HSK 3 Vocabulary List — the 300 new words
HSK 3 assumes the 300 words from levels 1 and 2 and adds 300 more, bringing you to 600 total. These are those 300, ordered by frequency, with audio on every entry.
Download the HSK 3 list as a PDF
The same 300 words in the same frequency order, with pinyin, traditional forms and the native notes on multi-reading characters. 12 pages, no sign-up, free to share.
Download PDF1.3 MBAudio stays on this page — a PDF can't play sound, so keep this tab for pronunciation.
HSK 3 is where Chinese starts behaving like a language rather than a phrasebook. The 把 construction shows up here, and so does 地 as an adverb marker — both are structural, not vocabulary you can simply memorise.
Fifteen of these characters have more than one pronunciation, and this is where audio alone stops being enough: a text-to-speech voice can only pick one reading. 长 is cháng when it means long and zhǎng when it means to grow. 教 is jiāo as a verb and jiào as a noun. Every one of those is marked below with 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.
Words 1–50
- 1啊ā, á, ǎ, à, amultiple readings
ah; (particle showing elation, doubt, puzzled surprise, or approval)
Native note — A pure particle — the tone floats with the emotion rather than being fixed, which is why the dictionary lists five. Neutral a is the default sentence-ender; rising á is surprise or a request to repeat.
- 2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.
- 3把bǎ, bàmultiple readings
(mw for things with handles); (pretransitive particle); to hold | a grip; a handle; stem (of plants)
Native note — bǎ, and it is the grammar point HSK 3 is built around: 把 moves the object in front of the verb to say what happened to it — 我把门关了 I shut the door. The reading bà (a handle) is rare.
- 4过guòtrad. 過
to pass; to cross; go over
- 5如果rúguǒ
if; in the event that
- 6只zhǐ, zhītrad. 隻multiple readings
only; merely; just | (mw for birds and certain animals)
Native note — Two words sharing one simplified form. zhǐ = only (只有一个). zhī = the measure word for animals and one of a pair (一只猫). In traditional they are even written differently: 只 vs 隻.
- 7被bèi
by (indicates passive voice sentences); a quilt/blanket
- 8跟gēn
to follow; go with; heel
- 9自己zìjǐ
oneself; self
- 10用yòng
to use (Kangxi radical 101)
- 11像xiàng
be like; resemble; appearance
- 12为wéi, wèitrad. 為multiple readings
to act (as); become; to mean | for; because of; to
Native note — wèi = for the sake of (为了 wèile, 为什么 wèishénme). wéi = to act as, to be (认为 rènwéi, 成为 chéngwéi). If it means because of or for, it is wèi.
- 13需要xūyào
to need; to want; to demand
- 14应该yīnggāitrad. 應該
should; ought to; must
- 15起来qǐ laitrad. 起來
(beginning or continuing an action); to rise; get up (from bed)
- 16才cái
ability; talent; just now
- 17又yòu
(once) again; also; both (Kangxi radical 29)
- 18拿ná
carry in your hand; seize; to catch
- 19更gèng, gēngmultiple readings
more; even more | change; watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard)
Native note — gèng = more, the comparison word (更好 better). gēng = to change or a night-watch period; you will not need it at this level.
- 20带dàitrad. 帶
band; belt; ribbon
- 21然后ránhòu
then; afterwards
- 22一样yíyàngtrad. 一樣
the same; alike; equal to
- 23当然dāngrántrad. 當然
of course; naturally
- 24相信xiāngxìn
believe (sb.); be convinced of
- 25认为rènwéitrad. 認為
believe; think that
- 26明白míngbai
clear; obvious; understand
- 27一直yìzhí
always; all along; straight (in a straight line)
- 28地dì, demultiple readings
earth; ground | (adverbial particle)
Native note — dì = ground, earth (地方, 地图). de = the adverb marker attached to a description before a verb: 慢慢地走 walk slowly. Same character, and the de reading is always neutral.
- 29地方dìfang
place; space; room
- 30离开líkāitrad. 離開
leave; depart
- 31一定yídìng
surely; certainly; necessarily
- 32还是háishitrad. 還是
or; still; nevertheless
- 33发fā, fàtrad. 發multiple readings
send out; to issue; to show (one's feelings) | hair
Native note — fā = to send out, to issue (发现, 发短信). fà = hair (头发). Traditional splits them: 發 vs 髮. Note 头发 is usually said tóufa with a neutral second syllable.
