative total
10
multi-reading characters

Download the HSK 2 list as a PDF

The same 151 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 2 is where Chinese stops being a list of nouns and starts forming sentences. 了, 过 and 着 all arrive around here, and they are not vocabulary in the usual sense — they are the machinery that tells you when something happened and whether it is still going on.

着 is the one to watch. It has three readings and all three are common: neutral zhe for an ongoing state (看着 watching), zháo for a result reached (睡着 fell asleep), zhuó for wearing or applying. A text-to-speech voice can only pick one of them, so that word — and six others at this level — carry a written note below saying which reading you need.

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
    就jiù

    then; at once; just

  2. 2
    要yào, yāomultiple readings

    to want; to need; will/shall | demand; request

    Native note — yào = to want, to need, will (要不要 do you want to). yāo = to demand — that reading shows up in 要求 yāoqiú (HSK 4), so learn it as part of that word rather than on its own.

  3. 3
    知道zhīdao

    know; be aware of

  4. 4
    吧ba, bāmultiple readings

    particle indicating polite suggestion | onomatopoeia | bar (serving drinks, providing internet access, etc.)

    Native note — Neutral-tone ba, a suggestion softener: 走吧 let's go, 好吧 fine then. It turns a command into an invitation. bā is only the loanword bar.

  5. 5
    到dào

    arrive (at a place); until (a time)

  6. 6
    对duìtrad. 對

    correct; a pair; to face

  7. 7
    也yě

    also; too

  8. 8
    还hái, huántrad. 還multiple readings

    still; yet; in addition | repay; to return

    Native note — hái (still, also, even) is what you need at this level: 还没有 not yet, 还是 háishi or / still. huán is a different word meaning to give back — 还书 huán shū return a book.

  9. 9
    让ràngtrad. 讓

    ask; let; yield

  10. 10
    给gěi, jǐtrad. 給multiple readings

    to give; to grant; (passive particle) | provide

    Native note — gěi = to give, and also the passive/benefactive marker (给我看看 let me have a look). jǐ is formal-written only, in words like 供给 supply. Say gěi.

  11. 11
    过guòtrad. 過

    to pass; to cross; go over

  12. 12
    得dé, děi, demultiple readings

    obtain | must | (complement particle)

    Native note — Three readings, all common, and the neutral one matters most. de = the complement marker: 说得很好 speak very well. děi = must, have to: 我得走了 I have to go. dé = to obtain: 得到. If it sits between a verb and a description, it is de.

  13. 13
    真zhēn

    real; true; genuine

  14. 14
    着zhe, zháo, zhuótrad. 著multiple readings

    -ing (indicating action in progress) | to touch; to feel | to wear; apply

    Native note — Three readings, and all three are common. zhe (neutral) marks an ongoing state: 看着 watching, 开着 (it) is open. zháo marks a result achieved: 睡着 fell asleep, 着急 anxious. zhuó means to wear or apply, as in 着装. The neutral zhe is by far the most frequent.

  15. 15
    可以kěyǐ

    can; may; possible

  16. 16
    别bié, biètrad. 別multiple readings

    don't do something; don't | depart | other; difference; distinguish

    Native note — bié covers both meanings you need: don't (别走 don't go) and other (别的 other ones). biè only appears in 别扭 awkward, which is rare at this level.

  17. 17
    走zǒu

    to walk; to go; to move (Kangxi radical 156)

  18. 18
    告诉gàosutrad. 告訴

    to tell; inform

  19. 19
    因为yīnwèitrad. 因為

    because

  20. 20
    再zài

    again; once more

  21. 21
    快kuài

    fast; quick; swift

  22. 22
    但是dànshì

    but; however

  23. 23
    已经yǐjingtrad. 已經

    already

  24. 24
    为什么wèishénmetrad. 為什麼

    why?; for what reason?

  25. 25
    觉得juédetrad. 覺得

    feel; think

  26. 26
    它tā

    it

  27. 27
    从cóngtrad. 從

    from; obey; observe

  28. 28
    找zhǎo

    try to find; look for; seek

  29. 29
    最zuì

    the most; -est; (indicator for superlative)

