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HSK 3 三级 2.0

Basic communication across daily, study, and work situations, and managing most needs while travelling in China. This is the older six-level HSK 2.0 list. Learn the words in frequency order and the rest of the level gets far easier.

298New words
595Cumulative
52.5%Spoken coverage
IntermediateTier
HSK 1HSK 2HSK 3HSK 4HSK 5HSK 6

Quick answer

How many words are in HSK 3 (2.0), and what is on the list?

HSK 3 under the older HSK 2.0 standard contains 298 new words, bringing the cumulative HSK 2.0 total through Level 3 to 595 words. The full list is below, highest-frequency entries first, each with simplified and traditional hanzi, tone-marked pinyin, part of speech, a corpus frequency rank, an English gloss, and the level the same word sits at in the newer nine-level HSK 3.0 scheme. In HSK 3.0 the equivalent Level 3 holds 953 new words, so the two standards do not line up one to one.

Knowing every HSK 2.0 word up to and including Level 3 means you recognize about 52.5% of the running words in everyday spoken Chinese (film and TV subtitles), because the most frequent words are front-loaded into the lower levels. That is token coverage, not full comprehension. See the full ladder.

On the current standard See HSK 3 on the new HSK 3.0 scale The 2021 HSK 3.0 Level 3 list holds 953 words, a different set. Open the full 3.0 table with its own 2.0-vs-3.0 toggle.
HSK 2.0 · Level 3
298 words
#简繁PīnyīnPOS HSK 3.0FreqEnglish
1 啊 = ā part 2 47 interjection of surprise; Ah!
2 把 = bǎ prep 3 50 to hold; to grasp; to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate
3 被 = bèi prep 3 54 quilt; to cover (with)
4 自己 = zì jǐ pron 2 56 oneself; one's own
5 用 = yòng verb 1 79 to use; to employ
6 如果 = rú guǒ conj 2 89 if; in case
7 又 = yòu adv 2 91 (once) again; also
8 只 = zhǐ adv 2 98 only; merely
9 更 = gēng adv 2 127 to change or replace; to experience
10 需要 = xū yào verb 3 131 to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs
11 地 = de part 1 132 -ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modi...
12 才 = cái adv 2 133 ability; talent; sb of a certain type
13 跟 = gēn prep 1 135 heel; to follow closely
14 像 = xiàng verb 2 151 to resemble; to be like
15 还是 還是 hái shi conj 1 160 still (as before); had better
16 认为 認為 rèn wéi verb 2 168 to believe; to think; to consider; to feel
17 应该 應該 yīng gāi verb 2 174 ought to; should
18 位 = wèi meas 2 177 position; location
19 带 帶 dài verb 2 177 band; belt
20 种 種 zhǒng meas 3 179 seed; species
21 发现 發現 fā xiàn verb 2 189 to notice; to become aware of; to discover; to find; to detect
22 一定 = yī dìng adv 2 198 surely; certainly
23 一直 = yī zhí adv 2 203 straight (in a straight line); continuously; always; all the way through
24 为了 為了 wèi le prep 3 229 for; for the purpose of; in order to
25 一样 一樣 yī yàng part 1 235 same; like
26 世界 = shì jiè noun 3 238 world
27 而且 = ér qiě conj 2 239 (not only ...) but also; moreover
28 重要 = zhòng yào adj 1 240 important; significant
29 必须 必須 bì xū adv 2 241 to have to; must
30 地方 = dì fāng noun 1 254 region; regional (away from the central administration)
31 老 = lǎo adj 1 266 prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth o...
32 其他 = qí tā pron 2 267 other; (sth or sb) else
33 比赛 比賽 bǐ sài v/n 3 275 competition (sports etc); match
34 然后 然後 rán hòu conj 2 275 then; after that; afterwards
35 担心 擔心 dān xīn verb 4 277 anxious; worried
36 条 條 tiáo meas 2 277 strip; item
37 放 = fàng verb 1 280 to put; to place
38 拿 㧱 ná verb 1 287 old variant of 拿
39 为什么 為什麼 wèi shén me pron 2 299 why?; for what reason?
