Starting recognition
Build confidence by identifying the most common characters and words first.
HSK 1 Vocabulary
Build a clear HSK 1 vocabulary foundation
This is a curated starter list of common HSK 1 words, not a complete exam word bank. Use it to build recognition, then move to sample questions and the next level.
Start with the most common words in daily Chinese. Each word includes pinyin, meaning, and a simple example to help you recognize and remember.
What HSK 1 vocabulary is for
Pronunciation practice
Use pinyin to connect what you see with how it sounds.
Useful context
See words in short phrases so you understand how they work together.
HSK 1 Vocabulary List (150 words)
爱
ài
to love
我爱我的家。
Wǒ ài wǒ de jiā.
I love my family.
八
bā
eight
我八点上班。
Wǒ bā diǎn shàngbān.
I go to work at eight o'clock.
爸爸
bàba
father; dad
我爸爸是老师。
Wǒ bàba shì lǎoshī.
My father is a teacher.
杯子
bēizi
cup; glass
这是一个杯子。
Zhè shì yī gè bēizi.
This is a cup.
北京
Běijīng
Beijing
我住在北京。
Wǒ zhù zài Běijīng.
I live in Beijing.
本
běn
a (measure word for books)
一本书。
Yī běn shū.
One book.
不
bù
not; no
我不去。
Wǒ bù qù.
I am not going.
不客气
bú kèqi
you're welcome
不客气！
Bú kèqi!
You're welcome!
菜
cài
dish; vegetable
这个菜很好吃。
Zhège cài hěn hǎo chī.
This dish is very delicious.
茶
chá
tea
我喜欢喝茶。
Wǒ xǐhuan hē chá.
I like drinking tea.
吃
chī
to eat
我吃米饭。
Wǒ chī mǐfàn.
I eat rice.
出租车
chūzūchē
taxi
我坐出租车回家。
Wǒ zuò chūzūchē huí jiā.
I take a taxi home.
打电话
dǎ diànhuà
to make a phone call
我给你打电话。
Wǒ gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.
I will call you.
大
dà
big; large
这是一个大城市。
Zhè shì yī gè dà chéngshì.
This is a big city.
的
de
possessive particle
我的书。
Wǒ de shū.
My book.
点
diǎn
o'clock; point
现在八点了。
Xiànzài bā diǎn le.
It is 8 o'clock now.
电脑
diànnǎo
computer
我用电脑工作。
Wǒ yòng diànnǎo gōngzuò.
I use the computer for work.
电视
diànshì
TV
我在看电视。
Wǒ zài kàn diànshì.
I am watching TV.
电影
diànyǐng
movie; film
我喜欢看电影。
Wǒ xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng.
I like watching movies.
东西
dōngxi
thing; stuff
这是什么东西？
Zhè shì shénme dōngxi?
What is this thing?
都
dōu
all; both
我们都是学生。
Wǒmen dōu shì xuésheng.
We are all students.
读
dú
to read
我每天读书。
Wǒ měitiān dú shū.
I read books every day.
对不起
duìbuqǐ
sorry
对不起，我迟到了。
Duìbuqǐ, wǒ chídào le.
Sorry, I am late.
多
duō
many; much
这里人很多。
Zhèlǐ rén hěn duō.
There are many people here.
多少
duōshao
how many/much
这个多少钱？
Zhège duōshao qián?
How much is this?
儿子
érzi
son
他有一个儿子。
Tā yǒu yī gè érzi.
He has a son.
二
èr
two
今天是二月二日。
Jīntiān shì èr yuè èr rì.
Today is February 2nd.
饭店
fàndiàn
restaurant; hotel
我们去饭店吃饭。
Wǒmen qù fàndiàn chī fàn.
We go to the restaurant to eat.
飞机
fēijī
airplane
我坐飞机去北京。
Wǒ zuò fēijī qù Běijīng.
I take a plane to Beijing.
分钟
fēnzhōng
minute
还有五分钟。
Hái yǒu wǔ fēnzhōng.
There are still five minutes.
高兴
gāoxìng
happy; glad
我很高兴。
Wǒ hěn gāoxìng.
I am very happy.
个
gè
a (general measure word)
一个苹果。
Yī gè píngguǒ.
One apple.
工作
gōngzuò
to work; job
我爸爸工作很忙。
Wǒ bàba gōngzuò hěn máng.
My father is very busy with work.
