HSK 3 Vocabulary List: 500 New Words (2026)

The short version

HSK 3 has 500 new words in the new HSK syllabus (published November 2025, in force from July 2026): 1,000 words in total from level 1 to 3.
Every word below comes from the official syllabus, with its pinyin and part of speech. The meanings are short study notes we wrote.
Some 2026 test sittings still use the older HSK 2.0 lists, with 600 words up to level 3. Check which version your test center runs.
Study them with spaced repetition: a few new words a day, reviewed just before you would forget them.

500new words at HSK 3

1,000words in total, levels 1 to 3

284new characters to recognize

What words are on the HSK 3 vocabulary list?

The HSK 3 vocabulary list has 500 words plus the 500 words from the levels below. Search the list, hide the pinyin or the meanings to test yourself (tap a row to peek), or download it for your flashcard app.

500 words

#	Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Type
1	阿姨	āyí	aunt; woman of mother's generation; nanny	noun
2	矮	ǎi	short (in height); low	adjective
3	爱人	àiren	husband or wife; spouse	noun
4	安静	ānjìng	quiet; peaceful	adjective
5	安全	ānquán	safe; secure	adjective
6	把	bǎ	measure word for handled items; object marker	measure word, preposition
7	搬	bān	to move (heavy things); to carry	verb
8	班级	bānjí	class; grade and class at school	noun
9	搬家	bānjiā	to move house	verb
10	办	bàn	to handle; to do; to run (an event)	verb
11	办法	bànfǎ	method; way of solving something	noun
12	办公室	bàngōngshì	office	noun
13	半天	bàntiān	a long while; half a day	numeral, measure word
14	帮助	bāngzhù	to help; help	verb
15	饱	bǎo	full (after eating)	adjective
16	报纸	bàozhǐ	newspaper	noun
17	北	běi	north	noun
18	北方	běifāng	the north; northern region	noun
19	被	bèi	by (marks passive agent); marks passive voice	preposition
20	笔记	bǐjì	notes; to take notes	noun
21	比较	bǐjiào	to compare; fairly; relatively	verb, preposition, adverb
22	笔记本	bǐjìběn	notebook; laptop	noun
23	比如	bǐrú	for example; such as	verb
24	比赛	bǐsài	competition; match; to compete	verb, noun
25	必须	bìxū	must; have to	adverb
26	变	biàn	to change; to become	verb
27	遍	biàn	measure word for repeated actions (times)	measure word
28	变成	biànchéng	to turn into; to become	verb
29	变化	biànhuà	to change; change	verb, noun
30	表演	biǎoyǎn	to perform; to act	verb
31	别的	biéde	other; else	pronoun
32	别人	biérén	other people; others	pronoun
33	宾馆	bīnguǎn	hotel; guesthouse	noun
34	冰	bīng	ice; to freeze	noun, verb
35	冰激凌	bīngjīlíng	ice cream	noun
36	冰箱	bīngxiāng	refrigerator	noun
37	病人	bìngrén	patient; sick person	noun
38	不但	búdàn	not only	conjunction
39	不见	bújiàn	to not see; to be missing	verb
40	不用	búyòng	no need to; do not have to	adverb
41	不同	bù tóng	different; not the same	phrase
42	不久	bùjiǔ	soon; before long	adjective
43	不行	bùxíng	will not do; not OK; no way	verb, adjective
44	才	cái	only then; just; not until	adverb
45	菜单	càidān	menu	noun
46	参加	cānjiā	to take part in; to join	verb
47	草	cǎo	grass	noun
48	草地	cǎodì	lawn; grassland	noun
49	层	céng	floor; layer	measure word
50	查	chá	to check; to look up	verb
51	差	chà	poor; bad; short of	adjective, verb
52	差不多	chàbuduō	almost; about the same	adjective, adverb
53	尝	cháng	to taste; to try (food)	verb
54	常	cháng	often	adverb
55	常见	cháng jiàn	common; frequently seen	phrase
56	常用	cháng yòng	commonly used	phrase