40 先 = xiān adv 1 306 early; prior
41 关系 關係 guān xi noun 3 318 relation; relationship
42 出现 出現 chū xiàn verb 2 323 to appear; to arise
43 了解 = liǎo jiě verb 4 336 to understand; to realize
44 过去 過去 guò qù verb 2 353 (in the) past; former
45 参加 參加 cān jiā verb 2 355 to participate; to take part
46 国家 國家 guó jiā noun 1 356 country; nation; state
47 决定 決定 jué dìng verb 3 366 to decide (to do something); to resolve
48 分 = fēn time 1 372 to divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate
49 选择 選擇 xuǎn zé verb 4 373 to select; to pick
50 或者 = huò zhě conj 2 382 or; possibly; maybe; perhaps
51 机会 機會 jī huì noun 2 393 opportunity; chance
52 别人 別人 bié ren pron 1 397 other people; others; other person
53 站 = zhàn verb 1 399 station; to stand
54 使 = shǐ verb 3 400 to make; to cause
55 其实 其實 qí shí adv 3 405 actually; in fact; really
56 以后 以後 yǐ hòu loc 2 407 after; later
57 要求 = yāo qiú verb 2 409 to request; to require
58 信 = xìn noun 2 419 letter; mail
59 当然 當然 dāng rán adv 3 423 only natural; as it should be
60 接 = jiē verb 2 425 to receive; to answer (the phone)
61 相信 = xiāng xìn verb 2 431 to be convinced (that sth is true); to believe; to accept sth as true
62 花 = Huā verb 1 435 surname Hua
63 虽然 雖然 suī rán conj 2 440 although; even though (often used correlatively with 是 or 是 etc)
64 解决 解決 jiě jué verb 3 458 to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandi...
65 关于 關於 guān yú prep 4 478 pertaining to; concerning
66 完成 = wán chéng verb 2 486 to complete; to accomplish
67 结束 結束 jié shù verb 3 498 termination; to finish
68 努力 = nǔ lì adv 2 505 to make an effort; to try hard; to strive; hard-working; conscientious
69 以前 = yǐ qián loc 2 524 before; formerly
70 办法 辦法 bàn fǎ noun 2 538 means; method
71 特别 特別 tè bié adv 2 541 unusual; special; very; especially; particularly
72 难 難 nán adv 1 544 difficult (to...); problem
73 注意 = zhù yì verb 3 547 to take note of; to pay attention to
74 讲 講 jiǎng verb 2 555 to speak; to explain
75 万 = mò num 2 557 used in 俟
76 离开 離開 lí kāi verb 2 557 to depart; to leave
77 以为 以為 yǐ wéi verb 2 567 to think (i.e. to take it to be true that ...) (Usually there is an implication that th...
78 越 = Yuè adv 2 574 generic word for peoples or states of south China or south Asia at different historical...
79 城市 = chéng shì noun 3 593 city; town
80 影响 影響 yǐng xiǎng verb 2 598 influence; effect
81 游戏 遊戲 yóu xì noun 3 603 game; to play
82 马 馬 Mǎ noun 3 605 surname Ma; abbr. for Malaysia 马来西亚
83 比较 比較 bǐ jiào adv 3 607 to compare; to contrast
84 最近 = zuì jìn time 2 612 recently; soon
85 换 換 huàn verb 2 618 to exchange; to change (clothes etc)
86 终于 終於 zhōng yú adv 3 625 at last; in the end
87 脸 臉 liǎn noun 2 629 face
88 口 = kǒu meas 1 637 mouth; classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc)
89 总是 總是 zǒng shì adv 3 638 always
90 除了 = chú le prep 3 638 besides; apart from (... also...)
