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HSK 1 word list

HSK 1 is the ground floor: greetings, numbers, family, time, and the verbs that hold a first conversation together. Every word here appears constantly in real Chinese — learn these and simple sentences start to parse themselves. The complete list — 300 words — follows, ordered by real-world frequency.

  1. 的deof; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute); (used to form a nominal expression); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); also pr. [dì] or [di] in poetry and songs
  2. 了le(completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)
  3. 我wǒI; me; my
  4. 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)
  5. 你nǐyou (informal, as opposed to courteous 您); you (Note: In Taiwan, 妳 is used to address females, but in mainland China, it is not commonly used. Instead, 你 is used to address both males and females.)
  6. 在zài(of sb or sth) to be (located) at; (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress); to exist; to be alive
  7. 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
  8. 有yǒuto have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 意 intentional)
  9. 他tāhe; him (used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant); (used before sb's name for emphasis); (used as a meaningless mock object); (literary) other
  10. 这zhè(pronoun) this; these; (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun); (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. [zhèi], esp. in Beijing)
  11. 个gè(classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier); (bound form) individual
  12. 人rénperson; people
  13. 和Hé(joining two nouns) and; together with; with (Taiwan pr. [hàn]); (math.) sum; to make peace; (sports) to draw; to tie; (bound form) harmonious; (bound form) Japan; Japanese; harmonious
  14. 我们wǒ menwe; us; ourselves; our
  15. 要yàoto want; to need; to ask for; need to; should; will; shall; about to; if (same as 是); (bound form) important
  16. 说shuōto speak; to talk; to say; to explain; to comment; to scold; to tell off; (bound form) theory; doctrine
  17. 好hǎogood; appropriate; proper; all right!; (before a verb) easy to; (before a verb) good to; (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so; (verb complement indicating completion); (of two people) close; on intimate terms; (after a personal pronoun) hello
  18. 一yīone; single; a (article); as soon as; entire; whole; all; throughout; "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1); also pr. [yāo] for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit
  19. 也Yě(adverb) also; both ... and ... (before predicates only); (literary) particle having functions similar to 啊
  20. 会huìcan; to have the skill; to know how to; to be likely to; to be sure to; to meet; to get together; meeting; gathering; (suffix) union; group; association; (bound form) a moment (Taiwan pr. [huǐ])
  21. 都dōuall; both; entirely; (used for emphasis) even; already; (not) at all
  22. 对duìright; 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
  23. 上shàng(bound form) up; upper; above; previous; first (of multiple parts); to climb; to get onto; to go up; to attend (class or university); (directional complement) up; (noun suffix) on; above
  24. 到dàoto 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
  25. 来láito come; (used as a substitute for a more specific verb); hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回来); ever since (as in 自古以来); for the past (amount of time); (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 来世); (between two verbs) in order to; (after a round number) approximately; (used after 得 to indicate possibility, as in 谈得来, or after 不 to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不来)
  26. 很hěnvery; quite; (adverb of degree); awfully
  27. 还háistill; still in progress; still more; yet; even more; in addition; fairly; passably (good); as early as; even; also; else
  28. 去qùto go; to go to (a place); (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth; (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker); (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation); (of a time etc) last; just passed; to send; to remove; to get rid of; to reduce; to be apart from in space or time; to die (euphemism); to play (a part)
  29. 她tāshe
  30. 想xiǎngto think (about); to think of; to think (that); to believe (that); to miss (feel wistful about the absence of); to desire; to want (to); to devise
  31. 没有méi yǒuto not have; haven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not be
  32. 给gěito give; to; for; for the benefit of; to allow; to do sth (for sb); (grammatical equivalent of 被); (grammatical equivalent of 把); (sentence intensifier)
  33. 能Néngcan; to be able to; might possibly; ability; (physics) energy
  34. 那nà(specifier) that; (pronoun) that (referring to persons, things or situations); those (colloquial pr. [nèi]); the; then (in that case)
  35. 他们tā menthey
  36. 看kànto see; to look at; to read; to watch; to visit; to call on; to consider; to regard as; to look after; to treat (a patient or illness); to depend on; to feel (that); (after a verb) to give it a try; to watch out for
  37. 做zuòto do; to make; to produce; to write; to compose; to engage in; to hold (a party etc); (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc); (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for; to assume (an air or manner)
  38. 什么shén mewhat?; something; anything
  39. 可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to; not bad; pretty good
  40. 吧ba(modal particle indicating suggestion or surmise); ...right?; ...OK?; ...I presume.