  30. 30
    可能kěnéng

    possible; maybe

  31. 31
    次cì

    (mw for number of times of occurrence); nth; order

  32. 32
    出chū

    go out; occur

  33. 33
    孩子háizi

    child; children; son or daughter

  34. 34
    所以suǒyǐ

    so; therefore; as a result

  35. 35
    两liǎngtrad. 兩

    two; 2; both

  36. 36
    错cuòtrad. 錯

    mistake; error; blunder

  37. 37
    等děng

    to wait; rank; equal

  38. 38
    题títrad. 題

    topic; subject; question on a test or assignment

  39. 39
    问wèntrad. 問

    ask; inquire

  40. 40
    问题wèntítrad. 問題

    question; problem

  41. 41
    一起yìqǐ

    together; in the same place

  42. 42
    开始kāishǐtrad. 開始

    begin; to start; beginning

  43. 43
    时间shíjiāntrad. 時間

    time; period

  44. 44
    事情shìqing

    matter; affair; thing

  45. 45
    一下yíxià

    a little bit/while; one time; once

  46. 46
    非常fēicháng

    extremely; extraordinary; very

  47. 47
    希望xīwàng

    to hope; wish for; to desire

  48. 48
    准备zhǔnbèitrad. 准備

    prepare; get ready

  49. 49
    比bǐ

    compare; (indicates comparison) (Kangxi radical 81); to gesticulate as one talks

  50. 50
    件jiàn

    (mw for things, clothes, and items)

Words 51–100

  1. 51
    意思yìsi

    meaning; idea; opinion

  2. 52
    第一dìyī

    first; number 1

  3. 53
    进jìntrad. 進

    enter; come in

  4. 54
    大家dàjiā

    everyone

  5. 55
    新xīn

    new; Xinjiang autonomous region (abbreviation)

  6. 56
    您nín

    you (polite)

  7. 57
    穿chuān

    to wear; put on; penetrate

  8. 58
    送sòng

    deliver; to carry; to give

  9. 59
    玩wán

    to play; have a good time; visit

  10. 60
    长cháng, zhǎngtrad. 長multiple readings

    long; length | grow; chief (Kangxi radical 168)

    Native note — cháng = long (长城, 多长). zhǎng = to grow, or a chief (校长, 长大). Adjective is cháng, person-in-charge is zhǎng.

  11. 61
    小时xiǎoshítrad. 小時

    hour

  12. 62
    完wán

    to finish; be over; complete

  13. 63
    每měi

    each; every

  14. 64
    公司gōngsī

    company; corporation

  15. 65
    帮助bāngzhùtrad. 幫助

    help; assist; aid

  16. 66
    晚上wǎnshang

    evening; night

  17. 67
    说话shuōhuàtrad. 說話

    to talk; speak

  18. 68
    门méntrad. 門

    door; opening; gate (Kangxi radical 169)

  19. 69
    女nǚ

    woman; female (Kangxi radical 38)

  20. 70
    忙máng

    busy

  21. 71
    卖màitrad. 賣

    to sell

  22. 72
    高gāo

    high; tall (Kangxi radical 189)

  23. 73
    房间fángjiāntrad. 房間

    room

  24. 74
    路lù

    road; path; journey

  25. 75
    懂dǒng

    understand; know

  26. 76
    正在zhèngzài

    in the process of (doing something); currently

  27. 77
    笑xiào

    to laugh; to smile

  28. 78
    远yuǎntrad. 遠

    far; distant; remote

  29. 79
    妻子qīzi

    wife

  30. 80
    丈夫zhàngfu

    husband; man

  31. 81
    离lítrad. 離

    leave; depart; go away

  32. 82
    往wǎng

    to go (in a direction); towards; in the past

  33. 83
    男nán

    male

  34. 84
    眼睛yǎnjing

    eye

  35. 85
    快乐kuàilètrad. 快樂

    happy

  36. 86
    虽然suīrántrad. 雖然

    although; even though

  37. 87
    早上zǎoshang

    (early) morning

  38. 88
    药yàotrad. 藥

    medicine; drug; cure

  39. 89
    身体shēntǐtrad. 身體

    health; (human) body

  40. 90
    黑hēi

    black; dark (Kangxi radical 203); Heilongjiang province (abbreviation)

  41. 91
    咖啡kāfēi

    coffee

  42. 92
    日rì

    sun; day; date

  43. 93
    休息xiūxi

    to rest; take a break

  44. 94
    外wài

    outer; outside; in addition

  45. 95
    生日shēngrì

    birthday

  46. 96
    哥哥gēge

    older brother

  47. 97
    票piào

    ticket; bank note; a vote

  48. 98
    手机shǒujītrad. 手機

    mobile (cell) phone

  49. 99
    洗xǐ

    to wash; bathe

  50. 100
    跳舞tiào wǔ

    to dance

Words 101–150

  1. 101
    弟弟dìdi

    younger brother

  2. 102
    妹妹mèimei

    younger sister

  3. 103
    红hóngtrad. 紅

    red; symbol of success; bonus

  4. 104
    慢màn

    slow

  5. 105
    近jìn

    near; close (to)

  6. 106
    白bái, bómultiple readings

    white; snowy; pure

    Native note — bái = white, and also in vain — 白跑一趟 means made the trip for nothing. That second sense catches learners out because nothing about it suggests colour. bó is a surname reading.