91 双 雙 Shuāng num 3 642 surname Shuang
92 突然 = tū rán adv 3 644 sudden; abrupt; unexpected
93 段 = Duàn meas 2 647 surname Duan
94 检查 檢查 jiǎn chá verb 2 659 inspection; to examine
95 米 = Mǐ noun 2 663 surname Mi
96 容易 = róng yì adj 3 664 easy; straightforward; likely; liable to; apt to
97 明白 = míng bai verb 1 676 clear; obvious
98 根据 根據 gēn jù prep 4 694 according to; based on
99 记得 記得 jì de verb 1 699 to remember
100 辆 輛 liàng meas 2 699 classifier for vehicles
101 简单 簡單 jiǎn dān adj 3 726 simple; not complicated
102 半 = bàn num 1 727 half; semi-
103 愿意 願意 yuàn yì verb 2 738 to wish; to want
104 音乐 音樂 yīn yuè noun 2 742 music
105 包 = Bāo verb 1 755 surname Bao
106 楼 樓 Lóu noun 1 765 surname Lou
107 清楚 = qīng chu adj 2 766 clear; distinct
108 照片 = zhào piàn noun 2 766 photograph; picture
109 银行 銀行 yín háng noun 2 769 bank
110 故事 = gù shì noun 2 772 old practice
111 一般 = yī bān adj 2 798 same; ordinary
112 可爱 可愛 kě ài adj 2 799 adorable; cute
113 新闻 新聞 xīn wén noun 2 805 news
114 声音 聲音 shēng yīn noun 2 841 voice; sound
115 马上 馬上 mǎ shàng adv 1 847 at once; right away
116 表示 = biǎo shì verb · 854 to express; to show
117 经过 經過 jīng guò prep 2 867 to pass; to go through
118 历史 歷史 lì shǐ noun 4 882 history
119 哭 = kū verb 2 898 to cry; to weep
120 敢 = gǎn verb 3 902 to dare; daring
121 会议 會議 huì yì noun 3 928 meeting; conference
122 经常 經常 jīng cháng adv 2 940 frequently; constantly; regularly; often; day-to-day; everyday; daily
123 低 = dī adj 2 951 low; beneath
124 节目 節目 jié mù noun 2 951 program; item (on a program)
125 健康 = jiàn kāng adj 2 952 health; healthy
126 作用 = zuò yòng noun 2 955 to act on; to affect
127 西 = Xī loc 1 958 the West; abbr. for Spain 牙
128 差 = chā adj 1 968 difference; discrepancy; (math.) difference (amount remaining after a subtraction)
129 结婚 結婚 jié hūn verb 3 982 to marry; to get married
130 短 = duǎn adj 2 983 short; brief
131 同意 = tóng yì verb 3 985 to agree; to consent
132 教 = Jiào verb 1 988 surname Jiao
133 几乎 幾乎 jī hū adv 4 1,001 almost; nearly; practically
134 认真 認真 rèn zhēn adj 1 1,020 conscientious; earnest
135 附近 = fù jìn loc 4 1,020 nearby; neighboring; (in the) vicinity (of); neighborhood
136 脚 腳 jiǎo noun 2 1,024 foot; leg (of an animal or an object)
137 主要 = zhǔ yào attr 2 1,031 main; principal
138 遇到 = yù dào verb 4 1,063 to meet; to run into; to come across
139 年轻 年輕 nián qīng adj 2 1,100 young
140 久 = jiǔ adj 3 1,103 (long) time; (long) duration of time
141 画 畫 huà noun 2 1,119 to draw; to paint; picture; painting
142 表演 = biǎo yǎn v/n 3 1,127 play; show
143 关 關 Guān verb 1 1,129 surname Guan
144 刚才 剛才 gāng cái time 2 1,149 just now; a moment ago
145 办公室 辦公室 bàn gōng shì noun 2 1,162 office; business premises
146 环境 環境 huán jìng noun 3 1,171 environment; circumstances
147 关心 關心 guān xīn verb 2 1,190 to be concerned about; to care about
148 祝 = Zhù verb 3 1,197 surname Zhu
149 层 層 céng meas 2 1,202 to pile on top of one another; layer; stratum
150 腿 = tuǐ noun 2 1,216 leg
151 班 = Bān noun 1 1,238 surname Ban