- 34发现fāxiàntrad. 發現
discover; to find
- 35而且érqiě
moreover; in addition; as well as
- 36必须bìxūtrad. 必須
must; have to
- 37放fàng
put; to place; to release
- 38为了wèiletrad. 為了
in order to; for the sake of; for the purpose of
- 39向xiàng
direction; towards; to turn
- 40老lǎo
old; aged; tough
- 41位wèi
position; location; (polite mw for people)
- 42先xiān
first; early; before
- 43种zhǒng, zhòngtrad. 種multiple readings
type; breed; race | to plant
Native note — zhǒng = kind, type, and the measure word for kinds (这种). zhòng = to plant (种树). The noun is 3rd tone, the verb is 4th.
- 44最后zuìhòu
last; final; ultimately
- 45其他qítā
other; else
- 46记得jìdetrad. 記得
remember
- 47或者huòzhě
or; possible; maybe
- 48过去guòqùtrad. 過去
in the past; formerly
- 49担心dānxīntrad. 擔心
to worry; feel anxious
- 50条tiáotrad. 條
strip; (mw for long thin objects); item
Words 51–100
- 51以前yǐqián
before; formerly; previous
- 52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.
- 53世界shìjiè
world
- 54重要zhòngyào
important; significant; major
- 55别人biérentrad. 別人
other people; others
- 56机会jīhuìtrad. 機會
opportunity; chance; occasion
- 57张zhāngtrad. 張
(mw for flat objects); to spread out; (common surname)
- 58接jiē
connect; to meet; to pick up (somebody)
- 59比赛bǐsàitrad. 比賽
(sports) match; competition
- 60关guāntrad. 關
to close; shut; concern
- 61关系guānxitrad. 關系
relation; to concern
- 62马mǎtrad. 馬
horse (Kangxi radical 187)
- 63马上mǎshàngtrad. 馬上
at once; immediately; right away
- 64决定juédìngtrad. 決定
decide; resolve
- 65关于guānyútrad. 關於
about; regarding; concerning
- 66难nán, nàntrad. 難multiple readings
difficult | trouble; to blame
Native note — nán = difficult, which is all you need here. nàn = disaster (难民 refugee) and appears much later.
- 67了解liǎojiě
comprehend; understand; know
- 68站zhàn
stand; a station; be on one's feet
- 69结束jiéshùtrad. 結束
to end; to finish; conclude
- 70清楚qīngchu
clear; distinct; be clear about
- 71愿意yuànyìtrad. 願意
be willing; want to; be ready
- 72花huā
flower; blossom; spend money
- 73照片zhàopiàn
picture; photograph
- 74欢迎huānyíngtrad. 歡迎
to welcome; greet
- 75总是zǒngshìtrad. 總是
always; eventually
- 76嘴zuǐ
mouth
- 77参加cānjiātrad. 參加
participate; join; take part in
- 78办法bànfǎtrad. 辦法
method; way (of doing something)
- 79选择xuǎnzétrad. 選擇
select; to pick; choose
- 80坏huàitrad. 壞
bad; broken
- 81打算dǎsuàn
to plan; intend
- 82试shìtrad. 試
to try; to test; examination
- 83特别tèbiétrad. 特別
special; especially; particular
- 84注意zhùyì
pay attention to; take notice of; be careful
- 85其实qíshítrad. 其實
actually; in fact
- 86小心xiǎoxīn
be careful
- 87久jiǔ
long (time)
- 88只有zhǐyǒutrad. 隻有
only
- 89讲jiǎngtrad. 講
to talk; to lecture; to explain
- 90故事gùshi
story; tale
- 91换huàntrad. 換
change; to exchange; to barter
- 92结婚jiéhūntrad. 結婚
get married
- 93段duàn
paragraph; segment; section
- 94努力nǔlì
to work hard; to strive
- 95害怕hàipà
afraid of; to fear
- 96刚才gāngcáitrad. 剛才
just now; a moment ago
- 97节目jiémùtrad. 節目
program; item (on a program)
- 98辆liàngtrad. 輛
(mw for vehicles)
- 99万wàntrad. 萬
ten thousand
- 100解决jiějuétrad. 解決
settle (a dispute); resolve; solve
Words 101–150
- 101办公室bàngōngshìtrad. 辦公室
office
- 102奇怪qíguài
strange; odd
- 103同意tóngyì
agree; to consent; approve
- 104游戏yóuxìtrad. 游戲
game; play; recreation
- 105帮忙bāngmángtrad. 幫忙
to help
- 106国家guójiātrad. 國家
country; state; nation
- 107最近zuìjìn
recently; lately; these days
- 108声音shēngyīntrad. 聲音
sound; voice
- 109可爱kě'àitrad. 可愛
cute; lovely
- 110分fēn, fènmultiple readings
divide; part; minute | component; share; ingredient
Native note — fēn = to divide, minute, cent (十分钟). fèn = a share or component (部分 bùfen, 分子). Verb and time unit are 1st tone.