57	常常	chángcháng	often; frequently	adverb
58	衬衫	chènshān	shirt	noun
59	成绩	chéngjì	result; grade; achievement	noun
60	城市	chéngshì	city	noun
61	迟到	chídào	to be late; to arrive late	verb
62	出发	chūfā	to set out; to depart	verb
63	出生	chūshēng	to be born	verb
64	出院	chūyuàn	to leave hospital	verb
65	初中	chūzhōng	junior high school	noun
66	除了	chúle	besides; except for	preposition
67	船	chuán	boat; ship	noun
68	春天	chūntiān	spring	noun
69	词典	cídiǎn	dictionary	noun
70	聪明	cōngmíng	smart; clever	adjective
71	打扫	dǎsǎo	to sweep; to clean up	verb
72	打算	dǎsuàn	to plan; to intend; plan	verb, noun
73	大概	dàgài	probably; general; roughly	adjective, adverb, noun
74	大人	dàren	adult; grown-up	noun
75	大小	dàxiǎo	size	noun
76	大熊猫	dàxióngmāo	giant panda	noun
77	大衣	dàyī	overcoat; coat	noun
78	带	dài	to bring; to take; to carry	verb, noun
79	担心	dānxīn	to worry	verb
80	蛋糕	dàngāo	cake	noun
81	当然	dāngrán	of course; naturally	adverb
82	到处	dàochù	everywhere	adverb
83	得	dé	to get; to obtain	verb
84	得到	dédào	to get; to receive	verb
85	得分	défēn	to score; score	verb, noun
86	的话	dehuà	if (placed at end of clause)	particle
87	得	děi	must; have to; to need to	verb
88	灯	dēng	lamp; light	noun
89	地	dì	earth; land; ground	noun
90	地点	dìdiǎn	place; location	noun
91	地方	dìfang	place; space	noun
92	地图	dìtú	map	noun
93	电	diàn	electricity; electric	noun, verb
94	电梯	diàntī	elevator; lift	noun
95	电子书	diànzǐshū	e-book	noun
96	丢	diū	to lose; to throw away	verb
97	东	dōng	east	noun
98	东北	dōngběi	northeast	noun
99	东方	dōngfāng	the East; oriental	noun
100	东南	dōngnán	southeast	noun
101	冬天	dōngtiān	winter	noun
102	懂得	dǒngde	to understand; to know	verb
103	动物	dòngwù	animal	noun
104	动物园	dòngwùyuán	zoo	noun
105	短	duǎn	short (in length or time)	adjective
106	短裤	duǎnkù	shorts	noun
107	段	duàn	section; stretch; paragraph	measure word
108	锻炼	duànliàn	to exercise; to train	verb
109	对话	duìhuà	to hold a dialogue; dialogue	verb
110	饿	è	hungry	adjective
111	而且	érqiě	and also; moreover	conjunction
112	耳朵	ěrduo	ear	noun
113	耳机	ěrjī	earphones; headphones	noun
114	发	fā	to send out; to issue; to develop	verb
115	发烧	fāshāo	to have a fever	verb
116	发生	fāshēng	to happen; to occur	verb
117	发现	fāxiàn	to discover; to notice	verb
118	发展	fāzhǎn	to develop; to grow	verb
119	方便	fāngbiàn	convenient; easy	adjective
120	方便面	fāngbiànmiàn	instant noodles	noun
121	方法	fāngfǎ	method; way	noun
122	方向	fāngxiàng	direction; orientation	noun
123	房子	fángzi	house; building	noun
124	放	fàng	to put; to place; to let go	verb
125	放假	fàngjià	to have a holiday; to be on break	verb
126	放心	fàngxīn	to rest assured; to not worry	verb
127	放学	fàngxué	to finish school for the day	verb
128	分开	fēnkāi	to separate; to part	verb
129	风	fēng	wind	noun
130	封	fēng	measure word for letters; to seal	measure word, verb
131	夫妻	fūqī	husband and wife; married couple	noun
132	服务	fúwù	to serve; service	verb
133	附近	fùjìn	nearby; vicinity	noun
134	复习	fùxí	to review; to revise	verb
135	该	gāi	should; ought to	verb
136	干净	gānjìng	clean	adjective
137	感兴趣	gǎn xìngqù	to be interested in	phrase
138	感到	gǎndào	to feel; to sense	verb
139	感冒	gǎnmào	cold (illness); to catch a cold	noun, verb
140	干	gàn	to do; to work; to dry	verb
141	刚	gāng	just now; barely	adverb
142	刚才	gāngcái	just now; a moment ago	noun
143	刚刚	gānggāng	just; only just	adverb
144	高铁	gāotiě	high-speed rail	noun
145	根据	gēnjù	according to; basis	verb, preposition, noun