152 坏 壞 huài adj 1 1,239 bad; spoiled
153 一边 一邊 yī biān adv 1 1,241 one side; either side
154 鞋 = xié noun 2 1,249 shoe
155 习惯 習慣 xí guàn noun 2 1,251 habit; custom
156 变化 變化 biàn huà v/n 3 1,262 (intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation
157 周末 週末 zhōu mò time 2 1,269 weekend
158 忘记 忘記 wàng jì verb 1 1,335 to forget
159 打算 = dǎ suàn verb 2 1,374 to plan; to intend
160 极 極 jí adv 4 1,404 extremely; pole (geography, physics)
161 小心 = xiǎo xīn adj 2 1,411 to be careful; to take care
162 举行 舉行 jǔ xíng verb 2 1,431 to hold (a meeting, ceremony etc)
163 动物 動物 dòng wù noun 2 1,438 animal
164 饿 餓 è verb 1 1,477 to be hungry; hungry
165 树 樹 shù noun 1 1,481 tree; to cultivate
166 水平 = shuǐ píng noun 2 1,490 level (of achievement etc); standard
167 借 = jiè verb 2 1,495 to lend; to borrow
168 东 東 Dōng loc 1 1,509 surname Dong
169 头发 頭髮 tóu fa noun 2 1,533 hair (on the head)
170 害怕 = hài pà verb 3 1,536 to be afraid; to be scared
171 鸟 鳥 diǎo noun 2 1,593 penis
172 蓝 藍 Lán adj 2 1,615 surname Lan
173 照顾 照顧 zhào gu verb 2 1,631 to take care of; to show consideration
174 文化 = wén huà noun 3 1,632 culture; civilization
175 疼 = téng verb 2 1,641 (it) hurts; sore; to love dearly
176 奇怪 = qí guài verb 3 1,655 strange; odd
177 礼物 禮物 lǐ wù noun 2 1,673 gift; present
178 南 = Nán attr 1 1,709 surname Nan
179 提高 = tí gāo verb 2 1,724 to raise; to increase
180 满意 滿意 mǎn yì verb 2 1,761 satisfied; pleased
181 旧 舊 jiù adj 3 1,787 old; opposite: new 新
182 司机 司機 sī jī noun 2 1,804 chauffeur; driver
183 黄 黃 Huáng name 2 1,809 surname Huang or Hwang
184 经理 經理 jīng lǐ noun 2 1,838 manager; director
185 兴趣 興趣 xìng qù noun 4 1,847 interest (desire to know about sth); interest (thing in which one is interested); hobby
186 帮忙 幫忙 bāng máng verb 1 1,860 to help; to lend a hand
187 电子 電子 diàn zǐ noun · 1,874 electronic; electron (particle physics)
188 见面 見面 jiàn miàn verb 1 1,876 to meet; to see each other
189 成绩 成績 chéng jì noun 2 1,888 achievement; performance records
190 中间 中間 zhōng jiān loc 1 1,889 the middle; the inside; in the middle; within; between; among
191 聪明 聰明 cōng ming adj 5 1,918 intelligent; clever
192 多么 多麼 duō me adv 2 1,940 how (wonderful etc); what (a great idea etc)
193 太阳 太陽 tài yang noun 2 2,001 sun; abbr. for 太阳穴
194 灯 燈 dēng noun 2 2,001 lamp; light
195 方便 = fāng biàn verb 2 2,014 convenient; suitable
196 糖 = táng noun 3 2,036 sugar; sweets
197 相同 = xiāng tóng adj 2 2,110 identical; same
198 生气 生氣 shēng qì adj 1 2,113 to get angry; to take offense
199 公园 公園 gōng yuán noun 2 2,134 park (for public recreation)
200 热情 熱情 rè qíng noun 2 2,149 cordial; enthusiastic
201 一会儿 一會兒 yī huì r num 1 2,207 a moment; a while
202 骑 騎 jì verb 2 2,231 (Tw) saddle horse; mounted soldier
203 河 = hé noun 2 2,245 river
204 搬 = bān verb 3 2,254 to move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky)
205 同事 = tóng shì noun 2 2,337 colleague; co-worker
206 舒服 = shū fu adj 2 2,343 comfortable; feeling well
207 体育 體育 tǐ yù noun 2 2,354 sports; physical education
