HSK 1 is the lowest level in the HSK system and serves as a foundational stepping stone in your Chinese learning journey. At each level of the HSK, you’re expected to master a different set of vocabulary. For beginners, the HSK 1 vocabulary is generally quite basic, easy to learn, and practical for daily use. In this article, Ni Hao Ma will guide you through the essential vocabulary you need to know at the HSK 1 level.
Vocabulary at Different HSK Levels
HSK is the standard Chinese proficiency test for non-native speakers, structured into various levels ranging from beginner to advanced. Each HSK level corresponds to a specific number of vocabulary words—from simple everyday terms to more complex academic expressions.
HSK Level
New Words to Learn
Cumulative Vocabulary
HSK 1
150
150
HSK 2
150
300
HSK 3
300
600
HSK 4
600
1200
HSK 5
1300
2500
HSK 6
2500+
5000+
The new 9-level HSK system (implemented in 2021, with advanced levels starting from March 2022) introduced significant changes in vocabulary requirements compared to the old 6-level structure. The primary goal of this update is to more accurately reflect learners’ actual Chinese proficiency and to meet practical, academic, and professional communication needs.
New HSK Level
Cumulative Vocabulary
HSK 1
500
HSK 2
772
HSK 3
973
HSK 4
2245
HSK 5
3245
HSK 6
4316
HSK 7
5456
HSK 8
6683
HSK 9
>11092
While the old HSK 6 required only about 5,000 words for the highest level, the new 9-level HSK system demands mastery of over 11,000 words at the most advanced levels (HSK 7–9). These changes reflect a higher standard of Chinese language proficiency, especially for advanced learners preparing for academic or professional environments.
HSK 1 Vocabulary List
Just starting out with Chinese and not sure where to begin with vocabulary? HSK 1 is your first official step. In the old 6-level HSK system, HSK 1 vocabulary included only 150 words. However, under the new 9-level structure, it now covers up to 500 words. In the following section, Ni Hao Ma will introduce all 500 HSK 1 vocabulary words according to the new system to help you study more effectively and confidently.
No
Chinese
Pinyin
English
1
爱
ài
love
2
爱好
ài hào
hobby
3
八
bā
eight
4
爸爸｜爸
bàba ｜ bà
dad
5
吧
ba
(modal particle for suggestion, soft tone)
6
白（形）
bái
white
7
白天
bái tiān
daytime
8
百
bǎi
hundred
9
班
bān
class
10
半
bàn
half
11
半年
bàn nián
half a year
12
半天
bàn tiān
half a day
13
帮
bāng
to help
14
帮忙
bāng máng
to help (with something)
15
包
bāo
bag; package
16
包子
bāo zi
steamed bun
17
杯
bēi
(measure word for cup or glass)
18
杯子
bēi zi
cup; glass
19
北
běi
north
20
北边
běi biān
north side
21
北京
běi jīng
Beijing
22
本（量）
běn
(measure word for books)
23
本子
běn zi
notebook
24
比
bǐ
used for comparison
25
别（副）
bié
don’t
26
别的
bié de
other
27
别人
bié rén
other people
28
病
bìng
illness; disease
29
病人
bìng rén
patient
30
不大
bú dà
not big
31
不对
bú duì
wrong; incorrect
32
不客气
bú kè qì
you’re welcome
33
不用
bú yòng
no need
34
不
bù
no; not
35
菜
cài
dish; vegetable
36
茶
chá
tea
37
差
chà
poor; short of; lack
38
常
cháng
often
39
常常
cháng cháng
often
40
唱
chàng
to sing
41
唱歌
chàng gē
to sing
42
车
chē