  41. 点diǎno'clock; point; dot; drop; speck; point (in space or time); to draw a dot; to check on a list; to choose; to order (food in a restaurant); to touch briefly; to hint; to light; to ignite; to pour a liquid drop by drop; (old) one fifth of a two-hour watch 更; dot stroke in Chinese characters; classifier for items
  42. 这个zhè gethis; this one
  43. 大dàbig; large; great; older (than another person); eldest (as in 姐); greatly; freely; fully; (dialect) father; (dialect) uncle (father's brother)
  44. 下xiàdown; downwards; below; lower; later; next (week etc); second (of two parts); to decline; to go down; to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc); measure word to show the frequency of an action
  45. 里Lǐinside; interior; internal; lining; also written 里; li, ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m; neighborhood; ancient administrative unit of 25 families; (Tw) borough, administrative unit between the township 镇 and neighborhood 邻 levels
  46. 真zhēnreal; true; genuine; really; truly; indeed
  47. 现在xiàn zàinow; at present; at the moment; nowadays; modern; current
  48. 年Niányear; grain; harvest (old)
  49. 多duōmany; much; too many; in excess; (after a numeral) ... odd; how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. [duó]); (bound form) multi-; poly-
  50. 两liǎngtwo; both; some; a few; tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (old)
  51. 吗ma(question particle for "yes-no" questions)
  52. 天tiānday; sky; heaven
  53. 太tàitoo (much); very; extremely; highest; greatest
  54. 再zàiagain; once more; re-; second; another; then (after sth, and not until then); no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也 or 都 for emphasis)
  55. 呢neparticle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word ("What about ...?", "And ...?"); particle for inquiring about location ("Where is ...?"); particle signaling a pause, to emphasize the preceding words and allow the listener time to take them on board ("ok?", "are you with me?"); (at the end of a declarative sentence) particle indicating continuation of a state or action; particle indicating strong affirmation
  56. 只zhīgrain that has begun to ripen; classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc
  57. 小xiǎosmall; tiny; few; young
  58. 知道zhī dàoto know; to become aware of; also pr. [zhī dao]
  59. 时候shí houtime; length of time; moment; period
  60. 问题wèn tíquestion; problem; issue; topic
  61. 工作gōng zuòjob; work; to work; (of a machine) to operate; task
  62. 事shìmatter; thing; item; work; affair
  63. 它tāit
  64. 后Hòuafterwards; after; later; back; behind; rear; empress; queen; (archaic) monarch; ruler; post-
  65. 家jiāhome; family; noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian; (polite) my (sister, uncle etc); classifier for families or businesses; refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China
  66. 你们nǐ menyou (plural)
  67. 前qiánago; before; front; forward; ahead; first; top (followed by a number); future; former; formerly; BC (e.g. 前293年)
  68. 时间shí jiāntime; period
  69. 怎么zěn mehow?; what?; why?
  70. 爱àito love; to be fond of; to like; affection; to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen)
  71. 这些zhè xiēthese
  72. 喜欢xǐ huanto like; to be fond of
  73. 吃chīto eat; to consume; to eat at (a cafeteria etc); to absorb; to eradicate; to destroy; to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc)
  74. 谁shéiwho; also pr. [shuí]
  75. 新Xīnnew; newly; meso- (chemistry)
  76. 找zhǎoto try to find; to look for; to find; to seek; to call on sb; to return; to give change
  77. 今天jīn tiāntoday; at the present; now
  78. 月yuèmoon; month; monthly
  79. 觉得jué deto think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc)
  80. 几jǐseveral; a few; how much; how many
  81. 见jiànto see; to meet; to appear (to be sth); to interview; opinion; view
  82. 车Chēvehicle; car; machine; to shape with a lathe; Kangxi radical 159
  83. 一些yī xiēsome; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er
  84. 大家dà jiāeveryone; influential family; great expert
  85. 听tīngto listen to; to hear; to heed; to obey; to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. [tìng]); a can (loanword from English "tin"); classifier for canned beverages; (literary) to administer; to deal with (Taiwan pr. [tìng])
  86. 非常fēi chángvery; really; unusual; extraordinary
  87. 开kāito open (transitive or intransitive); (of ships, vehicles, troops etc) to start; to turn on; to put in operation; to operate; to run; to boil; to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc); (directional complement) away; off; carat (gold); abbr. for Kelvin, 开尔文; abbr. for 开本, book format
  88. 叫jiàoto be called; to call; to shout; to order; to ask; by (indicates agent in the passive mood)