208 角 = Jué noun 2 2,370 surname Jue
209 胖 = pán adj 3 2,396 healthy; at ease
210 干净 乾淨 gān jìng adj 1 2,430 clean; neat
211 放心 = fàng xīn verb 2 2,458 to feel relieved; to feel reassured
212 草 艸 cǎo noun 2 2,467 variant of 草
213 甜 = tián adj 3 2,472 sweet
214 安静 安靜 ān jìng adj 2 2,501 quiet; peaceful
215 作业 作業 zuò yè noun 2 2,574 school assignment; homework
216 瘦 = shòu adj 5 2,595 thin; to lose weight
217 绿 綠 lǜ adj 2 2,608 green; (slang) (derived from 绿帽子) to cheat on (one's spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend)
218 啤酒 = pí jiǔ noun 3 2,622 beer (loanword)
219 蛋糕 = dàn gāo noun 5 2,650 cake
220 新鲜 新鮮 xīn xiān adj 4 2,651 fresh (experience, food etc); freshness
221 难过 難過 nán guò adj 2 2,714 to feel sad; to feel unwell
222 客人 = kè rén noun 2 2,750 visitor; guest
223 奶奶 = nǎi nai noun 1 2,809 (informal) grandma (paternal grandmother); (respectful) mistress of the house
224 碗 㼝 wǎn noun 2 2,866 variant of 碗
225 数学 數學 shù xué noun · 3,024 mathematics; mathematical
226 地铁 地鐵 dì tiě noun 2 3,046 underground railway; subway; subway train
227 刷 = shuā verb 4 3,060 to brush; to paint
228 厨房 廚房 chú fáng noun 5 3,076 kitchen
229 练习 練習 liàn xí verb 2 3,084 to practice; exercise
230 爷爷 爺爺 yé ye noun 1 3,099 (coll.) father's father; paternal grandfather
231 云 = yún noun 2 3,335 (classical) to say
232 邻居 鄰居 lín jū noun 5 3,360 neighbor; next door
233 校长 校長 xiào zhǎng noun 2 3,365 (college, university) president; headmaster
234 花园 花園 huā yuán noun 2 3,403 garden
235 耳朵 = ěr duo noun 5 3,451 ear; handle (on a cup)
236 节日 節日 jié rì noun 2 3,477 holiday; festival
237 鼻子 = bí zi noun 5 3,484 nose
238 叔叔 = shū shu noun 4 3,510 father's younger brother; uncle
239 洗澡 = xǐ zǎo verb 2 3,512 to bathe; to take a shower
240 地图 地圖 dì tú noun 1 3,548 map
241 帽子 = mào zi noun 4 3,553 hat; cap
242 街道 = jiē dào noun 4 3,604 street; subdistrict
243 感冒 = gǎn mào verb 3 3,621 to catch cold; (common) cold
244 迟到 遲到 chí dào verb 4 3,667 to arrive late
245 刻 = kè verb 2 3,756 quarter (hour); moment
246 锻炼 鍛鍊 duàn liàn verb 4 3,764 to toughen; to temper
247 裤子 袴子 kù zi noun 3 3,765 pants
248 夏 = Xià time · 3,828 the Xia or Hsia dynasty c. 2000 BC; Xia of the Sixteen Kingdoms (407-432)
249 图书馆 圖書館 tú shū guǎn noun 1 3,836 library
250 电梯 電梯 diàn tī noun 4 3,894 elevator; escalator
251 刮 = guā verb 6 3,910 to scrape; to blow
252 矮 = ǎi adj 4 3,952 low; short (in length)
253 眼镜 眼鏡 yǎn jìng noun 4 3,998 spectacles; eyeglasses
254 上网 上網 shàng wǎng verb 1 4,061 to go online; to connect to the Internet
255 春 旾 chūn time · 4,065 old variant of 春
256 面包 麵包 miàn bāo noun 1 4,138 bread
257 冰箱 = bīng xiāng noun 4 4,168 icebox; freezer cabinet
258 阿姨 = ā yí noun 4 4,355 maternal aunt; step-mother
259 超市 = chāo shì noun 2 4,427 supermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)
260 着急 著急 zháo jí adj 4 4,461 to worry; to feel anxious; to feel a sense of urgency; to be in a hurry
261 季节 季節 jì jié noun 4 4,724 time; season