car; vehicle
43
车票
chē piào
(bus/train) ticket
44
车上
chē shàng
in the car
45
车站
chē zhàn
station
46
吃
chī
to eat
47
吃饭
chī fàn
to have a meal
48
出
chū
out
49
出来
chū lái
come out
50
出去
chū qù
go out
51
穿
chuān
to wear
52
床
chuáng
bed
53
次（量）
cì
(measure word for frequency)
54
从
cóng
from
55
错
cuò
wrong; mistake
56
打（动）
dǎ
to hit; to make (a call)
57
打车
dǎ chē
to take a taxi
58
打电话
dǎ diàn huà
to make a phone call
59
打开
dǎ kāi
to open; turn on
60
打球
dǎ qiú
to play ball
61
大
dà
big; large
62
大学
dà xué
university
63
大学生
dà xué shēng
university student
64
到
dào
to arrive
65
得到
dé dào
to obtain; to get
66
地
de
particle for adverbial
67
的
de
possessive or descriptive particle
68
等（动）
děng
to wait
69
地
dì
ground; earth
70
地点
dìdiǎn
location
71
地方
dìfang
place; area
72
地上
dì shàng
on the ground
73
地图
dìtú
map
74
弟弟｜弟
dì di ｜ dì
younger brother
75
第（第二）
dì (dì èr)
ordinal number prefix (e.g., second)
76
点
diǎn
dot; o’clock
77
电
diàn
electricity
78
电话
diàn huà
telephone
79
电脑
diànnǎo
computer
80
电视
diànshì
TV
81
电视机
diàn shì jī
television set
82
电影
diànyǐng
movie
83
电影院
diàn yǐng yuàn
cinema
84
东
dōng
east
85
东边
dōng biān
east side
86
东西
dōngxi
thing
87
动
dòng
move
88
动作
dòngzuò
movement; action
89
都
dōu
all; both
90
读
dú
to read
91
读书
dú shū
to read books; study
92
对（形）
duì
correct
93
对不起
duìbuqǐ
sorry
94
多（形、代）
duō
many; much
95
多少
duōshao
how much; how many
96
饿
è
hungry
97
儿子
érzi
son
98
二
èr
two
99
饭
fàn
meal; rice
100
饭店
fàndiàn
restaurant; hotel
No
Chinese
Pinyin
English
101
房间
fángjiān
room
102
房子
fáng zi
house
103
放
fàng
to release; to let go
104
放假
fàng jià
to have a holiday; holiday
105
放学
fàng xué
school is over
106
飞
fēi
to fly
107
飞机
fēijī
airplane
108
非常
fēicháng
extremely; very
109
分
fēn
minute; point; part (also a classifier)
110
风
fēng
wind
111
干（形）
gān
dry
112
干净
gānjìng
clean
113
干（动）
gàn
to do
114
干什么
gàn shén me
what to do
115
高
gāo
tall; high
116
高兴
gāoxìng
happy; glad
117
告诉
gàosu
to tell
118
哥哥｜哥
gē ge ｜ gē
older brother
119
歌
gē
song
120
个
gè
(general measure word)
121
给
gěi
to give
122
跟
gēn
with; follow
123
工人
gōngrén
worker
124
工作
gōngzuò
work; job
125
关（动）
guān
to close; to shut; to turn off
126
关上
guān shàng
to close; to shut off
127
贵
guì
expensive; noble
128
国
guó
country; nation
129
国家
guójiā
country; nation
130
国外
guó wài
abroad; overseas
131
过
guò
to pass; to go through
132
还（副）
hái
still; also
133
还是
háishi
still; or (in questions)
134
还有
hái yǒu
also; in addition
135
孩子
háizi
child; children
136
汉语
hànyǔ
Chinese (language)
137
汉字
hàn zì
Chinese character
138
好（形）
hǎo
good
139
好吃
hǎochī
delicious
140
好看
hǎo kàn
good-looking; nice to watch
141
好听
hǎo tīng
pleasant to hear
142
好玩儿
hǎo wánr
fun; amusing
143
号
hào
number; date
144
喝
hē
to drink
145
和
hé
and
146
很
hěn
very
147
后
hòu
after; behind; later
148
后边
hòu biān
at the back; behind
149
后天
hòu tiān
the day after tomorrow
150
花（名）
huā
flower
151
话
huà
word; speech
152
坏
huài
bad
153
还（动）
huán
to return; to give back
154
回（动）
huí
to return; to go back
155
回答
huídá
to answer
156
回到
huí dào
to return to
157
回家
huí jiā
to go home
158
回来
huí lái
to come back
159
回去
huí qù
to go back
160
会（动）
huì
can; know how to; will