狗
gǒu
dog
我有一只狗。
Wǒ yǒu yī zhī gǒu.
I have a dog.
汉语
Hànyǔ
Chinese language
我会说汉语。
Wǒ huì shuō Hànyǔ.
I can speak Chinese.
好
hǎo
good; fine; OK
你好！
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
号
hào
number; date
今天是八号。
Jīntiān shì bā hào.
Today is the 8th.
喝
hē
to drink
我喝咖啡。
Wǒ hē kāfēi.
I drink coffee.
和
hé
and
我和你。
Wǒ hé nǐ.
You and I.
很
hěn
very
我很好。
Wǒ hěn hǎo.
I am very well.
后面
hòumiàn
back; behind
他在我后面。
Tā zài wǒ hòumiàn.
He is behind me.
回
huí
to return; to go back
我回家了。
Wǒ huí jiā le.
I went home.
会
huì
can; to be able to
我会游泳。
Wǒ huì yóuyǒng.
I can swim.
几
jǐ
how many (for small numbers)
你有几个苹果？
Nǐ yǒu jǐ gè píngguǒ?
How many apples do you have?
家
jiā
home; family
我回家了。
Wǒ huí jiā le.
I went home.
叫
jiào
to be called; to call
我叫李明。
Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.
My name is Li Ming.
今天
jīntiān
today
今天星期一。
Jīntiān xīngqī yī.
Today is Monday.
九
jiǔ
nine
我有九本书。
Wǒ yǒu jiǔ běn shū.
I have nine books.
开
kāi
to open; to drive
请开门。
Qǐng kāi mén.
Please open the door.
看
kàn
to look; to watch; to read
我看电视。
Wǒ kàn diànshì.
I watch TV.
看见
kànjiàn
to see; to catch sight of
我看见一只猫。
Wǒ kànjiàn yī zhī māo.
I saw a cat.
块
kuài
a (measure word for money/flat objects)
一块钱。
Yī kuài qián.
One yuan.
来
lái
to come
他来我家。
Tā lái wǒ jiā.
He comes to my home.
老师
lǎoshī
teacher
我的老师很好。
Wǒ de lǎoshī hěn hǎo.
My teacher is very nice.
了
le
completed action particle
我吃了。
Wǒ chī le.
I have eaten.
冷
lěng
cold
今天很冷。
Jīntiān hěn lěng.
It is very cold today.
里
lǐ
inside
我在房间里。
Wǒ zài fángjiān lǐ.
I am in the room.
六
liù
six
我六点起床。
Wǒ liù diǎn qǐ chuáng.
I get up at six o'clock.
妈妈
māma
mother; mom
我妈妈很爱我。
Wǒ māma hěn ài wǒ.
My mother loves me very much.
吗
ma
question particle
你好吗？
Nǐ hǎo ma?
How are you?
买
mǎi
to buy
我买水果。
Wǒ mǎi shuǐguǒ.
I buy fruit.
猫
māo
cat
我有一只猫。
Wǒ yǒu yī zhī māo.
I have a cat.
没
méi
not (for past/perfective)
我没有钱。
Wǒ méiyǒu qián.
I don't have money.
没关系
méi guānxi
it's OK; never mind
没关系。
Méi guānxi.
It's OK.
米饭
mǐfàn
rice (cooked)
我吃米饭。
Wǒ chī mǐfàn.
I eat rice.
名字
míngzi
name
你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What is your name?
明天
míngtiān
tomorrow
明天见。
Míngtiān jiàn.
See you tomorrow.
哪
nǎ
which
你是哪国人？
Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
Which country are you from?
那
nà
that
那是我的猫。
Nà shì wǒ de māo.
That is my cat.
呢
ne
question particle (for follow-up)
你呢？
Nǐ ne?
How about you?
能
néng
can; to be capable of
我能帮你。
Wǒ néng bāng nǐ.
I can help you.
你
nǐ
you (singular)
你好吗？
Nǐ hǎo ma?
How are you?
年
nián
year
今年是2024年。
Jīnnián shì èr líng èr sì nián.
This year is 2024.
女儿
nǚér
daughter
她有一个女儿。
Tā yǒu yī gè nǚér.
She has a daughter.
朋友
péngyou
friend
他是我的朋友。
Tā shì wǒ de péngyou.
He is my friend.