  89. 孩子hái zichild
  90. 这里zhè lǐhere
  91. 请qǐngplease (do sth); to ask; to invite; to treat (to a meal etc); to request
  92. 钱Qiáncoin; money; unit of weight, one tenth of a tael 两
  93. 公司gōng sīcompany; firm; corporation
  94. 不要bù yàodon't!; must not
  95. 本běnthis; the current; classifier for books, periodicals, files etc; original; inherent; originally; root; stem; origin; source
  96. 回Huíto go back; to return; to answer; to turn around; to circle; to revolve; time; classifier for acts of a play; section or chapter (of a classic book); to curve; Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims)
  97. 东西dōng xithing; stuff; person
  98. 三Sānthree; 3
  99. 买mǎito buy; to purchase
  100. 问wènto ask; to inquire
  101. 岁suìyears old; classifier for years (of age); year; year (of crop harvests)
  102. 号hàoday of a month; ordinal number; mark; sign; business establishment; size; ship suffix; horn (wind instrument); bugle call; assumed name; to take a pulse; classifier used to indicate number of people
  103. 住zhùto live; to dwell; to stay; to reside; to stop; (suffix indicating firmness, steadiness, or coming to a halt)
  104. 朋友péng youfriend
  105. 件jiànitem; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc
  106. 一下yī xià[used after a verb] give something a go
  107. 那些nà xiēthose
  108. 水Shuǐwater; liquid; river; beverage; additional charges or income; (of clothes) classifier for number of washes
  109. 写xiěto write
  110. 您nínyou (courteous, as opposed to informal 你)
  111. 电话diàn huàtelephone; phone call; phone number
  112. 女nǚfemale; woman; daughter
  113. 分fēnminute (unit of time); to divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate; to distinguish (good and bad); (bound form) branch of (an organization); sub- (as in 局); fraction; one tenth (of certain units); unit of length equivalent to 0.33 cm; minute (angular measurement unit); a point (in sports or games); 0.01 yuan (unit of money)
  114. 小时xiǎo shíhour
  115. 有些yǒu xiēsome; somewhat
  116. 那个nà gethat; that one
  117. 日rìsun; day; date, day of the month
  118. 玩wánto play; to have fun; toy; sth used for amusement; to keep sth for entertainment; to trifle with; curio or antique (Taiwan pr. [wàn]); Taiwan pr. [wàn]
  119. 正在zhèng zàijust at (that time); right in (that place); right in the middle of (doing sth)
  120. 喝hēto drink
  121. 学校xué xiàoschool
  122. 穿chuānto wear; to put on; to dress; to pass through; to penetrate; to perforate; to pierce; to bore through; to thread
  123. 坐Zuòto sit; to take a seat; to take (a bus, airplane etc); to bear fruit
  124. 早zǎoearly; morning; Good morning!; long ago; prematurely
  125. 们menplural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
  126. 认识rèn shito know; to recognize; to be familiar with; to get acquainted with sb; knowledge; understanding; awareness; cognition
  127. 睡shuìto sleep; to lie down
  128. 分钟fēn zhōngminute
  129. 明天míng tiāntomorrow
  130. 四sìfour; 4
  131. 块kuàiclassifier for pieces of cloth, cake, soap etc; (coll.) classifier for money and currency units; piece; chunk; lump
  132. 外wàioutside; foreign; external; in addition
  133. 晚上wǎn shangevening; night; in the evening
  134. 谢谢xiè xieto thank; thanks; thank you
  135. 学xuéto learn; to study; to imitate; science; -ology
  136. 多少duō shaohow much?; how many?; (phone number, student ID etc) what number?
  137. 妈妈mā mamama; mommy; mother
  138. 少shǎofew; less; to lack; to be missing; to stop (doing sth); seldom
  139. 电影diàn yǐngmovie; film
  140. 哪nǎhow; which
  141. 昨天zuó tiānyesterday
  142. 晚wǎnevening; night; late
  143. 书Shūbook; letter; document; to write
  144. 五wǔfive; 5
  145. 先生xiān shengmister (Mr.); sir; gentleman; teacher; husband; (dialect) doctor
  146. 男nánmale; Baron, lowest of five orders of nobility 位
  147. 卖màito sell; to betray; to spare no effort; to show off or flaunt
  148. 医院yī yuànhospital
  149. 些xiēclassifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several
  150. 狗gǒudog
  151. 口kǒumouth; classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc); classifier for bites or mouthfuls
  152. 学生xué shengstudent; schoolchild
  153. 二èrtwo; 2; (Beijing dialect) stupid
  154. 儿子ér zison
  155. 歌gēsong; to sing
  156. 半bànhalf; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a half
  157. 中国Zhōng guóChina
  158. 店diàn(bound form) shop; store; inn; old-style hotel
  159. 元Yuáncurrency unit (esp. Chinese yuan); first; original; primary; fundamental; constituent; part; era (of a reign); meta- (prefix); (math.) argument; variable; (Tw) (geology) eon
  160. 哪里nǎ lǐwhere?; somewhere; anywhere; wherever; nowhere (negative answer to question); humble expression denying compliment; also written 哪里
  161. 那里nà lithere; that place
  162. 电视diàn shìtelevision; TV
  163. 下午xià wǔafternoon; p.m.