161
火车
huǒ chē
train
162
机场
jīchǎng
airport
163
机票
jī piào
plane ticket
164
鸡蛋
jīdàn
egg
165
几
jǐ
how many; several
166
记
jì
to remember
167
记得
jìdé
to remember
168
记住
jì zhù
to remember; to keep in mind
169
家
jiā
home; family
170
家里
jiā lǐ
at home
171
家人
jiā rén
family members
172
间
jiān
room; (measure word for rooms)
173
见
jiàn
to see
174
见面
jiànmiàn
to meet
175
教
jiāo
to teach
176
叫（动）
jiào
to be called; to call
177
教学楼
jiào xué lóu
classroom building
178
姐姐｜姐
jiě jie ｜ jiě
older sister
179
介绍
jièshào
to introduce
180
今年
jīn nián
this year
181
今天
jīntiān
today
182
进
jìn
to enter
183
进来
jìn lái
to come in
184
进去
jìn qù
to go in
185
九
jiǔ
nine
186
就
jiù
then; right away; just
187
觉得
juéde
to think; to feel
188
开
kāi
to open
189
开车
kāi chē
to drive
190
开会
kāi huì
to hold a meeting
191
开玩笑
kāiwánxiào
to joke; to make fun of
192
看
kàn
to look; to watch
193
看病
kàn bìng
to see a doctor
194
看到
kàn dào
to see
195
看见
kànjiàn
to see; to catch sight of
196
考
kǎo
to take a test; to examine
197
考试
kǎoshì
exam; test
198
渴
kě
thirsty
199
课
kè
class; lesson
200
课本
kè běn
textbook
No
Chinese
Pinyin
English
201
课文
kè wén
text (lesson text)
202
口
kǒu
mouth
203
块
kuài
piece; chunk; measure word for money
204
快
kuài
fast; quick
205
来
lái
to come
206
来到
lái dào
to arrive
207
老（形）
lǎo
old (in age)
208
老人
lǎo rén
old person; the elderly
209
老师
lǎoshī
teacher
210
了
le
(completed action marker)
211
累
lèi
tired
212
冷
lěng
cold
213
里
lǐ
inside; in
214
里边
lǐ biān
inside
215
两（数）
liǎng
two (used before measure words)
216
零｜〇
líng ｜ líng
zero
217
六
liù
six
218
楼
lóu
building; floor
219
楼上
lóu shàng
upstairs
220
楼下
lóu xià
downstairs
221
路
lù
road; path
222
路口
lù kǒu
intersection; crossing
223
路上
lù shàng
on the road; on the way
224
妈妈｜妈
mā ma ｜ mā
mom; mother
225
马路
mǎ lù
street; road
226
马上
mǎshàng
immediately; right away
227
吗
ma
(question particle)
228
买
mǎi
to buy
229
慢
màn
slow
230
忙
máng
busy
231
毛（量）
máo
1/10 of a yuan (Chinese currency)
232
没
méi
not; no
233
没关系
méiguānxi
it doesn’t matter; no problem
234
没什么
méi shén me
it’s nothing; never mind
235
没事儿
méi shìr
it’s okay; no problem
236
没有
méi yǒu
to not have; there is not
237
妹妹｜妹
mèi mei ｜ mèi
younger sister
238
门
mén
door
239
门口
mén kǒu
doorway; entrance
240
门票
mén piào
admission ticket
241
们（朋友们）
men （péng yǒu men）
plural marker for people (e.g. friends)
242
米饭
mǐfàn
steamed rice
243
面包
miànbāo
bread
244
面条儿
miàn tiáor
noodles
245
名字
míngzi
name
246
明白
míngbai
to understand; clear
247
明年
míng nián
next year
248
明天
míngtiān
tomorrow
249
拿
ná
to take; to hold
250
哪
nǎ
which
251
哪里
nǎ lǐ
where
252
哪儿
nǎr
where (colloquial)
253
哪些
nǎ xiē
which ones
254
那（代）
nà
that
255
那边
nà biān
over there; that side
256
那里
nà lǐ
there
257
那儿
nàr
there (colloquial)
258
那些
nà xiē
those
259
奶
nǎi
milk
260
奶奶
nǎinai
grandmother (father’s side)
261
男
nán
male; man
262
男孩儿
nán háir
boy
263
男朋友
nán péng yǒu
boyfriend
264
男人
nán ren
man
265
男生
nán shēng
boy; male student
266
南
nán
south
267
南边
nán biān
south side
268
难
nán
difficult
269
呢
ne
(question particle; continuation)
270
能
néng
can; be able to
271
你
nǐ
you
272
你们
nǐ men
you (plural)
273
年
nián
year
274
您
nín