漂亮
piàoliang
beautiful
这朵花很漂亮。
Zhè duǒ huā hěn piàoliang.
This flower is very beautiful.
苹果
píngguǒ
apple
我吃了一个苹果。
Wǒ chī le yī gè píngguǒ.
I ate an apple.
七
qī
seven
今天是七号。
Jīntiān shì qī hào.
Today is the 7th.
前面
qiánmiàn
front
我在你前面。
Wǒ zài nǐ qiánmiàn.
I am in front of you.
钱
qián
money
我没有钱。
Wǒ méiyǒu qián.
I don't have money.
请
qǐng
please
请坐。
Qǐng zuò.
Please sit down.
去
qù
to go
我去学校。
Wǒ qù xuéxiào.
I go to school.
热
rè
hot
夏天很热。
Xiàtiān hěn rè.
Summer is very hot.
人
rén
person; people
这里有很多人。
Zhèlǐ yǒu hěn duō rén.
There are many people here.
认识
rènshi
to know (someone); to recognize
我认识他。
Wǒ rènshi tā.
I know him.
日
rì
day; sun
今天是星期日。
Jīntiān shì xīngqī rì.
Today is Sunday.
三
sān
three
我家有三口人。
Wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén.
There are three people in my family.
商店
shāngdiàn
shop; store
我去商店买东西。
Wǒ qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi.
I go to the store to buy things.
上
shàng
up; above; on
书在桌子上。
Shū zài zhuōzi shàng.
The book is on the table.
上午
shàngwǔ
morning (before noon)
我上午有课。
Wǒ shàngwǔ yǒu kè.
I have class in the morning.
少
shǎo
few; little
我的书很少。
Wǒ de shū hěn shǎo.
I have very few books.
谁
shéi
who
他是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he?
什么
shénme
what
这是什么？
Zhè shì shénme?
What is this?
十
shí
ten
我有十个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu shí gè píngguǒ.
I have ten apples.
时候
shíhou
time; moment
你什么时候来？
Nǐ shénme shíhou lái?
When will you come?
是
shì
to be
我是中国人。
Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.
I am Chinese.
书
shū
book
这是我的书。
Zhè shì wǒ de shū.
This is my book.
水
shuǐ
water
我想喝水。
Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.
I want to drink water.
睡觉
shuì jiào
to sleep
我晚上十点睡觉。
Wǒ wǎnshang shí diǎn shuì jiào.
I go to sleep at 10 p.m.
说
shuō
to speak; to say
我会说汉语。
Wǒ huì shuō Hànyǔ.
I can speak Chinese.
四
sì
four
我有四个朋友。
Wǒ yǒu sì gè péngyou.
I have four friends.
岁
suì
year (of age)
我二十岁。
Wǒ èr shí suì.
I am twenty years old.
他
tā
he; him
他是医生。
Tā shì yīshēng.
He is a doctor.
她
tā
she; her
她是我妈妈。
Tā shì wǒ māma.
She is my mother.
太
tài
too; extremely
太好了！
Tài hǎo le!
That's great!
天气
tiānqì
weather
今天天气很好。
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.
The weather is very good today.
听
tīng
to listen; to hear
我喜欢听音乐。
Wǒ xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè.
I like listening to music.
同学
tóngxué
classmate
他是我的同学。
Tā shì wǒ de tóngxué.
He is my classmate.
喂
wéi
hello (on phone)
喂，你好！
Wéi, nǐ hǎo!
Hello? (on phone)
我
wǒ
I; me
我是学生。
Wǒ shì xuésheng.
I am a student.
我们
wǒmen
we; us
我们是朋友。
Wǒmen shì péngyou.
We are friends.
五
wǔ
five
今天是五月一号。
Jīntiān shì wǔ yuè yī hào.
Today is May 1st.
喜欢
xǐhuan
to like
我喜欢猫。
Wǒ xǐhuan māo.
I like cats.
下
xià
down; below; under
猫在椅子下。
Māo zài yǐzi xià.
The cat is under the chair.
下午
xiàwǔ
afternoon
我下午有课。
Wǒ xiàwǔ yǒu kè.
I have class in the afternoon.
下雨
xià yǔ
to rain
今天下雨。
Jīntiān xià yǔ.
It is raining today.
先生
xiānsheng
Mr.; husband
李先生您好。
Lǐ xiānsheng nín hǎo.
Hello, Mr. Li.
