HSK 2 word list

HSK 2 stays inside everyday life — shopping, directions, weather, plans — but starts pairing words into patterns. Most of these words are among the few thousand most frequent in the language, so nothing here is wasted effort. The complete list — 197 words — follows, ordered by real-world frequency.

1. 就jiùthen; (after a suppositional clause) in that case; (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after; (same as 是) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly; only; as little as; as much as; as many as; to approach; to move towards; to undertake; to engage in; (often followed by 着) taking advantage of; (of food) to go with; with regard to; concerning; (pattern: 就 ... 也 ...) even if ... still ...; (pattern: 不 ... 就 ...) if not ... then must be ...
2. 着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state
3. 啊amodal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation, approval, or consent
4. 让ràngto let sb do sth; to have sb do sth; to make sb (feel sad etc); to permit; to yield; by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被)
5. 但dànbut; yet; however; still; merely; only; just
6. 自己zì jǐoneself; one's own
7. 得destructural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
8. 过guòto cross; to go over; to pass (time); to celebrate (a holiday); to live; to get along; excessively; too-
9. 从Cóngfrom; through; via; to follow; to obey; to engage in (an activity); never (in negative sentence); (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) retainer; assistant; auxiliary; subordinate; related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor
10. 等děngto wait for; to await; et cetera; and so on; et al. (and other authors); class; rank; grade; equal to; same as; after; as soon as; once
11. 出chūto go out; to come out; (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result); to occur; to happen; to produce; to go beyond; to rise; to put forth; classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc
12. 已经yǐ jīngalready
13. 这样zhè yàngthis way; like this; this kind of; so; such
14. 最zuìmost; the most; -est (superlative suffix)
15. 因为yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of
16. 次cìnext in sequence; second; the second (day, time etc); secondary; vice-; sub-; infra-; inferior quality; substandard; order; sequence; hypo- (chemistry); classifier for enumerated events: time
17. 走zǒuto walk; to go; to run; to move (of vehicle); to visit; to leave; to go away; to die (euph.); from; through; away (in compound verbs, such as 走); to change (shape, form, meaning)
18. 但是dàn shìbut; however
19. 时Shítime; o'clock; when; hour; season; period
20. 可能kě néngpossible; might (happen); maybe; perhaps; probable; possibility; probability
21. 地de-ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
22. 开始kāi shǐto begin; to start; beginning; initial
23. 跟gēnwith; compared with; to; towards; and (joining two nouns); to follow closely; to go with; (of a woman) to marry sb; heel
24. 快kuàirapid; quick; soon; to make haste; speed; rate; almost; clever; sharp (of knives or wits); forthright; plainspoken; gratified; pleased; pleasant
25. 打dǎto beat; to strike; to hit; to play (a game); to type; to mix up; to build; to fight; to fetch; to make; to tie up; to issue; to shoot; to calculate; since; from; to break
26. 比Bǐ(followed by a noun and adjective) more {adj.} than {noun}; to compare; ratio; to gesture; (Taiwan pr. [bì] in some compounds derived from Classical Chinese)
27. 所以suǒ yǐtherefore; as a result; so; the reason why
28. 还是hái shistill (as before); had better; unexpectedly; or
29. 那么nà melike that; in that way; so; so very much; or so; about; in that case
30. 这么zhè meso much; this much; this way; like this; how much?
31. 一起yī qǐin the same place; together; with; altogether (in total)
32. 起来qǐ laito stand up; to get up; also pr. [qǐ lái]
33. 位wèiseat; position; location; place; classifier for people (honorific); classifier for binary bits (e.g. 十六位 16-bit or 2 bytes); (physics) potential
34. 希望xī wàngto hope; a hope; a wish
35. 手shǒuhand; person engaged in certain types of work; person skilled in certain types of work; personal(ly); convenient; classifier for skill; (formal) to hold
36. 别Biédon't ...!; (bound form) other; another; different; to leave; to part (from); (literary) to differentiate; to distinguish; to fasten with a pin or clip; to stick in; to insert (in order to hinder movement); (noun suffix) category (e.g. 性别, 派别)
37. 名míngname; famous; classifier for people; noun (part of speech); place (e.g. among winners)
38. 长chánglong; length; forever; always; constantly
39. 告诉gào suto tell; to inform; to let know
40. 出来chū láito come out; to appear; to arise
41. 事情shì qingaffair; matter; thing; business
42. 条tiáoclassifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc); strip; item; article; clause (of law or treaty)
43. 拿náto take; to hold; to seize; to catch; to apprehend; (used in the same way as 把: to mark the following noun as a direct object)
44. 高Gāohigh; tall; above average; loud; your (honorific)
45. 正zhèngexactly; just (at that time); right (in that place); straight; upright; proper; main; principal; to correct; to rectify; (math.) positive
46. 为什么wèi shén mewhy?; for what reason?