you (polite form)
275
牛奶
niúnǎi
milk
276
女
nǚ
female; woman
277
女儿
nǚ’ér
daughter
278
女孩儿
nǚ háir
girl
279
女朋友
nǚ péng yǒu
girlfriend
280
女人
nǚ ren
woman
281
女生
nǚ shēng
girl; female student
282
旁边
pángbiān
beside; next to
283
跑
pǎo
to run
284
朋友
péngyou
friend
285
票
piào
ticket
286
七
qī
seven
287
起
qǐ
to get up; to rise; to start
288
起床
qǐchuáng
to get out of bed
289
起来
qǐlái
to get up; to rise
290
汽车
qì chē
car; automobile
291
前
qián
front; ahead
292
前边
qián biān
in front
293
前天
qián tiān
the day before yesterday
294
钱
qián
money
295
钱包
qián bāo
wallet
296
请
qǐng
please; to invite
297
请假
qǐngjià
to ask for leave
298
请进
qǐng jìn
please come in
299
请问
qǐng wèn
excuse me; may I ask
300
请坐
qǐng zuò
please sit down
No
Chinese
Pinyin
English
301
球
qiú
ball
302
去
qù
to go
303
去年
qùnián
last year
304
热
rè
hot
305
人
rén
person; people
306
认识
rènshi
to know; to recognize
307
认真
rènzhēn
serious; earnest
308
日
rì
day; date
309
日期
rìqī
date (calendar)
310
肉
ròu
meat
311
三
sān
three
312
山
shān
mountain
313
商场
shāng chǎng
shopping mall
314
商店
shāngdiàn
store; shop
315
上
shàng
up; above; on
316
上班
shàngbān
to go to work
317
上边
shàng biān
above; on top
318
上车
shàng chē
to get on (a vehicle)
319
上次
shàng cì
last time
320
上课
shàng kè
to attend class
321
上网
shàngwǎng
to surf the internet
322
上午
shàngwǔ
morning
323
上学
shàng xué
to go to school
324
少
shǎo
few; less
325
谁
shéi
who
326
身上
shēn shàng
on the body
327
身体
shēntǐ
body; health
328
什么
shénme
what
329
生病
shēngbìng
to get sick
330
生气
shēngqì
to get angry
331
生日
shēngrì
birthday
332
十
shí
ten
333
时候
shíhou
(a point in) time; moment
334
时间
shíjiān
time
335
事
shì
matter; affair; thing
336
试
shì
to try; to test
337
是
shì
to be
338
是不是
shì bú shì
is it or not?
339
手
shǒu
hand
340
手机
shǒujī
mobile phone
341
书
shū
book
342
书包
shū bāo
schoolbag
343
书店
shū diàn
bookstore
344
树
shù
tree
345
水
shuǐ
water
346
水果
shuǐguǒ
fruit
347
睡
shuì
to sleep
348
睡觉
shuìjiào
to sleep
349
说
shuō
to speak; to say
350
说话
shuōhuà
to talk
351
四
sì
four
352
送
sòng
to give (as a gift); to send
353
岁
suì
year (of age)
354
他
tā
he; him
355
他们
tā men
they (male or mixed group)
356
她
tā
she; her
357
她们
tā men
they (female only)
358
太
tài
too; excessively
359
天
tiān
day; sky
360
天气
tiānqì
weather
361
听
tīng
to listen; to hear
362
听到
tīng dào
to hear
363
听见
tīng jiàn
to hear (perceive by ear)
364
听写
tīng xiě
dictation
365
同学
tóngxué
classmate
366
图书馆
túshūguǎn
library
367
外
wài
outside; foreign
368
外边
wài biān
outside
369
外国
wài guó
foreign country
370
外语
wài yǔ
foreign language
371
玩儿
wánr
to play
372
晚
wǎn
late
373
晚饭
wǎn fàn
dinner
374
晚上
wǎnshang
evening; night
375
网上
wǎng shàng
online
376
网友
wǎng yǒu
online friend
377
忘
wàng
to forget
378
忘记
wàngjì
to forget
379
问
wèn
to ask
380
我
wǒ
I; me
381
我们
wǒmen
we; us
382
五
wǔ
five
383
午饭
wǔ fàn
lunch
384
西
xī
west
385
西边
xī biān
west side
386
洗
xǐ
to wash
387
洗手间
xǐshǒujiān
restroom; toilet
388
喜欢
xǐhuan
to like
389
下（名、动）
xià
down; below; to go down; next
390
下班
xià bān
to get off work
391
下边
xià biān
below; under
392
下车
xià chē
to get off (a vehicle)
393
下次
xià cì
next time
394
下课
xià kè
class is over; finish class
395
下午
xiàwǔ
afternoon
396
下雨