146	更	gèng	even more; more	adverb
147	公斤	gōngjīn	kilogram	measure word
148	公园	gōngyuán	park	noun
149	工作日	gōngzuòrì	workday; weekday	noun
150	故事	gùshi	story	noun
151	刮	guā	to blow (wind); to scrape	verb
152	关	guān	to close; to turn off	verb, noun
153	关机	guānjī	to turn off (a device)	verb
154	关系	guānxì	relationship; connection	noun, verb
155	关心	guānxīn	to care about; to be concerned	verb
156	关于	guānyú	about; regarding	preposition
157	关注	guānzhù	to follow closely; to pay attention to	verb
158	国家	guójiā	country; nation	noun
159	过节	guòjié	to celebrate a festival	verb
160	过去	guòqù	the past	noun
161	海	hǎi	sea; ocean	noun
162	害怕	hàipà	to be afraid; to fear	verb
163	好多	hǎoduō	many; a lot of	numeral
164	好久	hǎojiǔ	a long time	adjective
165	好像	hǎoxiàng	to seem like; seemingly	verb, adverb
166	号码	hàomǎ	number (phone, house)	noun
167	河	hé	river	noun
168	合适	héshì	suitable; appropriate	adjective
169	黑板	hēibǎn	blackboard	noun
170	红绿灯	hóng-lǜdēng	traffic light	noun
171	后来	hòulái	afterwards; later	noun
172	后年	hòunián	year after next	noun
173	后天	hòutiān	day after tomorrow	noun
174	护照	hùzhào	passport	noun
175	花园	huāyuán	garden	noun
176	画家	huàjiā	painter; artist	noun
177	欢迎	huānyíng	to welcome	verb
178	还	huán	to return; to give back	verb
179	环境	huánjìng	environment; surroundings	noun
180	换	huàn	to change; to exchange	verb
181	黄色	huángsè	yellow	noun
182	回答	huídá	to answer; to reply	verb
183	会	huì	meeting; gathering; association	noun
184	会议	huìyì	meeting; conference	noun
185	或	huò	or; either	conjunction, adverb
186	或者	huòzhě	or; either...or	conjunction
187	鸡	jī	chicken; hen	noun
188	几乎	jīhū	almost; nearly	adverb
189	机会	jīhuì	opportunity; chance	noun
190	极	jí	extremely; very	adverb
191	急	jí	anxious; urgent; to worry	adjective, verb
192	记	jì	to remember; to record	verb
193	季	jì	season; quarter	noun
194	季节	jìjié	season	noun
195	加	jiā	to add	verb
196	假期	jiàqī	vacation period; holiday	noun
197	坚持	jiānchí	to persist; to insist on	verb
198	检查	jiǎnchá	to check; to examine	verb
199	简单	jiǎndān	simple; easy	adjective
200	检票	jiǎnpiào	to check tickets	verb
201	健康	jiànkāng	healthy; health	adjective
202	见面	jiànmiàn	to meet; to see each other	verb
203	讲	jiǎng	to speak; to tell; to explain	verb
204	角	jiǎo	measure word for a tenth of a yuan	measure word
205	脚	jiǎo	foot	noun
206	接	jiē	to receive; to pick up; to connect	verb
207	街	jiē	street	noun
208	节	jié	measure word for classes; festival; section	measure word, noun, verb
209	结婚	jiéhūn	to get married	verb
210	节目	jiémù	program; show	noun
211	节日	jiérì	festival; holiday	noun
212	结束	jiéshù	to end; to finish	verb
213	解决	jiějué	to solve; to resolve	verb
214	姐妹	jiěmèi	sisters	noun
215	借	jiè	to borrow; to lend	verb
216	斤	jīn	jin (half a kilogram)	measure word
217	经过	jīngguò	to pass through; process	verb, noun
218	经理	jīnglǐ	manager	noun
219	久	jiǔ	long (time)	adjective
220	酒	jiǔ	alcohol; liquor	noun
221	旧	jiù	old; used	adjective
222	句	jù	measure word for sentences	measure word
223	句子	jùzi	sentence	noun
224	决定	juédìng	to decide; decision	verb, noun
225	卡	kǎ	card	noun
226	开花	kāihuā	to bloom; to flower	verb
227	开会	kāihuì	to have a meeting	verb
228	开机	kāijī	to turn on (a device)	verb
229	开心	kāixīn	happy; cheerful	adjective
230	看来	kànlái	it seems; apparently	verb
231	可	kě	but; can (modal)	conjunction, adverb
232	渴	kě	thirsty	adjective
233	可爱	kě’ài	cute; lovable	adjective