262 饱 飽 bǎo adj 2 4,742 to eat till full; satisfied
263 空调 空調 kōng tiáo noun 3 4,763 air conditioning; air conditioner (including units that have a heating mode)
264 一共 = yī gòng adv 2 4,765 altogether
265 月亮 = yuè liang noun 2 4,781 the moon
266 北方 = běi fāng place 2 4,879 north; the northern part a country
267 爱好 愛好 ài hào noun 1 4,902 to like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on; interest; hobby
268 衬衫 襯衫 chèn shān noun 3 4,988 shirt; blouse
269 宾馆 賓館 bīn guǎn noun 5 4,994 guesthouse; lodge
270 冬 = dōng time · 5,272 winter
271 裙子 = qún zi noun 3 5,466 skirt
272 香蕉 = xiāng jiāo noun 3 5,473 banana
273 秋 = Qiū time · 5,603 surname Qiu
274 发烧 發燒 fā shāo verb 4 5,836 to have a high temperature (from illness); to have a fever
275 伞 傘 sǎn noun 4 6,101 umbrella; parasol
276 有名 = yǒu míng adj 1 6,219 famous; well-known
277 打扫 打掃 dǎ sǎo verb 4 6,258 to clean; to sweep
278 葡萄 = pú tao noun 5 6,422 grape
279 复习 復習 fù xí verb 2 6,867 to review; revision
280 熊猫 熊貓 xióng māo noun · 7,123 panda
281 护照 護照 hù zhào noun 2 7,152 passport
282 菜单 菜單 cài dān noun 2 7,509 menu
283 年级 年級 nián jí noun 2 7,644 grade; year (in school, college etc)
284 果汁 = guǒ zhī noun 3 7,765 fruit juice
285 面条 麵條 miàn tiáo noun · 8,961 noodles
286 盘子 盤子 pán zi noun 4 9,039 tray; plate
287 铅笔 鉛筆 qiān bǐ noun 6 9,108 (lead) pencil
288 渴 = kě adj 1 9,442 thirsty
289 洗手间 洗手間 xǐ shǒu jiān noun 1 9,674 toilet; lavatory
290 词语 詞語 cí yǔ noun 2 10,379 word (general term including monosyllables through to short phrases); term (e.g. techni...
291 句子 = jù zi noun 2 10,428 sentence
292 照相机 照相機 zhào xiàng jī noun · 10,452 camera
293 筷子 = kuài zi noun 2 10,486 chopsticks
294 字典 = zì diǎn noun 2 13,961 Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with...
295 普通话 普通話 pǔ tōng huà noun 2 14,869 Mandarin (common language); Putonghua (common speech of the Chinese language)
296 爬山 = pá shān verb 2 15,470 to climb a mountain; to mountaineer
297 黑板 = hēi bǎn noun 2 15,524 blackboard
298 行李箱 = xíng li xiāng noun · 16,680 suitcase; baggage compartment
tone 1 high tone 2 rising tone 3 dip tone 4 falling neutral Freq = corpus rank, lower is more common · HSK 3.0 = the same word's level on the new scale · · = not in HSK 3.0
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Check which scheme your test usesIf your test center still administers the older six-level HSK 2.0, this is the exact list for your Level 3 exam. If it uses the 2021 nine-level HSK 3.0, follow the cross-link above to the 3.0 Level 3 table instead, the word sets differ.
Study in frequency orderThe rows are ranked by corpus frequency, so the words nearer the top appear far more often in real Chinese. Front-loading them gives the fastest reading and listening gains.
Read the HSK 3.0 columnEach word shows the level it sits at in the newer scheme. Words marked · are not in HSK 3.0 at all. It is the fastest way to see how the two standards diverge on your own vocabulary.

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