47. 头tóuhead; the top; end; beginning or end; hair style; a stub; remnant; chief; boss; side; aspect; first; leading; classifier for pigs or livestock
48. 准备zhǔn bèito prepare; preparation; to intend; to be about to; reserve (fund)
49. 进jìnto go in; to enter; to go forward; to advance; to put in; to submit; to take in; to admit; (math.) base of a number system; classifier for sections in a building or residential compound
50. 每měieach; every
51. 周Zhōuweek; to make a circuit; to circle; circle; circumference; lap; cycle; complete; all; all over; thorough; to help financially; weekly
52. 过去guò qùto go over; to pass by; (in the) past; former; previous
53. 送sòngto send; to deliver; to see (sb) off; to accompany; to give (as a present); to transmit; to go along with
54. 笑xiàoto laugh; to smile; to laugh at
55. 不错bù cuònot bad; pretty good; correct; right
56. 完wánto finish; to be over; whole; complete; entire
57. 帮bāngto help; to assist; to support; for sb (i.e. as a help); group; gang; clique; party; secret society; hired (as worker); side (of pail, boat etc); outer layer; upper (of a shoe)
58. 站zhànto stand; station; to halt; to stop; branch of a company or organization; website
59. 路Lùroad; journey; route; line (bus etc); sort; kind
60. 门Méngate; door; gateway; doorway; opening; valve; switch; way to do something; knack; family; house; (religious) sect; school (of thought); class; category; phylum or division (taxonomy); classifier for large guns; classifier for lessons, subjects, branches of technology; (suffix) -gate (i.e. scandal; derived from Watergate)
61. 花Huāflower; blossom; to spend (money, time); fancy pattern; florid; (coll.) lecherous; lustful; also pr. [wěi]
62. 虽然suī ránalthough; even though (often used correlatively with 是 or 是 etc)
63. 回来huí laito return; to come back
64. 球qiúball; ball game; match; sphere; globe
65. 错Cuòmistake; wrong; bad; interlocking; complex; to grind; to polish; to alternate; to stagger; to miss; to let slip; to evade; to inlay with gold or silver
66. 间jiānroom; classifier for rooms; between; among; within a definite time or space; section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars
67. 跑pǎoto run; to run away; to escape; to run around (on errands etc); (of a gas or liquid) to leak or evaporate; (verb complement) away; off
68. 万Wànten thousand; a great number
69. 动dòng(of sth) to move; to set in movement; to displace; to touch; to make use of; to stir (emotions); to alter; abbr. for 动词, verb
70. 面miànface; side; surface; aspect; top; classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc; flour; noodles; (of food) soft (not crunchy); (slang) (of a person) ineffectual; spineless
71. 下来xià laito come down; (after verb of motion, indicates motion down and towards us, also fig.); (indicates continuation from the past towards us); (completed action marker); to be harvested (of crops); to be over (of a period of time); to go among the masses (said of leaders)
72. 远yuǎnfar; distant; remote; (intensifier in a comparison) by far; much (lower etc)
73. 快乐kuài lèhappy; joyful
74. 里面lǐ miàninside; interior; also pr. [lǐ mian]
75. 懂dǒngto understand; to comprehend
76. 过来guò láito come over; to manage; to handle; to be able to take care of
77. 记得jì deto remember
78. 药yàomedicine; drug; substance used for a specific purpose (e.g. poisoning, explosion, fermenting); to poison; leaf of the iris
79. 身体shēn tǐthe body; one's health; in person
80. 包Bāoto wrap; to cover; to include; to hold; to take charge of; package; bag; bundle; packet; wrapper; container; to hold or embrace; to contract (to or for)
81. 那样nà yàngthat kind; that sort