  164. 学习xué xíto learn; to study
  165. 它们tā menthey (for inanimate objects)
  166. 老师lǎo shīteacher
  167. 六liùsix; 6
  168. 边biānside; edge; margin; border; boundary; simultaneously
  169. 唱chàngto sing; to call loudly; to chant
  170. 大学Dà xuéuniversity; college
  171. 医生yī shēngdoctor
  172. 病bìngillness; disease; to fall ill; defect
  173. 名字míng ziname (of a person or thing)
  174. 她们tā menthey; them (for females)
  175. 今年jīn niánthis year
  176. 手机shǒu jīcell phone; mobile phone
  177. 忙mángbusy; hurriedly; to hurry; to rush
  178. 十shíten; 10
  179. 看见kàn jiànto see; to catch sight of
  180. 女儿nǚ érdaughter
  181. 说话shuō huàto speak; to say; to talk; to gossip; to tell stories; talk; word
  182. 爸爸bà ba(coll.) father; dad
  183. 字zìcharacter; word; letter; symbol; courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China
  184. 漂亮piào liangpretty; beautiful
  185. 高兴gāo xìnghappy; glad; willing (to do sth); in a cheerful mood
  186. 去年qù niánlast year
  187. 热rèhot (of weather); heat; to warm up; to heat up; fervent
  188. 睡觉shuì jiàoto go to bed; to sleep
  189. 电脑diàn nǎocomputer
  190. 第dì(prefix indicating ordinal number, as in 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
  191. 读dúto read; to read out; to read aloud; to pronounce; to attend (school); to study (a subject in school)
  192. 冷Lěngcold
  193. 飞机fēi jīairplane
  194. 早上zǎo shangearly morning
  195. 猫māocat; (dialect) to hide oneself; (coll.) modem
  196. 打电话dǎ diàn huàto make a telephone call
  197. 休息xiū xirest; to rest
  198. 有的yǒu de(there are) some (who are...); some (exist)
  199. 喂wèihey; to feed (an animal, baby, invalid etc); to feed
  200. 房间fáng jiānroom
  201. 八bāeight; 8
  202. 怎么样zěn me yànghow?; how about?; how was it?; how are things?
  203. 七qīseven; 7
  204. 菜càidish (type of food); vegetable; cuisine; (coll.) (one's) type; (of one's skills etc) weak; poor
  205. 衣服yī fuclothes
  206. 上班shàng bānto go to work; to start work; to be on duty; to go to the office
  207. 姐姐jiě jieolder sister
  208. 课kèclass; lesson; course; subject; to levy; tax; form of divination
  209. 国Guócountry; nation; state; (bound form) national
  210. 饭fàncooked rice; meal; (loanword) fan; devotee
  211. 一半yī bànhalf
  212. 家人jiā rénfamily member; (old) servant
  213. 对不起duì bu qǐI'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint
  214. 哥哥gē geolder brother
  215. 天气tiān qìweather
  216. 千qiānthousand; see 秋千
  217. 同学tóng xuéto study at the same school; fellow student; classmate
  218. 好看hǎo kàngood-looking; nice-looking; good (of a movie, book, TV show etc); embarrassed; humiliated
  219. 茶chátea; tea plant
  220. 雨yǔrain
  221. 星期xīng qīweek; day of the week; Sunday
  222. 雪Xuěsnow; (literary) to wipe away (a humiliation etc)
  223. 九jiǔnine; 9
  224. 妹妹mèi meiyounger sister; young woman
  225. 女士nǚ shìlady; madam; Miss; Ms
  226. 上午shàng wǔmorning
  227. 贵Guìexpensive; precious; noble; (honorific) your
  228. 哪个nǎ gewhich; which one
  229. 那边nà bianover there; yonder
  230. 弟弟dì diyounger brother
  231. 百Bǎihundred; numerous; all kinds of
  232. 好吃hǎo chītasty; delicious
  233. 再见zài jiàngoodbye; see you again later
  234. 明年míng niánnext year
  235. 这儿zhè rhere
  236. 哪儿nǎ rwhere?; wherever; anywhere; somewhere; (used in rhetorical questions) how can ...?; how could ...?
