Fluentide
Illustration in teal tones representing the HSK 1 Mandarin vocabulary list.
HSK 1 Vocabulary

HSK 1 Vocabulary List: 300 Words (HSK 3.0)

HSK 1 has 300 words in HSK 3.0 (the old HSK 2.0 list had 150). Fluentide has 288 free stories at the Beginner (HSK 2) level that use them, with transcript and pinyin.

Browse 288 stories ↓

By Haoshan HongNative Mandarin speakerUpdated October 2026

Hear HSK 1 words in a real story

美国佛州李尔喷气机坠毁 九人全部遇难

Learjet 60 Crashes in Palm Beach County, Florida, Killing All Nine On Board

1 min

What is on the HSK 1 word list?

Every word is new at this level. They cover greetings, numbers, dates, family, food, and the handful of question words that carry a whole beginner conversation.

HSK proficiency ladderHSK 3.0 levels 1 to 6 with cumulative vocabulary requirements: HSK 1 requires 300 words, HSK 2 requires 500, HSK 3 requires 1,000, HSK 4 requires 2,000, HSK 5 about 3,600, and HSK 6 about 5,400 words. Word counts follow the official HSK 3.0 exam syllabus.HSK levels by cumulative vocabularyHSK 1beginner300 wordsHSK 2elementary500 wordsHSK 3pre-intermediate1,000 wordsHSK 4intermediate2,000 wordsHSK 5upper-intermediate~3,600 wordsHSK 6advanced~5,400 wordsSource: HSK 3.0 exam syllabus, chinesetest.cn
Words needed at each level, counting the levels below it.

HSK 1 word list

All 300 words from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus, the 300 new at HSK 1 first.

Pinyin from the syllabus, definitions from CC-CEDICT. Tap a word for its other senses.

Showing 1–50 of 300 · page 1 of 6

爱àiHSK 1

to love

  • to love
  • to be fond of
  • to like
  • affection
  • to be inclined (to do sth)
  • to tend to (happen)
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
八bāHSK 1

eight

爸爸bàbaHSK 1

(coll.) father

吧baHSK 1

(modal particle indicating suggestion or surmise)

  • (modal particle indicating suggestion or surmise)
  • ...right?
  • ...OK?
  • ...I presume.
  • bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc)
  • to puff (on a pipe etc)
  • (onom.) bang
  • (onom.) smack!
  • abbr. for 贴吧
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
白天báitiānHSK 1

daytime

  • daytime
  • during the day
  • day
  • CL:个
百bǎiHSK 1

hundred

  • hundred
  • numerous
  • all kinds of
  • surname Bai
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
半bànHSK 1

half

  • half
  • semi-
  • incomplete
  • (after a number) and a half
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
包子bāoziHSK 1

baozi

  • baozi
  • bao (steamed stuffed bun)
杯子bēiziHSK 1

cup

本běnHSK 1

classifier for books

  • classifier for books
  • this
  • origin
  • (bound form) root
  • stem
  • (bound form) origin
  • source
  • (bound form) one's own
  • this
  • (bound form) this
  • the current (year etc)
  • (bound form) original
  • (bound form) inherent
  • originally
  • initially
  • capital
  • principal
  • classifier for books, periodicals, files etc
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
边biānHSK 1

side

  • side
  • edge
  • margin
  • border
  • boundary
  • CL:个
  • simultaneously
  • suffix of a noun of locality
便宜piányiHSK 1

cheap

  • cheap
  • inexpensive
  • a petty advantage
  • to let sb off lightly
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
病bìngHSK 1

illness

  • illness
  • CL:场
  • disease
  • to fall ill
  • defect
不bùHSK 1

no

不客气bú kèqiHSK 1

you're welcome

  • you're welcome
  • don't mention it
  • impolite
  • rude
  • blunt
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
不要búyàoHSK 1

don't!

  • don't!
  • must not
菜càiHSK 1

vegetable

  • vegetable
  • greens (CL:棵)
  • dish (of food) (CL:样,道,盘)
  • (of one's skills etc) weak
  • poor
  • (coll.) (one's) type
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
茶cháHSK 1

tea

唱chàngHSK 1

to sing

  • to sing
  • to call loudly
  • to chant
超市chāoshìHSK 1

supermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)

  • supermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)
  • CL:家
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
车chēHSK 1

car

  • car
  • vehicle
  • CL:辆
  • machine
  • to shape with a lathe
  • Kangxi radical 159
  • war chariot (archaic)
  • rook (in Chinese chess)
  • rook (in chess)
  • surname Che
吃chīHSK 1

to eat

  • to eat
  • to consume
  • to eat at (a cafeteria etc)
  • to eradicate
  • to destroy
  • to absorb
  • to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc)
  • variant of 吃
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
出租车chūzūchēHSK 1

taxi

穿chuānHSK 1

to wear

  • to wear
  • to put on
  • to bore through
  • to pierce
  • to perforate
  • to go through (e.g. a tunnel)
  • to cross (e.g. a street)
  • to thread
  • to string together
  • to wear
  • to put on (clothes, shoes etc.)
  • verb complement indicating thoroughness or completion
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
打电话dǎ diànhuàHSK 1