82. 往wǎngto; towards; to go (in a direction); (of a train) bound for; past; previous
83. 楼Lóuhouse with more than 1 story; storied building; floor
84. 介绍jiè shàoto introduce (sb to sb); to give a presentation; to present (sb for a job etc); introduction
85. 飞fēito fly
86. 出去chū qùto go out
87. 眼睛yǎn jingeye
88. 近jìnnear; close to; approximately
89. 下去xià qùto go down; to descend; to go on; to continue; (of a servant) to withdraw
90. 离Líto leave; to part from; to be away from; (in giving distances) from; without (sth); independent of; one of the Eight Trigrams 卦, symbolizing fire; ☲
91. 经常jīng chángoften; frequently; constantly; regularly; day-to-day; everyday; daily
92. 票piàoticket; ballot; banknote; person held for ransom; amateur performance of Chinese opera; classifier for groups, batches, business transactions
93. 床chuángbed; couch; classifier for beds
94. 意思yì simeaning; idea; opinion; wish; desire; interest; fun; token of appreciation, affection etc; to give as a small token; to do sth as a gesture of goodwill etc
95. 教jiāoto teach
96. 忘wàngto forget; to overlook; to neglect
97. 画huàto draw; to paint; picture; painting
98. 运动yùn dòngto exercise; sports; exercise; to move; motion; movement; campaign
99. 回去huí quto return; to go back
100. 妻子qī ziwife
101. 鱼Yúfish
102. 累lèitired; weary; to strain; to wear out; to work hard
103. 打开dǎ kāito open; to show (a ticket); to turn on; to switch on
104. 肉ròumeat; flesh; pulp (of a fruit); (coll.) (of a fruit) squashy; (of a person) flabby; irresolute; Kangxi radical 130
105. 班Bānclass; team; work shift; grade; (military) squad; classifier for groups of people and scheduled transport vehicles
106. 坏huàibad; spoiled; broken; to break down; (suffix) to the utmost
107. 笔bǐpen; pencil; writing brush; to write or compose; the strokes of Chinese characters; classifier for sums of money, deals
108. 上面shàng miànon top of; above-mentioned; also pr. [shàng mian]
109. 洗xǐto wash; to bathe; to develop (photographs); to shuffle (cards etc); to erase (a recording)
110. 后面hòu mianbehind; the back; the rear; at the back; the last bit; near the end; later; afterwards
111. 外面wài miànoutside (also pr. [wài mian] for this sense); surface; exterior; external appearance
112. 丈夫zhàng fuhusband
113. 左Zuǒleft; the Left (politics); east; unorthodox; queer; wrong; differing; opposite
114. 下面xià miànbelow; under; next; the following; also pr. [xià mian]; to boil noodles
115. 右yòuright-hand side; (bound form) right; (bound form) (politics) right of center; (bound form) (old) west; (literary) the right side as the side of precedence
116. 生日shēng rìbirthday
117. 有时yǒu shísometimes; now and then
118. 词cíword; statement; speech; lyrics; a form of lyric poetry, flourishing in the Song dynasty 宋朝
119. 鸟niǎobird; "bird" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 196); (dialect) to pay attention to; (intensifier) damned; goddamn
120. 进去jìn qùto go in
121. 疼téng(it) hurts; sore; to love dearly
122. 路上lù shangon the road; on a journey; road surface
123. 酒店jiǔ diànhotel; restaurant; wine shop; pub (public house); (Tw) hostess club
124. 咖啡kā fēicoffee (loanword)
125. 考试kǎo shìto take an exam; exam
126. 慢mànslow
127. 前面qián miànin front; ahead; preceding; above; also pr. [qián mian]
128. 旁边páng biānside; adjacent place
129. 帮忙bāng mángto help; to lend a hand; to do a favor; to do a good turn
130. 进来jìn láito come in
131. 颜色yán sècolor; countenance; appearance; facial expression; pigment; dyestuff
132. 高中gāo zhōngsenior high school; abbr. for 高级中学
133. 考kǎoto test; to take an exam; to inspect; to check; to verify; to examine; to take an entrance exam for; to beat; to hit; deceased father