  7. 107
    姐姐jiějie

    older sister

  8. 108
    介绍jièshàotrad. 介紹

    to introduce; recommend; introduction

  9. 109
    鱼yútrad. 魚

    fish (Kangxi radical 195)

  10. 110
    累lèi, lěi, léimultiple readings

    tired | accumulate; implicate | rope; bind together

    Native note — lèi = tired, which is what you need here. lěi = to accumulate, and it turns up in 积累 jīlěi (HSK 5). Tired is 4th tone, accumulate is 3rd.

  11. 111
    课kètrad. 課

    class; subject; lesson

  12. 112
    上班shàng bān

    go to work; be on duty

  13. 113
    旁边pángbiāntrad. 旁邊

    side, beside

  14. 114
    运动yùndòngtrad. 運動

    (physical) exercise; movement; sports

  15. 115
    去年qùnián

    last year

  16. 116
    报纸bàozhǐtrad. 報紙

    newspaper

  17. 117
    颜色yánsètrad. 顏色

    color

  18. 118
    机场jīchǎngtrad. 機場

    airport; airfield

  19. 119
    唱歌chànggē

    sing (a song)

  20. 120
    千qiān

    one thousand

  21. 121
    好吃hǎochī

    tasty

  22. 122
    考试kǎoshìtrad. 考試

    test; exam; to give or take a test

  23. 123
    左边zuǒbiantrad. 左邊

    the left side; the left

  24. 124
    姓xìng

    surname; family name

  25. 125
    百bǎi

    hundred

  26. 126
    雪xuě

    snow

  27. 127
    贵guìtrad. 貴

    expensive; noble; honorable

  28. 128
    生病shēng bìng

    get sick; fall ill

  29. 129
    游泳yóuyǒng

    to swim

  30. 130
    牛奶niúnǎi

    cow's milk

  31. 131
    右边yòubiantrad. 右邊

    the right (as opposed to left) side

  32. 132
    便宜piányi

    cheap

  33. 133
    公共汽车gōnggòng qìchētrad. 公共汽車

    (public) bus

  34. 134
    起床qǐ chuáng

    get out of bed

  35. 135
    打篮球dǎ lánqiútrad. 打籃球

    play basketball

  36. 136
    鸡蛋jīdàntrad. 雞蛋

    (chicken) egg

  37. 137
    踢足球tīzúqiú

    to play football/soccer

  38. 138
    零líng

    zero; remnant

  39. 139
    手表shǒubiǎo

    wristwatch

  40. 140
    旅游lǚyóu

    trip; journey; tour

  41. 141
    服务员fúwùyuántrad. 服務員

    waiter/waitress; server; attendant

  42. 142
    宾馆bīnguǎntrad. 賓館

    guesthouse; hotel

  43. 143
    教室jiàoshì

    classroom

  44. 144
    跑步pǎo bù

    to run; to jog

  45. 145
    阴yīntrad. 陰

    cloudy (weather); yin (the negative principle of Yin and Yang); secret

  46. 146
    面条miàntiáotrad. 面條

    noodles

  47. 147
    铅笔qiānbǐtrad. 鉛筆

    pencil

  48. 148
    火车站huǒchēzhàntrad. 火車站

    train station

  49. 149
    西瓜xīguā

    watermelon

  50. 150
    羊肉yángròu

    mutton; lamb

Words 151–151

  1. 151
    晴qíng

    clear; fine (as of weather)

Other HSK levels

HSK 1 Vocabulary List — all 150 words150 words, 150 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

Is HSK 2 useful on its own?

It is the first level where you can hold a very simple conversation rather than just label things. 300 words covers time, money, weather, basic requests and simple past events. You will still be understood more than you understand.

Why does this list have 151 entries when HSK 2 is 150 words?

The official standard counts 150 new words for HSK 2, but the published word list carries 151 entries — a long-standing discrepancy in how a couple of items are counted. Every entry here is on the published list, so nothing is missing either way.

Do I need HSK 1 before this?

The test does, because HSK 2 is cumulative — it assumes all 150 HSK 1 words. If you are self-studying rather than testing, the frequency order here still works on its own, since the most useful words come first regardless of level.