234	可是	kěshì	but; however	conjunction
235	刻	kè	quarter hour; measure word for 15 minutes	measure word, verb
236	课本	kèběn	textbook	noun
237	客人	kèrén	guest; visitor	noun
238	课文	kèwén	text of a lesson	noun
239	空调	kōngtiáo	air conditioner	noun
240	哭	kū	to cry; to weep	verb
241	筷子	kuàizi	chopsticks	noun
242	矿泉水	kuàngquánshuǐ	mineral water	noun
243	来自	láizì	to come from	verb
244	蓝	lán	blue	adjective
245	老	lǎo	old; prefix for people	adjective, prefix, adverb
246	老人	lǎorén	old person; the elderly	noun
247	离开	líkāi	to leave; to depart	verb
248	礼物	lǐwù	gift; present	noun
249	历史	lìshǐ	history	noun
250	脸	liǎn	face	noun
251	练	liàn	to practice; to train	verb
252	练习	liànxí	to practice; exercise	verb, noun
253	凉快	liángkuai	cool; pleasantly cool	adjective
254	辆	liàng	measure word for vehicles	measure word
255	聊	liáo	to chat; to talk	verb
256	聊天儿	liáotiānr	to chat	verb
257	了解	liǎojiě	to understand; to learn about	verb
258	邻居	línjū	neighbor	noun
259	留学	liúxué	to study abroad	verb
260	留学生	liúxuéshēng	international student	noun
261	楼梯	lóutī	stairs; staircase	noun
262	路边	lùbiān	roadside	noun
263	路口	lùkǒu	intersection; junction	noun
264	马	mǎ	horse	noun
265	马路	mǎlù	road; street	noun
266	马上	mǎshàng	right away; immediately	adverb
267	满意	mǎnyì	to be satisfied	verb
268	毛	máo	measure word for a tenth of a yuan; fur	measure word, noun
269	米	mǐ	meter; rice	measure word
270	面前	miànqián	in front of	noun
271	明白	míngbai	clear; to understand	adjective, verb
272	名单	míngdān	list of names	noun
273	名人	míngrén	famous person; celebrity	noun
274	南	nán	south	noun
275	难	nán	difficult; hard	adjective, verb
276	南方	nánfāng	the south; southern region	noun
277	难过	nánguò	sad; upset	adjective
278	难看	nánkàn	ugly; unsightly	adjective
279	男人	nánrén	man; men	noun
280	男生	nánshēng	boy; male student	noun
281	难题	nántí	difficult problem	noun
282	难听	nántīng	unpleasant to hear	adjective
283	年级	niánjí	grade; year (at school)	noun
284	年轻	niánqīng	young	adjective
285	牛	niú	cow; ox; cattle	noun, adjective
286	努力	nǔlì	to work hard; hard-working	verb, adjective
287	女人	nǚrén	woman	noun
288	女生	nǚshēng	girl; female student	noun
289	爬	pá	to climb; to crawl	verb
290	怕	pà	to be afraid; to fear	verb, adverb
291	拍照	pāizhào	to take a photo	verb
292	盘子	pánzi	plate; dish	noun
293	胖	pàng	fat; plump	adjective
294	啤酒	píjiǔ	beer	noun
295	平时	píngshí	usually; normal times	noun
296	瓶子	píngzi	bottle	noun
297	骑	qí	to ride (a bike or horse)	verb
298	奇怪	qíguài	strange; odd	adjective
299	其实	qíshí	actually; in fact	adverb
300	其他	qítā	other; the rest	pronoun
301	起	qǐ	to rise; to get up; to begin	verb, measure word
302	起飞	qǐfēi	to take off (a plane)	verb
303	汽车	qìchē	car; automobile	noun
304	铅笔	qiānbǐ	pencil	noun
305	前年	qiánnián	year before last	noun
306	前天	qiántiān	day before yesterday	noun
307	清楚	qīngchu	clear; to understand clearly	adjective, verb
308	请假	qǐngjià	to ask for leave	verb
309	请客	qǐngkè	to treat someone; to host a meal	verb
310	秋天	qiūtiān	autumn; fall	noun
311	球场	qiúchǎng	ball court; sports field	noun
312	裙子	qúnzi	skirt	noun
313	然后	ránhòu	then; after that	conjunction
314	热情	rèqíng	warm; enthusiastic	adjective
315	认得	rènde	to recognize; to know (a person)	verb
316	认为	rènwéi	to think that; to consider	verb
317	认真	rènzhēn	serious; conscientious	adjective
318	容易	róngyì	easy; likely	adjective
319	如果	rúguǒ	if	conjunction
320	伞	sǎn	umbrella	noun
321	扫	sǎo	to sweep	verb