xiàyǔ
to rain
397
先
xiān
first; before
398
先生
xiānsheng
Mr.; sir
399
现在
xiànzài
now; at present
400
想
xiǎng
to think; to want; to miss
No
Chinese
Pinyin
English
401
小
xiǎo
small
402
小孩儿
xiǎo háir
child; kid
403
小姐
xiǎojiě
Miss
404
小朋友
xiǎo péng yǒu
child; little friend
405
小时
xiǎoshí
hour
406
小学
xiǎo xué
primary school; elementary school
407
小学生
xiǎo xué shēng
elementary school student
408
笑
xiào
to laugh; to smile
409
写
xiě
to write
410
谢谢
xièxie
thank you
411
新
xīn
new
412
新年
xīn nián
New Year
413
星期
xīngqī
week
414
星期日
xīngqī rì
Sunday
415
星期天
xīngqī tiān
Sunday
416
行
xíng
OK; all right
417
休息
xiūxi
to rest
418
学
xué
to learn; to study
419
学生
xuésheng
student
420
学习
xuéxí
to study
421
学校
xuéxiào
school
422
学院
xué yuàn
college; academy
423
要（动）
yào
to want
424
爷爷
yéye
grandfather (paternal)
425
也
yě
also
426
页
yè
page
427
一
yī
one
428
衣服
yīfu
clothes
429
医生
yīshēng
doctor
430
医院
yīyuàn
hospital
431
一半
yí bàn
half
432
一会儿
yíhuìr
in a little while
433
一块儿
yí kuàir
together
434
一下儿
yí xiàr
a bit; for a moment
435
一样
yíyàng
the same; alike
436
一边
yìbiān
one side; while
437
一点儿
yīdiǎnr
a little; a bit
438
一起
yìqǐ
together
439
一些
yì xiē
some; a few
440
用
yòng
to use
441
有
yǒu
to have; there is/are
442
有的
yǒu de
some (of them)
443
有名
yǒumíng
famous
444
有时候 / 有时
yǒu shíhou / yǒu shí
sometimes
445
有（一）些
yǒu (yì) xiē
some
446
有用
yǒu yòng
useful
447
右
yòu
right (direction)
448
右边
yòubian
right side
449
雨
yǔ
rain
450
元
yuán
yuan (currency unit); element
451
远
yuǎn
far
452
月
yuè
month
453
再
zài
again
454
再见
zàijiàn
goodbye
455
在
zài
at; in; on; to be (somewhere)
456
在家
zài jiā
at home
457
早
zǎo
early
458
早饭
zǎo fàn
breakfast
459
早上
zǎoshang
morning
460
怎么
zěnme
how
461
站（名）
zhàn
station; stop
462
找
zhǎo
to look for
463
找到
zhǎo dào
to find
464
这
zhè
this
465
这边
zhè biān
this side; here
466
这里
zhè lǐ
here
467
这儿
zhèr
here (spoken)
468
这些
zhè xiē
these
469
着
zhe
(particle indicating ongoing action)
470
真
zhēn
really; truly
471
真的
zhēn de
really; truly
472
正（副）
zhèng
just; exactly
473
正在
zhèngzài
in the middle of (doing something)
474
知道
zhīdào
to know
475
知识
zhīshi
knowledge
476
中
zhōng
middle; in
477
中国
zhōngguó
China
478
中间
zhōngjiān
middle; between
479
中文
zhōngwén
Chinese (language)
480
中午
zhōngwǔ
noon
481
中学
zhōng xué
middle school
482
中学生
zhōng xué shēng
middle school student
483
重
zhòng
heavy
484
重要
zhòngyào
important
485
住
zhù
to live; to stay
486
准备
zhǔnbèi
to prepare
487
桌子
zhuōzi
table
488
字
zì
character; word
489
子（桌子）
zi (zhuōzi)
noun suffix (e.g., in “table”)
490
走
zǒu
to walk; to leave
491
走路
zǒu lù
to walk
492
最
zuì
most
493
最好
zuìhǎo
best
494
最后
zuìhòu
last; finally
495
昨天
zuótiān
yesterday
496
左
zuǒ
left (direction)
497
左边
zuǒbian
left side
498
坐
zuò
to sit
499
坐下
zuò xià
to sit down
500
做
zuò
to do; to make
Conclusion
Above is a compilation of 500 HSK 1 vocabulary words according to the new HSK system to help beginners memorize vocabulary more effectively. Mastering these words will help you speak basic conversational sentences in Chinese. We hope Ni Hao Ma has provided you with useful information, and don’t forget to save this article for vocabulary study whenever you need it!