- 111完成wánchéng
to complete; accomplish; to fulfill
- 112半bàn
half; semi-; incomplete
- 113要求yāoqiú
to request; to demand; requirement
- 114除了chúle
besides; except for; aside from
- 115容易róngyì
easy; likely; liable (to)
- 116教jiāo, jiàomultiple readings
teach; instruct | religion; teaching
Native note — jiāo = to teach, the action (他教我中文). jiào = education as a thing (教育, 教室, 教授). The verb is 1st tone — most learners get this backwards.
- 117脸liǎntrad. 臉
face
- 118简单jiǎndāntrad. 簡單
simple; not complicated
- 119检查jiǎnchátrad. 檢查
to check; examine; inspect
- 120音乐yīnyuètrad. 音樂
music
- 121越yuè
even more; the more; exceed
- 122照顾zhàogutrad. 照顧
take care of; look after; give consideration
- 123聪明cōngmingtrad. 聰明
intelligent; clever; bright
- 124甜tián
sweet
- 125突然tūrán
sudden; abrupt
- 126终于zhōngyútrad. 終於
at last; in the end; finally
- 127船chuán
a boat; vessel; ship
- 128口kǒu
mouth (Kangxi radical 30)
- 129回答huídá
to reply; to answer
- 130礼物lǐwùtrad. 禮物
gift; present
- 131头发tóufatrad. 頭發
hair (on the head)
- 132关心guānxīntrad. 關心
concerned about/with
- 133脚jiǎotrad. 腳
foot (body part)
- 134生气shēngqìtrad. 生氣
angry; mad
- 135哭kū
cry; weep
- 136画huàtrad. 畫
draw; picture; painting
- 137年轻niánqīngtrad. 年輕
young
- 138包bāo
to cover; to wrap; to hold
- 139腿tuǐ
leg
- 140忘记wàngjìtrad. 忘記
forget
- 141搬bān
to move; to transport
- 142楼lóutrad. 樓
story; floor; (multi-story) building
- 143遇到yùdào
to meet; run into; come across
- 144新闻xīnwéntrad. 新聞
news
- 145比较bǐjiàotrad. 比較
compare; contrast; relatively
- 146双shuāngtrad. 雙
two; double; (mw for pairs)
- 147见面jiànmiàntrad. 見面
meet/see somebody (face to face); meeting
- 148经常jīngchángtrad. 經常
often; frequently; daily
- 149城市chéngshì
city or town
- 150一会儿yíhuìrtrad. 一會兒
a while; a moment
Words 151–200
- 151附近fùjìn
(in the) vicinity; nearby; neighboring
- 152借jiè
lend; borrow; excuse
- 153影响yǐngxiǎngtrad. 影響
influence; affect; effect
- 154认真rènzhēntrad. 認真
serious; earnest; take seriously
- 155米mǐ
rice; meter (Kangxi radical 119)
- 156差chà, chā, chāi, cīmultiple readings
differ from; fall short of; poor | difference | to dispatch
Native note — chà = poor, lacking (成绩很差, 差不多). chā = a difference (差别). chāi = an assignment, which is where 出差 chūchāi (business trip) comes from — that word is on the HSK 4 list, so learn this reading now.