322	沙发	shāfā	sofa; couch	noun
323	山	shān	mountain; hill	noun
324	上衣	shàngyī	top; jacket; upper garment	noun
325	勺子	sháozi	spoon	noun
326	身边	shēnbiān	at one's side; around	noun
327	身高	shēngāo	height (of a person)	noun
328	声	shēng	sound; voice; measure word for sounds	noun, measure word
329	生活	shēnghuó	life; to live	noun, verb
330	生气	shēngqì	to get angry	verb
331	声音	shēngyīn	sound; voice	noun
332	市	shì	city; market	noun
333	试	shì	to try; to test	verb
334	室	shì	room; office	noun
335	世界	shìjiè	world	noun
336	收	shōu	to receive; to collect; to put away	verb
337	收到	shōudào	to receive; to get	verb
338	受	shòu	to receive; to suffer	verb
339	瘦	shòu	thin; lean	adjective
340	受到	shòudào	to receive; to be given	verb
341	叔叔	shūshu	uncle; father's younger brother	noun
342	树	shù	tree	noun
343	数学	shùxué	mathematics	noun
344	刷	shuā	to brush; to swipe	verb
345	双	shuāng	pair; measure word for pairs	measure word
346	水平	shuǐpíng	level; standard	noun
347	司机	sījī	driver	noun
348	四季	sìjì	four seasons	noun
349	太阳	tàiyáng	sun	noun
350	糖	táng	sugar; candy	noun
351	特别	tèbié	special; especially	adjective, adverb
352	提高	tígāo	to raise; to improve	verb
353	体育	tǐyù	physical education; sports	noun
354	体育馆	tǐyùguǎn	gym; gymnasium	noun
355	甜	tián	sweet	adjective
356	跳	tiào	to jump; to dance	verb
357	听说	tīngshuō	to hear that; it is said	verb
358	挺	tǐng	quite; rather	adverb, verb
359	同事	tóngshì	colleague	noun
360	同意	tóngyì	to agree; to approve	verb
361	头发	tóufa	hair	noun
362	突然	tūrán	sudden; suddenly	adjective
363	图书馆	túshūguǎn	library	noun
364	腿	tuǐ	leg	noun
365	外地	wàidì	other places; not local	noun
366	外卖	wàimài	takeout; to order takeout	verb, noun
367	外语	wàiyǔ	foreign language	noun
368	完成	wánchéng	to complete; to finish	verb
369	碗	wǎn	bowl	noun
370	晚点	wǎndiǎn	to be late; to be delayed	verb
371	晚会	wǎnhuì	evening party	noun
372	网球	wǎngqiú	tennis	noun
373	网站	wǎngzhàn	website	noun
374	忘记	wàngjì	to forget	verb
375	为	wèi	for; for the sake of	preposition
376	为了	wèile	in order to; for the sake of	preposition
377	卫生间	wèishēngjiān	restroom; bathroom	noun
378	文化	wénhuà	culture	noun
379	屋子	wūzi	room	noun
380	西	xī	west	noun
381	西北	xīběi	northwest	noun
382	西方	xīfāng	the West; western	noun
383	西瓜	xīguā	watermelon	noun
384	西南	xīnán	southwest	noun
385	习惯	xíguàn	habit; to get used to	verb, noun
386	喜爱	xǐ’ài	to be fond of; to love	verb
387	洗衣机	xǐyījī	washing machine	noun
388	洗澡	xǐzǎo	to take a bath or shower	verb
389	夏天	xiàtiān	summer	noun
390	先	xiān	first; before	adverb
391	香蕉	xiāngjiāo	banana	noun
392	相信	xiāngxìn	to believe; to trust	verb
393	箱子	xiāngzi	box; suitcase	noun
394	向	xiàng	to face; toward	verb, preposition
395	像	xiàng	to resemble; to be like	verb, adverb, noun
396	相机	xiàngjī	camera	noun
397	小区	xiǎoqū	residential community	noun
398	小心	xiǎoxīn	to be careful; careful	verb, adjective
399	校园	xiàoyuán	campus	noun
400	校长	xiàozhǎng	principal; school head	noun
401	鞋	xié	shoe	noun
402	心里	xīnlǐ	in one's heart; in one's mind	noun
403	新年	xīnnián	new year	noun
404	新闻	xīnwén	news	noun
405	新鲜	xīnxiān	fresh	adjective
406	信	xìn	to believe; letter	verb, noun
407	信用卡	xìnyòngkǎ	credit card	noun
408	行	xíng	to be OK; all right; capable	verb, adjective
409	行李	xíngli	luggage	noun
410	兴趣	xìngqù	interest; hobby	noun
411	休假	xiūjià	to take leave; to be on vacation	verb
412	需要	xūyào	to need; need	verb, noun
413	选	xuǎn	to choose; to select	verb