  237. 苹果Píng guǒapple
  238. 中午zhōng wǔnoon; midday
  239. 起床qǐ chuángto get out of bed; to get up
  240. 开车kāi chēto drive a car
  241. 出租车chū zū chētaxi; (Tw) rental car
  242. 这边zhè biānthis side; here
  243. 火车huǒ chētrain
  244. 便宜pián yicheap; inexpensive; small advantages; to let sb off lightly
  245. 上学shàng xuéto go to school; to attend school
  246. 牛奶niú nǎicow's milk
  247. 女朋友nǚ péng yougirlfriend
  248. 上课shàng kèto go to class; to attend class; to go to teach a class
  249. 听见tīng jiànto hear
  250. 男朋友nán péng youboyfriend
  251. 下班xià bānto finish work; to get off work
  252. 水果shuǐ guǒfruit
  253. 读书dú shūto read a book; to study; to attend school
  254. 没事méi shìit's nothing; it doesn't matter; no problem
  255. 那儿nà rthere
  256. 你好nǐ hǎohello; hi
  257. 商店shāng diànstore; shop
  258. 鸡蛋jī dàn(chicken) egg; hen's egg
  259. 没关系méi guān xiit doesn't matter
  260. 零língzero; nought; zero sign; fractional; fragmentary; odd (of numbers); (placed between two numbers to indicate a smaller quantity followed by a larger one); fraction; (in mathematics) remainder (after division); extra; to wither and fall; to wither
  261. 桌子zhuō zitable; desk
  262. 白天bái tiāndaytime; during the day; day
  263. 请问qǐng wènExcuse me, may I ask...?
  264. 哪些nǎ xiēwhich ones?; who?; what?
  265. 晚饭wǎn fànevening meal; dinner; supper
  266. 小学xiǎo xuéelementary school; primary school
  267. 饭店fàn diànrestaurant; hotel
  268. 中学zhōng xuémiddle school
  269. 面包miàn bāobread
  270. 生病shēng bìngto fall ill
  271. 好听hǎo tīngpleasant to hear
  272. 大学生dà xué shēnguniversity student; college student
  273. 超市chāo shìsupermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)
  274. 椅子yǐ zichair
  275. 小朋友xiǎo péng yǒuchild
  276. 午饭wǔ fànlunch
  277. 做饭zuò fànto prepare a meal; to cook
  278. 下雨xià yǔto rain
  279. 杯子bēi zicup; glass
  280. 中文Zhōng wénChinese language
  281. 早饭zǎo fànbreakfast
  282. 一点儿yī diǎn ra bit; a little bit; (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit; (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more
  283. 书店shū diànbookstore
  284. 星期天Xīng qī tiānSunday
  285. 看病kàn bìngto visit a doctor; to see a patient
  286. 电影院diàn yǐng yuàncinema; movie theater
  287. 下课xià kèto finish class; to get out of class; (fig.) (esp. of a sports coach) to be dismissed; to be fired
  288. 米饭mǐ fàn(cooked) rice
  289. 有点儿yǒu diǎn rslightly; a little; somewhat
  290. 饺子jiǎo zidumpling; pot-sticker
  291. 面条儿miàn tiáo rnoodles
  292. 小学生xiǎo xué shēngprimary school student; schoolchild; (fig.) beginner
  293. 外边wài bianoutside; outer surface; place other than one's home; abroad
  294. 中学生zhōng xué shēngmiddle-school student; high school student
  295. 星期日Xīng qī rìSunday
  296. 汉语Hàn yǔChinese language
  297. 包子bāo zibao (steamed stuffed bun)
  298. 不客气bù kè qiyou're welcome; don't mention it; impolite; rude; blunt
  299. 汉字hàn zìChinese character; Japanese: kanji; Korean: hanja; Vietnamese: hán tự
  300. 好玩儿hǎo wán ramusing; fun; interesting

Don't study this list top to bottom — let the scheduler feed you HSK 1 words at the pace you can keep, each one in a sentence you can already read.

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Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0, modified). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Frequency ranks from the BCC corpus. Full credits on the Attributions page.