- 157银行yínhángtrad. 銀行
bank
- 158安静ānjìngtrad. 安靜
quiet; peaceful; calm
- 159多么duōmetrad. 多麼
how (wonderful, etc.); what (a great idea)
- 160饿ètrad. 餓
hungry
- 161根据gēnjùtrad. 根據
according to; based on; basis
- 162几乎jīhūtrad. 幾乎
almost
- 163后来hòuláitrad. 后來
afterwards; after; later
- 164动物dòngwùtrad. 動物
animal
- 165西xī
West (Kangxi radical 146)
- 166一边yìbiāntrad. 一邊
one side; on the one hand; at the same time
- 167舒服shūfu
comfortable; feeling well
- 168一般yìbān
general; ordinary; common
- 169叔叔shūshu
(informal) father's younger brother; uncle
- 170疼téng
ache; sore; (it) hurts
- 171迟到chídàotrad. 遲到
arrive late
- 172历史lìshǐtrad. 歷史
history
- 173啤酒píjiǔ
beer
- 174短duǎn
short (in length, duration, or height); lack
- 175经过jīngguòtrad. 經過
to pass; go through; as a result of
- 176周末zhōumò
weekend
- 177班bān
team; class; squad
- 178习惯xíguàntrad. 習慣
habit; be accustomed to; usual practice
- 179公园gōngyuántrad. 公園
public park
- 180干净gānjìngtrad. 干淨
clean; neat and tidy
- 181鸟niǎotrad. 鳥
bird (Kangxi radical 196)
- 182健康jiànkāng
health; healthy
- 183树shùtrad. 樹
tree
- 184蛋糕dàngāo
cake
- 185元yuán
Chinese monetary unit; dollar; first
- 186客人kèrén
guest; customer
- 187会议huìyìtrad. 會議
meeting; conference
- 188奶奶nǎinai
grandma; (informal) paternal grandmother
- 189裤子kùzitrad. 褲子
pants; trousers
- 190邻居línjūtrad. 鄰居
neighbor
- 191经理jīnglǐtrad. 經理
manager; director
- 192层céngtrad. 層
(mw for layers, floors of buildings)
- 193灯dēngtrad. 燈
lamp; light
- 194练习liànxítrad. 練習
practice; exercise
- 195爷爷yéyetrad. 爺爺
(informal) father's father; paternal grandfather
- 196蓝lántrad. 藍
blue
- 197难过nánguòtrad. 難過
be grieved; be sad; have a hard time
- 198中间zhōngjiāntrad. 中間
center; middle; between
- 199帽子màozi
hat; cap
- 200司机sījītrad. 司機
driver; chauffeur
Words 201–250
- 201旧jiùtrad. 舊
old; past; used
- 202满意mǎnyìtrad. 滿意
satisfied; pleased
- 203骑qítrad. 騎
to ride (an animal or bike); to sit astride
- 204太阳tàiyángtrad. 太陽
the sun
- 205极jítrad. 極
an extreme; pole; very
- 206主要zhǔyào
main; principal; major
- 207同事tóngshì
colleague; co-worker
- 208鼻子bízi
nose
- 209角jiǎo, juémultiple readings
horn; angle; unit of money (1/10 yuan) | role (theater)
Native note — jiǎo = corner, angle, horn, and 1/10 of a yuan. jué = a role or part (角色 juésè). Money and geometry take jiǎo.
- 210变化biànhuàtrad. 變化
change
- 211东dōngtrad. 東
East
- 212年级niánjítrad. 年級
grade; year (in school)
- 213环境huánjìngtrad. 環境
environment; surroundings
- 214胖pàng
fat; plump
- 215地图dìtútrad. 地圖
map
- 216面包miànbāo
bread
- 217电子邮件diànzǐ yóujiàntrad. 電子郵件
email
- 218耳朵ěrduo
ear
- 219裙子qúnzi
skirt
- 220新鲜xīnxiāntrad. 新鮮
fresh (experience, food, etc.); new; novel
- 221放心fàng xīn
relax; feel relieved; rest assured
- 222聊天liáotiān
to chat
- 223南nán
South
- 224热情rèqíngtrad. 熱情
cordial; warm; enthusiastic
- 225信用卡xìnyòngkǎ
credit card
- 226电梯diàntītrad. 電梯
elevator
- 227方便fāngbiàn
convenient
- 228洗手间xǐshǒujiāntrad. 洗手間
toilet; lavatory; washroom
- 229洗澡xǐzǎo
bathe; take a bath or shower; bath or shower
- 230饮料yǐnliàotrad. 飲料
beverage; drink
- 231校长xiàozhǎngtrad. 校長
principal (of school, college or university); president; headmaster
- 232水平shuǐpíng
level; standard; horizontal
- 233作业zuòyètrad. 作業
school assignment; homework; task
- 234衬衫chènshāntrad. 襯衫
shirt; blouse
- 235成绩chéngjìtrad. 成績
achievement; success; results (of work or study)
