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HSK 4 Vocabulary

HSK 4 Vocabulary List (175 words)

Compiled from Fluentide podcast episodes. Updated May 2026.

The HSK 4 vocabulary list brings total active vocabulary to approximately 1,200 words. This is where opinion, abstraction, and discourse vocabulary kicks in — comparatives, attitudes, evaluations, the language of analysis. Each word includes pinyin, translation, and links to Fluentide intermediate episodes where it appears in context.

The method in practice

Learn HSK 4 vocabulary in real Mandarin context

Every HSK 4 word below is introduced in real Fluentide episodes calibrated to HSK 4 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 4 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 4 Word List

巴别塔Bābiétǎthe Tower of Babel
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板块bǎnkuàitectonic plate
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半透明bàn tòumíngtranslucent; semi-transparent
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保温杯bǎowēnbēithermos, insulated water bottle
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爆粗口bào cūkǒuto start cursing; to let loose profanity
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背靠背bèikàobèiback to back
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比较bǐjiàocomparatively / to compare
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边界biānjièboundary / borders
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辩护biànhùto defend, justify
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不同bùtóngdifferent
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不忠bùzhōngunfaithful, disloyal
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财阀cáifáchaebol (Korean conglomerate)
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采访cǎifǎngto interview / press interview
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肠脑轴cháng nǎo zhóugut-brain axis
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厂商chǎngshāngmanufacturer
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炒股chǎo gǔto trade stocks (active short-term trading)
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炒作chǎozuòto hype, speculation
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撤档chèdàngto pull (a film) from release
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撤销chèxiāoto revoke / cancel
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成绩chéngjìresult / record
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程序chéngxùprocedure
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存储cúnchǔstorage
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倒塌dǎotāto collapse (of buildings)
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地图dìtúmap
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敌人dírénenemy
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底线dǐxiànbottom line, baseline
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调查diàocháto investigate; investigation
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调整tiáozhěngto adjust; correction (market)
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定向注意dìngxiàng zhùyìdirected attention
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对手duìshǒurival / competitor
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多极化duōjíhuàmultipolarity
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多元duōyuándiverse, pluralistic
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发炎fāyánto become inflamed; inflammation
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罚款fákuǎnfine, monetary penalty
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翻车fānchēto crash/flop (slang)
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反思fǎnsīto reflect; self-reflection
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饭圈fànquānfan-circle, fandom community
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防腐剂fángfǔjìpreservative
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放松fàngsōngto relax
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非法fēifǎillegal / unlawful
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非营利fēi yínglìnon-profit
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分红fēnhóngto pay dividends; profit sharing
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粉笔科技Fěnbǐ KējìFenbi Technology (the company name)
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粉丝fěnsīfan (of a celebrity)
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服务器fúwùqìserver (computer)
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复杂fùzácomplicated, complex
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副总理fù-zǒnglǐdeputy prime minister
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改变gǎibiànchange; to change
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概念gàiniànconcept
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感觉gǎnjuéto feel / a feeling
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Showing 50 of 175 words