134. 上去shàng qùto go up
135. 红色hóng sèred (color); revolutionary
136. 游Yóuto swim; to travel; to tour; to roam; to walk
137. 一会儿yī huì ra moment; a while; in a moment; now...now...; also pr. [yī huǐ r]
138. 机场jī chǎngairport; airfield; (slang) service provider for Shadowsocks or similar software for circumventing Internet censorship
139. 踢tīto kick; to play (e.g. soccer); (slang) butch (in a lesbian relationship)
140. 舒服shū fucomfortable; feeling well
141. 黑色hēi sèblack
142. 绿色lǜ sègreen
143. 网上wǎng shàngonline
144. 旅游lǚ yóutravel; tour; trip; journey; tourism; to travel
145. 足球zú qiúsoccer; football; soccer ball; a football
146. 白色bái sèwhite; fig. reactionary; anti-communist
147. 题Títopic; problem for discussion; exam question; subject; to inscribe; to mention
148. 门口mén kǒudoorway; gate
149. 不好意思bù hǎo yì sito feel embarrassed; to find it embarrassing; to be sorry (for inconveniencing sb)
150. 奶奶nǎi nai(informal) grandma (paternal grandmother); (respectful) mistress of the house; (coll.) boobies; breasts
151. 右边yòu bianright side; right, to the right
152. 有意思yǒu yì siinteresting; fun; enjoyable; meaningful
153. 出门chū ménto go out; to leave home; to go on a journey; away from home; (of a woman) to get married
154. 地铁dì tiěunderground railway; subway; subway train
155. 小时候xiǎo shí houin one's childhood
156. 爷爷yé ye(coll.) father's father; paternal grandfather
157. 上来shàng láito come up; to approach; (verb complement indicating success)
158. 男孩儿nán hái rboy
159. 公交车gōng jiāo chēpublic transport vehicle; town bus
160. 姓xìngfamily name; surname; to be surnamed
161. 篮球lán qiúbasketball
162. 游泳yóu yǒngswimming; to swim
163. 裤子kù zipants; trousers
164. 跳舞tiào wǔto dance
165. 阴Yīnovercast (weather); cloudy; shady; Yin (the negative principle of Yin and Yang); negative (electric.); feminine; moon; implicit; hidden; genitalia
166. 上网shàng wǎngto go online; to connect to the Internet; (of a document etc) to be uploaded to the Internet; (tennis, volleyball etc) to move in close to the net
167. 商场shāng chǎngshopping mall; shopping center; department store; emporium; the business world
168. 外国wài guóforeign (country)
169. 姓名xìng míngsurname and given name; full name
170. 车站chē zhànrail station; bus stop
171. 走路zǒu lùto walk; to go on foot
172. 左边zuǒ bianleft; the left side; to the left of
173. 从小cóng xiǎofrom childhood; from a young age
174. 爱好ài hàointerest; hobby; to like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on
175. 教室jiào shìclassroom
176. 快要kuài yàonearly at the point of (doing sth); about to (do sth)
177. 门票mén piàoticket (for theater, cinema etc)
178. 机票jī piàoair ticket; passenger ticket
179. 手表shǒu biǎowristwatch
180. 出国chū guóto go abroad; to leave the country
181. 跑步pǎo bùto run; to jog; (military) to march at the double
182. 药店yào diànpharmacy
183. 晴qíngclear; fine (weather)
184. 洗手间xǐ shǒu jiāntoilet; lavatory; washroom
185. 开学kāi xuéfoundation of a University or College; school opening; the start of a new term
186. 个子gè ziheight; stature; build; size
187. 没意思méi yì siboring; of no interest
188. 书包shū bāoschoolbag; satchel; bookbag
189. 本子běn zinotebook; book; edition; Japanese-style self-published comic (esp. an erotic one), aka "dōjinshi"
190. 过年guò niánto celebrate the Chinese New Year
191. 绿茶lǜ chágreen tea; (slang) (of a girl) seemingly innocent and charming but actually calculating and manipulative; a girl who has these qualities
192. 打车dǎ chēto take a taxi (in town); to hitch a lift
193. 饭馆fàn guǎnrestaurant
194. 女孩儿nǚ hái rgirl
195. 奶茶nǎi chámilk tea
196. 红茶hóng cháblack tea
197. 小孩儿xiǎo hái rchild

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.