现在
xiànzài
now
现在是三点。
Xiànzài shì sān diǎn.
It is 3 o'clock now.
想
xiǎng
to think; to want
我想喝水。
Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.
I want to drink water.
小
xiǎo
small; little
我家很小。
Wǒ jiā hěn xiǎo.
My home is very small.
小姐
xiǎojiě
Miss; young lady
王小姐很漂亮。
Wáng xiǎojiě hěn piàoliang.
Miss Wang is very beautiful.
些
xiē
some; a few
我要一些水。
Wǒ yào yīxiē shuǐ.
I want some water.
写
xiě
to write
我在写字。
Wǒ zài xiě zì.
I am writing characters.
谢谢
xièxie
thank you
谢谢你！
Xièxie nǐ!
Thank you!
星期
xīngqī
week
今天是星期一。
Jīntiān shì xīngqī yī.
Today is Monday.
学生
xuésheng
student
我是学生。
Wǒ shì xuésheng.
I am a student.
学习
xuéxí
to study; to learn
我学习汉语。
Wǒ xuéxí Hànyǔ.
I study Chinese.
雪
xuě
snow
今天下雪。
Jīntiān xià xuě.
It is snowing today.
一
yī
one
我有一个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu yī gè píngguǒ.
I have one apple.
衣服
yīfu
clothes
这件衣服很漂亮。
Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piàoliang.
This piece of clothing is very beautiful.
医生
yīshēng
doctor
他是医生。
Tā shì yīshēng.
He is a doctor.
医院
yīyuàn
hospital
他在医院工作。
Tā zài yīyuàn gōngzuò.
He works at the hospital.
椅子
yǐzi
chair
请坐椅子。
Qǐng zuò yǐzi.
Please sit on the chair.
有
yǒu
to have; there is/are
我有一只猫。
Wǒ yǒu yī zhī māo.
I have a cat.
月
yuè
month
今天是八月一号。
Jīntiān shì bā yuè yī hào.
Today is August 1st.
在
zài
to be at/in/on
我在家里。
Wǒ zài jiā lǐ.
I am at home.
怎么
zěnme
how
你怎么去？
Nǐ zěnme qù?
How do you go?
这
zhè
this
这是我的书。
Zhè shì wǒ de shū.
This is my book.
中国
Zhōngguó
China
我是中国人。
Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.
I am Chinese.
中午
zhōngwǔ
noon
我中午吃饭。
Wǒ zhōngwǔ chī fàn.
I eat at noon.
住
zhù
to live; to reside
我住在北京。
Wǒ zhù zài Běijīng.
I live in Beijing.
桌子
zhuōzi
table; desk
书在桌子上。
Shū zài zhuōzi shàng.
The book is on the table.
字
zì
character; word
我在写字。
Wǒ zài xiě zì.
I am writing characters.
昨天
zuótiān
yesterday
昨天我很忙。
Zuótiān wǒ hěn máng.
I was very busy yesterday.
坐
zuò
to sit
请坐。
Qǐng zuò.
Please sit down.
做
zuò
to do; to make
我在做作业。
Wǒ zài zuò zuòyè.
I am doing homework.
您
nín
you (polite)
您好！
Nín hǎo!
Hello (polite)!
再见
zàijiàn
goodbye
再见！
Zàijiàn!
Goodbye!
哪儿
nǎr
where
你在哪儿？
Nǐ zài nǎr?
Where are you?
一点儿
yīdiǎnr
a little bit
请给我一点儿水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yīdiǎnr shuǐ.
Please give me a little water.
Keep beginner vocabulary practice active
Review 10 words daily rather than 50 once a week
Say each word aloud while reading the pinyin
Write characters by hand to build muscle memory
Test yourself without looking at the meaning first
How to Study This Level
1
Start Here
Review the curated word list for this level. Read each word, its pinyin, and meaning. Say it aloud. Write it down if that helps you remember.
2
Practice What You Learned
Try the sample questions for this level. See which words you recognize and which need more review.
Try HSK 1 Sample Questions→3
Ready for More?
When these words feel familiar, move to the next level. Do not wait for perfection.
Move to HSK 2 Vocabulary→4
Go Back If Needed
If a word feels hard, return to the previous level. Strong foundations make later levels easier.
5
Not Sure Where You Stand?
Take the quick level check anytime to see if you are ready to move up or need to review.
Take the Level Check→You can jump between steps anytime.