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HSK 1 Vocabulary

HSK 1 Vocabulary List (190 words)

Compiled from Fluentide podcast episodes. Updated May 2026.

The HSK 1 vocabulary list covers approximately 150 core Mandarin words required for absolute-beginner Chinese proficiency. These are the words that appear most often in Fluentide beginner episodes — basic greetings, numbers, family terms, daily-life vocabulary. Each word includes pinyin, English translation, and links to episodes where the word appears in context.

The method in practice

Learn HSK 1 vocabulary in real Mandarin context

Every HSK 1 word below is introduced in real Fluentide episodes calibrated to HSK 1 speed and grammar — so the word sticks because you've heard it in a sentence, not because you drilled a flashcard. Three free episodes after a one-tap magic-link sign-in — no password, no payment.

Where HSK 1 Sits in the HSK Ladder

HSK proficiency ladderThe six HSK levels with cumulative vocabulary requirements: HSK 1 requires 150 words, HSK 2 requires 300, HSK 3 requires 600, HSK 4 requires 1,200, HSK 5 requires 2,500, and HSK 6 requires 5,000 words. Word counts follow the official Hanban HSK 2.0 standard.HSK levels by cumulative vocabularyHSK 1beginner150 wordsHSK 2elementary300 wordsHSK 3pre-intermediate600 wordsHSK 4intermediate1,200 wordsHSK 5upper-intermediate2,500 wordsHSK 6advanced5,000 wordsSource: Hanban HSK 2.0 standard
Cumulative vocabulary required at each HSK level — bar width is proportional to the word count.

HSK 1 Word List

阿姨āyíauntie (term for a middle-aged woman)
easybeginner
安全ānquánsafe; safety
easymedium+7
帮bāngto help
beginnereasy
杯子bēizicup
beginner
本来běnláioriginally; should have been
beginner
比如说bǐrú shuōfor example
easybeginner
比赛bǐsàirace; competition
easybeginner+8
变biànto change
beginner
便宜piányicheap
easybeginner
别人biérénsomeone else; other people
beginner
才cái(emphatic) not until; only then
beginnereasy+1
茶chátea
beginner
差一点chà yīdiǎnto come up just short; almost
easyeasy+1
车chēcar; vehicle
beginnereasy+1
吃chīto eat
easybeginner
吃惊chījīngshocked, surprised
beginner
出事chū shìsomething bad has happened
beginner
处罚chǔfáto punish; (administrative) penalty
mediumeasy+1
聪明cōngmingsmart; clever
beginnereasy+2
答案dá'ànanswer
beginner
打球dǎ qiúto play ball
beginner
大学dàxuéuniversity
beginner
担心dānxīnto worry
easyeasy+2
但是dànshìbut; however
easybeginner+1
道歉dàoqiànto apologize
mediumeasy+4
等děngto wait
beginnereasy+3
第一dì-yīfirst place; number one
easybeginner
第一次dì-yī cìthe first time
beginner
电脑diànnǎocomputer
beginner
电视diànshìtelevision
beginner
电影diànyǐngmovie
easybeginner
钉钉DīngdīngDingTalk (workplace app)
easybeginner
定规矩dìng guījuto set the rules
easybeginner
东西dōngxithings, stuff
beginnerbeginner
动物dòngwùanimal
beginner
度dùdegree (temperature)
easybeginner
队duìteam
beginnereasy+1
多duōmany / a lot
beginner
鹅égoose
easybeginner
法国FǎguóFrance
beginner
法院fǎyuàncourt (of law)
easyeasy+1
翻译fānyìto translate / translation
normalmedium+2
反而fǎn'éron the contrary; instead
easybeginner
方便fāngbiànconvenient
beginner
放弃fàngqìto give up
beginnereasy+5
飞机fēijīairplane
beginner
分fēnpoint (in a game)
beginnerbeginner
粉笔FěnbǐFenbi (the company); also literally 'chalk'
easybeginner
盖子gàizilid; cover
easybeginner
高兴gāoxìnghappy
beginnerbeginner+7

Showing 50 of 190 words

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