to make a telephone call

大dàHSK 1

big

  • big
  • large
  • great
  • older (than another person)
  • eldest (as in 大姐)
  • greatly
  • freely
  • fully
  • (dialect) father
  • (dialect) uncle (father's brother)
  • see 大夫
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
大家dàjiāHSK 1

everyone

  • everyone
  • influential family
  • great expert
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
大学dàxuéHSK 1

university

  • university
  • college
  • CL:所
大学生dàxuéshēngHSK 1

university student

  • university student
  • college student
到dàoHSK 1

to reach

  • to reach
  • to arrive
  • to leave for
  • to go to
  • to (a place)
  • until (a time)
  • up to (a point)
  • (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point)
  • considerate
  • thoughtful
  • thorough
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
的deHSK 1

of

  • of
  • ~'s (possessive particle)
  • (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun)
  • (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis)
  • (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 "one made of leather" or 跑堂儿的 "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 "new one")
  • also pr. or in poetry and songs
  • (bound form) a taxi
  • a cab (abbr. for 的士)
  • really and truly
  • (bound form) bull's-eye
  • target
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
弟弟dìdiHSK 1

younger brother

第dìHSK 1

(prefix indicating ordinal number, as in 第六 "sixth")

  • (prefix indicating ordinal number, as in 第六 "sixth")
  • (literary) grades in which successful candidates in the imperial examinations were placed
  • (old) residence of a high official
  • (literary) but
  • however
  • (literary) only
  • just
点diǎnHSK 1

o'clock

  • o'clock
  • a little
  • point
  • to touch briefly
  • to tap
  • to mark with a dot
  • to check off (on a list)
  • to order (food etc)
  • to select
  • to mention
  • to bring up (a topic or person)
  • to hint at
  • to imply
  • to administer (eye medicine etc) in drops
  • to light (a fire, a lamp etc)
  • to ignite
  • to nod (one's head) in agreement
  • to beckon by moving (one's hand) up and down
  • point
  • dot
  • spot
  • speck
  • dot stroke in Chinese characters
  • (math.) decimal point
  • point in time or space
  • (after a number) o'clock
  • a small amount
  • a bit
  • (after a verb or adjective) a bit more
  • classifier for small amounts
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
电话diànhuàHSK 1

telephone

  • telephone
  • CL:部
  • phone call
  • CL:通
  • phone number
电脑diànnǎoHSK 1

computer

电视diànshìHSK 1

television

电影diànyǐngHSK 1

movie

电影院diànyǐngyuànHSK 1

cinema

  • cinema
  • movie theater
  • CL:家,座
店diànHSK 1

inn

  • inn
  • old-style hotel (CL:家)
  • (bound form) shop
  • store
东西dōngxiHSK 1

thing

都dōuHSK 1

all

  • all
  • both
  • entirely
  • (used for emphasis) even
  • already
  • (not) at all
  • capital city
  • metropolis
  • surname Du
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
读dúHSK 1

to read out

  • to read out
  • to read aloud
  • to read
  • to attend (school)
  • to study (a subject in school)
  • to pronounce
  • comma
  • phrase marked by pause
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
读书dúshūHSK 1

to read a book

  • to read a book
  • to study
  • to attend school
对duìHSK 1

right

  • right
  • correct
  • towards
  • at
  • for
  • concerning
  • regarding
  • to treat (sb a certain way)
  • to face
  • (bound form) opposite
  • facing
  • matching
  • to match together
  • to adjust
  • to fit
  • to suit
  • to answer
  • to reply
  • to add
  • to pour in (a fluid)
  • to check
  • to compare
  • classifier: couple
  • pair
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
对不起duìbuqǐHSK 1

I'm sorry

  • I'm sorry
  • excuse me
  • I beg your pardon
  • to let (sb) down
  • to disappoint
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
多duōHSK 1

many

  • many
  • much
  • more
  • a lot of
  • too many
  • in excess
  • (after a numeral) ... odd
  • how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. )
  • (bound form) multi-
  • poly-
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
多少duōshaoHSK 1

how much?

  • how much?
  • how many?
  • (phone number, student ID etc) what number?
Character breakdown, usage notes and examples →
儿子érziHSK 1

son

二èrHSK 1

two

Stories that use these HSK 1 words

Each one is a Fluentide Beginner (HSK 2) story, written inside that word band. Press play; the first few need no account.

HSK 2 Chinese listening episodes

Showing 12 of 288

HSK 1 word list for HSK 2.0 (150 words)

If your registration still says HSK 2.0, study this list. HSK 2.0 HSK 1 has about 150 words. Here they all are.

HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0 word counts by levelCumulative vocabulary, HSK 2.0 then HSK 3.0: HSK 1 150 and 300 words, HSK 2 300 and 500, HSK 3 600 and 1,000, HSK 4 1,200 and 2,000, HSK 5 2,500 and about 3,600, HSK 6 5,000 and about 5,400.Every HSK 3.0 level needs more words than HSK 2.0HSK 2.0HSK 3.0HSK 1150300HSK 2300500HSK 36001,000HSK 41,2002,000HSK 52,500~3,600HSK 65,000~5,400HSK 3.0 papers start 13 December 2026 · Chinese Testing International
Cumulative words per level. Same level number, bigger list in HSK 3.0.
Show the 150 HSK 2.0 words
  • 爱ài
  • 八bā
  • 爸爸bàba
  • 杯子bēizi
  • 北京běijīng
  • 本běn
  • 不bù
  • 不客气bùkèqi
  • 菜cài
  • 茶chá
  • 吃chī
  • 出租车chūzūchē
  • 打电话dǎdiànhuà
  • 大dà
  • 的de
  • 点diǎn
  • 电脑diànnǎo
  • 电视diànshì
  • 电影diànyǐng
  • 东西dōngxi
  • 都dōu
  • 读dú
  • 对不起duìbuqǐ
  • 多duō
  • 多少duōshao
  • 儿子érzi
  • 二èr
  • 饭馆fànguǎn
  • 飞机fēijī
  • 分钟fēnzhōng
  • 高兴gāoxìng
  • 个gè
  • 工作gōngzuò
  • 狗gǒu
  • 汉语hànyǔ
  • 好hǎo
  • 喝hē
  • 和hé
  • 很hěn
  • 后面hòumian
  • 回huí
  • 会huì
  • 火车站huǒchēzhàn
  • 几jǐ
  • 家jiā
  • 叫jiào
  • 今天jīntiān
  • 九jiǔ
  • 开kāi
  • 看kàn
  • 看见kànjiàn
  • 块kuài
  • 来lái
  • 老师lǎoshī
  • 了le
  • 冷lěng
  • 里lǐ
  • 零líng
  • 六liù
  • 妈妈māma
  • 吗ma
  • 买mǎi
  • 猫māo
  • 没méi
  • 没关系méiguānxi
  • 米饭mǐfàn
  • 名字míngzi
  • 明天míngtiān
  • 哪nǎ
  • 那nà
  • 呢ne
  • 能néng
  • 你nǐ
  • 年nián
  • 女儿nǚér
  • 朋友péngyou
  • 漂亮piàoliang
  • 苹果píngguǒ
  • 七qī
  • 前面qiánmiàn
  • 钱qián
  • 请qǐng
  • 去qù
  • 热rè
  • 人rén
  • 认识rènshi
  • 日rì
  • 三sān
  • 商店shāngdiàn
  • 上shàng
  • 上午shàngwǔ
  • 少shǎo
  • 谁shéi
  • 什么shénme
  • 十shí
  • 时候shíhou
  • 是shì
  • 书shū
  • 水shuǐ
  • 水果shuǐguǒ
  • 睡觉shuìjiào
  • 说话shuōhuà
  • 四sì
  • 岁suì
  • 他tā
  • 她tā
  • 太tài
  • 天气tiānqì
  • 听tīng
  • 同学tóngxué
  • 喂wèi
  • 我wǒ
  • 我们wǒmen
  • 五wǔ
  • 喜欢xǐhuan
  • 下xià
  • 下午xiàwǔ
  • 下雨xiàyǔ
  • 先生xiānsheng
  • 现在xiànzài
  • 想xiǎng
  • 小xiǎo
  • 小姐xiǎojie
  • 些xiē
  • 写xiě
  • 谢谢xièxie
  • 星期xīngqī
  • 学生xuésheng
  • 学习xuéxí
  • 学校xuéxiào
  • 一yī
  • 衣服yīfu
  • 医生yīshēng
  • 医院yīyuàn
  • 椅子yǐzi
  • 有yǒu
  • 月yuè
  • 再见zàijiàn
  • 在zài
  • 怎么zěnme
  • 怎么样zěnmeyàng
  • 这zhè
  • 中国zhōngguó
  • 中午zhōngwǔ
  • 住zhù
  • 桌子zhuōzi
  • 字zì
  • 昨天zuótiān
  • 坐zuò
  • 做zuò

How to actually learn HSK 1 vocabulary

Reading a word on a page and catching it at speed in a sentence are different skills. The HSK listening section tests the second.

Four steps in a loop. One: skim this list and note which words feel unfamiliar. Two: hear them in HSK 1 stories every day. Three: look a word up only after you have heard it. Four: check the list monthly; the gaps show what to listen for next. Then repeat.Hear a word first, look it up second1Skim this listNote the wordsyou don't know2Hear themHSK 1 stories,every day3Look up afteronly once youhave heard it4Check monthlyGaps show whatto listen forrepeat
Use the list as a checklist, and do the learning by ear.

The method in practice

Hear HSK 1 vocabulary in real Mandarin

Each HSK 1 episode uses this word band, with the transcript, pinyin and line-by-line English. Five free episodes after a one-tap magic-link sign-in — no password, no payment.

More HSK 1