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Vocabulary
HSK vocabulary by level
The 2021 HSK 3.0 standard splits Chinese into nine levels across three bands, 10,969 words in all. Most test centers still administer the older six-level HSK 2.0 (4,991 words), so which structure applies depends on your test center. Every level page carries a 2.0-vs-3.0 toggle. Not sure where to start? Take the free placement test.
HSK 3.0 (2021)
9 levels · 3 bands
10,969 words
HSK 2.0 (older)
6 levels
4,991 words
HSK 2.0 vs 3.0, made visual
cumulative words · per levelThe old six-level exam versus the new nine-level standard. HSK 3.0 raised the entry bar and more than doubled the ceiling at once. Bars are cumulative vocabulary certified at each rung.
| Level | HSK 2.0 cumulative | HSK 3.0 cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | 150 | 506 |
| L2 | 297 | 1,256 |
| L3 | 595 | 2,209 |
| L4 | 1,193 | 3,181 |
| L5 | 2,491 | 4,240 |
| L6 | 4,991 | 5,363 |
| L7-9 | n/a | 10,969 |
+237%
Level 1 vocabulary, 150 to 506 words
+271%
Beginner finish line, 595 to 2,209 words
+120%
Top ceiling, 4,991 to 10,969 words
Beginner (Band 1)
cumulative 2,209 wordsOpen the beginner band overview for what it covers, its character milestone, and a realistic study estimate, or jump to the beginner study plan.
| Level | New words | Cumulative | Characters | What it unlocks | Open table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 506 | 506 | 300 | The absolute foundation: greetings, numbers, family, and the highest-frequency function words. | Open table → |
| HSK 2 | 750 | 1,256 | 598 | Everyday survival vocabulary: time, shopping, directions, and simple past and future. | Open table → |
| HSK 3 | 953 | 2,209 | 899 | Rounds out the 2,209-word beginner band. HSK 3.0 makes speaking mandatory from this level. | Open table → |
Intermediate (Band 2)
cumulative 5,363 wordsOpen the intermediate band overview for what it covers, its character milestone, and a realistic study estimate, or jump to the intermediate study plan.
| Level | New words | Cumulative | Characters | What it unlocks | Open table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 4 | 972 | 3,181 | 1,199 | Entry to the intermediate band: opinions, comparisons, and connected paragraphs. | Open table → |
| HSK 5 | 1,059 | 4,240 | 1,499 | Abstract and topical vocabulary across culture, work, and society. | Open table → |
| HSK 6 | 1,123 | 5,363 | 1,799 | Completes the 5,363-word intermediate band. Broad fluency for most everyday and professional life. | Open table → |
Advanced (Band 3)
cumulative 10,969 wordsOpen the advanced band overview for what it covers, its character milestone, and a realistic study estimate, or jump to the advanced study plan.
| Level | New words | Cumulative | Characters | What it unlocks | Open table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 7-9 | 5,606 | 10,969 | 2,970 | The advanced band: a single combined exam over 5,606 additional words, including literary and specialist terms. | Open table → |
How far each level actually gets you
Full coverage breakdown →A few hundred common words do most of the talking, so the payoff is steep early and flattens later. This curve plots the share of everyday speech you recognise against the words you know. See the level-by-level words, characters, and coverage on the how much do you need page.
| Level | Cumulative words | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | 506 | 50.4% |
| L2 | 1,256 | 60.7% |
| L3 | 2,209 | 66.8% |
| L4 | 3,181 | 69.8% |
| L5 | 4,240 | 72% |
| L6 | 5,363 | 73.9% |
| L7-9 | 10,969 | 77.5% |
Studying for the older HSK 2.0?
six-level exam · still administeredMany test centers still run the older six-level HSK 2.0. Each level has its own full, server-rendered word list, with the matching HSK 3.0 level tagged on every word.
- HSK 2.0 · Level 1
- HSK 2.0 · Level 2
- HSK 2.0 · Level 3
- HSK 2.0 · Level 4
- HSK 2.0 · Level 5
- HSK 2.0 · Level 6
Not sure which band is yours?
The placement check estimates your HSK level from a short recognition test, then links you straight into the right word table, in frequency order. No signup.