414	选择	xuǎnzé	to choose; to select	verb
415	学期	xuéqī	school term; semester	noun
416	牙	yá	tooth	noun
417	牙刷	yáshuā	toothbrush	noun
418	羊	yáng	sheep	noun
419	养	yǎng	to raise; to keep (pets)	verb
420	要求	yāoqiú	to ask for; to demand; request	verb, noun
421	页	yè	page; measure word for pages	measure word
422	一定	yídìng	certain; definitely	adjective, adverb
423	一共	yígòng	altogether; in total	adverb
424	一块儿	yíkuàir	together; the same place	noun, adverb
425	一样	yíyàng	the same; alike	adjective
426	以后	yǐhòu	after; afterwards	noun
427	以前	yǐqián	before; previously	noun
428	以上	yǐshàng	above; more than	noun
429	以外	yǐwài	outside; beyond	noun
430	以为	yǐwéi	to assume wrongly; to think	verb
431	以下	yǐxià	below; under; the following	noun
432	一般	yìbān	ordinary; average; general	adjective
433	一边	yìbiān	at the same time; while	adverb
434	一直	yìzhí	always; straight; continuously	adverb
435	音乐	yīnyuè	music	noun
436	银行	yínháng	bank	noun
437	银行卡	yínhángkǎ	bank card	noun
438	饮料	yǐnliào	drink; beverage	noun
439	应该	yīnggāi	should; ought to	verb
440	影响	yǐngxiǎng	to affect; influence	verb, noun
441	用	yòng	to use	verb
442	邮件	yóujiàn	mail; email	noun
443	游客	yóukè	tourist; traveler	noun
444	游戏	yóuxì	game	noun
445	邮箱	yóuxiāng	mailbox; email inbox	noun
446	有关	yǒuguān	to be related to; concerning	verb, preposition
447	有名	yǒumíng	famous	adjective
448	有用	yǒuyòng	useful	adjective
449	又	yòu	again; also	adverb
450	羽毛球	yǔmáoqiú	badminton	noun
451	语言	yǔyán	language	noun
452	雨衣	yǔyī	raincoat	noun
453	遇到	yùdào	to run into; to encounter	verb
454	遇见	yùjiàn	to meet by chance	verb
455	园	yuán	garden; park; place	noun
456	员	yuán	person involved in an activity; member	suffix
457	愿意	yuànyì	to be willing; to want	verb
458	越	yuè	the more...the more	adverb
459	月亮	yuèliang	moon	noun
460	运动会	yùndònghuì	sports meet; athletic games	noun
461	运动员	yùndòngyuán	athlete	noun
462	咱们	zánmen	we; us (including listener)	pronoun
463	脏	zāng	dirty	adjective
464	怎么办	zěnme bàn	what to do	phrase
465	怎样	zěnyàng	how; what kind	pronoun
466	站	zhàn	to stand; to stop	verb
467	张	zhāng	to open; to stretch; measure word for flat things	verb, measure word
468	长	zhǎng	to grow; to increase; elder	verb, suffix
469	着急	zháojí	anxious; worried	adjective
470	照	zhào	to shine; to photograph; to reflect	verb
471	照顾	zhàogù	to take care of	verb
472	照片	zhàopiàn	photo; picture	noun
473	照相	zhàoxiàng	to take a photo	verb
474	直到	zhídào	until	verb
475	只	zhǐ	only; just	adverb
476	纸	zhǐ	paper	noun
477	只能	zhǐ néng	can only; have to	phrase
478	只是	zhǐshì	just; only; but	adverb, conjunction
479	只要	zhǐyào	as long as	conjunction
480	只有	zhǐyǒu	only if	conjunction
481	中	zhōng	middle; in; during	noun
482	中间	zhōngjiān	middle; between	noun
483	终于	zhōngyú	finally; at last	adverb
484	种	zhǒng	kind; type; to plant	measure word
485	重要	zhòngyào	important	adjective
486	周末	zhōumò	weekend	noun
487	主要	zhǔyào	main; major	adjective
488	注意	zhùyì	to pay attention to	verb
489	住院	zhùyuàn	to be hospitalized	verb
490	字典	zìdiǎn	character dictionary	noun
491	自行车	zìxíngchē	bicycle	noun
492	子	zi	noun suffix; small thing	suffix
493	总	zǒng	always; in total; overall	adverb, verb, adjective
494	总是	zǒngshì	always	adverb
495	嘴	zuǐ	mouth	noun
496	最好	zuìhǎo	had better; best	adverb
497	最后	zuìhòu	last; final; finally	noun
498	最近	zuìjìn	recently; lately	noun
499	做客	zuòkè	to be a guest; to visit	verb
500	作业	zuòyè	homework; assignment	noun