- 236碗wǎn
bowl; cup
- 237阿姨āyí
auntie; step-mother; mother's younger sister
- 238图书馆túshūguǎntrad. 圖書館
library
- 239文化wénhuà
culture; civilization
- 240绿lǜtrad. 綠
green
- 241打扫dǎsǎotrad. 打掃
to clean; to sweep
- 242草cǎo
grass; straw; draft (of a document)
- 243冰箱bīngxiāng
refrigerator
- 244数学shùxuétrad. 數學
mathematics
- 245自行车zìxíngchētrad. 自行車
bike; bicycle
- 246着急zháojítrad. 著急
to worry; feel anxious
- 247瘦shòu
thin; tight; lean
- 248提高tígāo
to raise; heighten; improve
- 249起飞qǐfēitrad. 起飛
take off (in an airplane); liftoff
- 250矮ǎi
short; low
Words 251–300
- 251地铁dìtiětrad. 地鐵
subway
- 252体育tǐyùtrad. 體育
physical training; sports
- 253刻kè
quarter (hour); (mw for short time intervals); carve
- 254护照hùzhàotrad. 護照
passport
- 255节日jiérìtrad. 節日
holiday; festival
- 256盘子pánzitrad. 盤子
plate; dish; tray
- 257一共yígòng
altogether; in total
- 258瓶子píngzi
bottle
- 259街道jiēdào
street
- 260锻炼duànliàntrad. 鍛煉
to exercise; work out; toughen
- 261感冒gǎnmào
catch cold; (common) cold
- 262爱好àihàotrad. 愛好
hobby; fond of; to like
- 263超市chāoshì
supermarket
- 264月亮yuèliang
the moon
- 265饱bǎotrad. 飽
eat until full; satisfied
- 266有名yǒumíng
famous; well-known
- 267香蕉xiāngjiāo
banana
- 268笔记本bǐjìběntrad. 筆記本
notebook
- 269夏xià
summer
- 270菜单càidāntrad. 菜單
menu
- 271北方běifāng
north; the northern part of the country
- 272上网shàngwǎngtrad. 上網
to surf the web; to go online
- 273季节jìjiétrad. 季節
season; time; period
- 274渴kě
thirsty
- 275发烧fāshāotrad. 發燒
have a fever
- 276不但búdàn
not only
- 277空调kōngtiáotrad. 空調
air conditioning
- 278照相机zhàoxiàngjītrad. 照相機
camera
- 279春chūn
spring (season); joyful
- 280伞sǎntrad. 傘
umbrella; parasol
- 281公斤gōngjīn
kilogram
- 282个子gèzitrad. 個子
height; stature; build
- 283熊猫xióngmāotrad. 熊貓
panda
- 284刷牙shuāyá
brush one's teeth
- 285复习fùxítrad. 復習
revise; to review
- 286冬dōng
winter
- 287请假qǐng jiàtrad. 請假
to ask for time off
- 288中文Zhōngwén
Chinese (language)
- 289秋qiū
autumn; fall; harvest time
- 290句子jùzi
sentence
- 291行李箱xínglǐxiāng
trunk; suitcase
- 292筷子kuàizi
chopsticks
- 293皮鞋píxié
leather shoes
- 294爬山páshān
mountain climbing
- 295黑板hēibǎn
blackboard
- 296感兴趣gǎn xìngqùtrad. 感興趣
be interested in
- 297词典cídiǎntrad. 詞典
dictionary
- 298留学liú xuétrad. 留學
study abroad
- 299刮风guāfēngtrad. 刮風
windy; to blow (wind)
- 300黄河huánghétrad. 黃河
Yellow River
Other HSK levels
FAQ
What is the 把 sentence and why does everyone struggle with it?
把 moves the object in front of the verb to say what was done to it: 我把门关了 means I shut the door, with the emphasis on what happened to the door. English has no equivalent structure, so there is nothing to map it onto — which is why it feels arbitrary until you have heard it a few hundred times.
How many words do I actually need for HSK 3?
600 cumulative — the 300 here plus everything from HSK 1 and 2. The test does not tell you which level a word came from, so the earlier lists stay live.
Why do some characters have two pronunciations?
Usually because simplification merged two originally separate characters into one form, or because the same character became both a noun and a verb with a tone shift. 只 was 只 and 隻 in traditional. 种 shifts tone between the noun (zhǒng, a type) and the verb (zhòng, to plant). Both patterns are common enough that it is worth learning the readings as pairs.