Source: HSK syllabus (中文水平考试 HSK 考试大纲), Center for Language Education and Cooperation, November 2025. Meanings: SuanSupply study notes.

Get all 500 HSK 3 words as a spreadsheet file you can import into Anki, Quizlet or Excel.

Download the HSK 3 list (CSV)

Is this the new or the old HSK 3 list?

This is the new list from the HSK syllabus published in November 2025, which takes effect from July 2026. It splits the test into nine levels and asks for more words at each one. The older HSK 2.0 (2010) had six levels and 600 words in total up to level 3. Test centers are switching over during 2026, so check your registration: if your sitting still uses HSK 2.0, study the older list instead.

	New HSK (2025 syllabus)	HSK 2.0 (2010)
Words up to level 3	1,000	600
Levels	9 (7 to 9 tested together)	6

How do you learn the HSK 3 words fast?

Learn a few words a dayTen to fifteen new words a day is a pace most learners can keep. Steady beats cramming.
Review with spaced repetitionReview each word just before you would forget it. A flashcard app that schedules reviews does this for you.
Say every word out loudRead the pinyin with its tone, then say the word without looking. Tones are part of the word.
Learn words in short phrasesPair each new word with one you know, like a measure word with a noun, so you remember how it is used.
Test yourself both waysUse the buttons above to hide the meanings, then hide the pinyin. Recognizing and recalling are different skills.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in HSK 3?

In the new HSK syllabus (November 2025), HSK 3 adds 500 new words, for 1,000 words in total from level 1 to 3. The older HSK 2.0 had 600 words up to level 3.

Which HSK 3 list should I study in 2026?

It depends on your test sitting. The new syllabus takes effect from July 2026, but some 2026 sittings still use HSK 2.0. Check your registration with your test center.

Can I download the HSK 3 word list?

Yes. Use the download button on this page to get all 500 words with pinyin, meaning and part of speech as a CSV file for Anki, Quizlet or a spreadsheet.

How many characters do I need for HSK 3?

The new syllabus lists 284 new characters to recognize at HSK 3. Handwriting is tested from separate, shorter character lists.

Where does this word list come from?

The words, pinyin and parts of speech come from the official HSK syllabus published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation in November 2025. The short meanings are our own study notes.

Word list from the official HSK syllabus (November 2025, in force from July 2026); meanings are SuanSupply study notes, checked but not official. SuanSupply is not affiliated with Chinese Testing International or the Center for Language Education and Cooperation.

HSK 3 vocabulary list

The short version

What words are on the HSK 3 vocabulary list?

Is this the new or the old HSK 3 list?

How do you learn the HSK 3 words fast?

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

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