Quick Answer: HSK 1 requires knowing 506 Chinese words. This free list includes hanzi, pinyin, English translations, and audio for every word, grouped by lesson. No account needed.
Lesson 1 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
的
de
of; ~'s (possessive particle)
了
le
(completed action marker)
我
wǒ
I; me; my
是
shì
to be (followed by substantives only)
你
nǐ
you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您)
在
zài
to exist; to be alive
不
bù
no; not so
有
yǒu
to have; there is
他
tā
he; him (used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant)
这
zhè
(pronoun) this; these
就
jiù
(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then
个
gè
(general measure word)
和
hé
(joining two nouns) and; together with; with (Taiwan pr. [hàn])
人
rén
person; people
说
shuì
to persuade
我们
wǒ men
we
要
yào
to want; to need; to ask for
好
hǎo
good
一
yī
one
会
huì
can; to have the skill; to know how to
也
yě
(adverb) also; both ... and ... (before predicates only)
都
dōu
all; both; entirely
对
duì
right; correct
到
dào
to reach; to arrive
上
shàng
up; above; previous
来
lái
to come
很
hěn
(adverb of degree)
还
hái
still
去
qù
to go
她
tā
she
着
zhāo
(chess) move
想
xiǎng
to think (about)
给
gěi
to
没有
méi yǒu
haven't
能
néng
can
那
nà
(specifier) that; the; those (colloquial pr. [nèi])
他们
tā men
they
看
kān
to look after
做
zuò
to make; to produce
什么
shén me
what?
吧
bā
bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc)
点
diǎn
point
过
guò
to cross
Lesson 2 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
没
méi
(negative prefix for verbs) have not; not
大
dà
big; large; great
从
cóng
from
下
xià
down
中
zhōng
within; among; in
里
lǐ
lining
真
zhēn
really
现在
xiàn zài
now
年
nián
year
用
yòng
to use
多
duō
many; much
两
liǎng
two
等
děng
class
吗
má
(coll.) what?
天
tiān
day
出
chū
to go out
太
tài
highest
最
zuì
most
再
zài
again; once more; re-
呢
ne
particle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word ('What about ...?', 'And ...
次
cì
next in sequence
小
xiǎo
small
知道
zhī dào
to know; to become aware of
时候
shí hou
time
走
zǒu
to walk
工作
gōng zuò
to work
事
shì
matter
后
hòu
back; behind; after; later
家
jiā
home
你们
nǐ men
you (plural)
前
qián
front
时间
shí jiān
time
怎么
zěn me
how?
爱
ài
to love; to be fond of; to like
地
de
-ly
这些
zhè xiē
these
跟
gēn
heel
喜欢
xǐ huan
to like; to be fond of
吃
chī
to eat; to consume
谁
shéi
who
新
xīn
new
找
zhǎo
to try to find
打
dá
dozen (loanword)
Lesson 3 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
还有
hái yǒu
furthermore
快
kuài
rapid
比
bǐ
to compare
今天
jīn tiān
today
话
huà
dialect
还是
hái shi
still (as before)
觉得
jué de
to think that ...; to feel that ...
月
yuè
moon
看到
kàn dào
to see
起来
qǐ lai
to stand up
一起
yī qǐ
in the same place
起
qǐ
to rise
几
jī
small table
见
jiàn
to see
车
chē
car
一些
yī xiē
some
找到
zhǎo dào
to find
手
shǒu
hand
听
yǐn
smile (archaic)
非常
fēi cháng
very; really
开
kāi
to open (transitive or intransitive)
叫
jiào
to shout
孩子
hái zi
child
这里
zhè lǐ
here
别
bié
to leave; to part (from)
请
qǐng
to ask
钱
qián
money; coin
本
běn
root
回
huí
to circle
东西
dōng xī
east and west
三
sān
three
一样
yī yàng
same
买
mǎi
to buy
重要
zhòng yào
important
问
wèn
to ask; to inquire
告诉
gào sù
to press charges; to file a complaint
出来
chū lái
to come out
地方
dì fāng
region
最后
zuì hòu
final
老
lǎo
old; aged; elderly
岁
suì
classifier for years (of age)
行
háng
row
号
háo
roar
Lesson 4 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
放
fàng
to put
朋友
péng you
friend
住
zhù
to live
拿
ná
to hold
高
gāo
high
正
zhēng
first month of the lunar year
先
xiān
early
得到
dé dào
to get
那些
nà xiē
those
准备
zhǔn bèi
preparation
水
shuǐ
water
进
jìn
to go forward
写
xiě
to write
国家
guó jiā
country; nation; state
您
nín
you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你)
电话
diàn huà
telephone
女
nǚ
female
送
sòng
to send; to deliver; to transmit
分
fēn
to divide; to separate
笑
xiào
to laugh; to smile
女人
nǚ rén
woman
小时
xiǎo shí
hour
有些
yǒu xiē
some
帮
bāng
to help
日
rì
sun
别人
bié ren
other people; others; other person
站
zhàn
station
路
lù
road
男人
nán rén
a man
正在
zhèng zài
just at (that time)
门
mén
gate
喝
hē
to drink
穿
chuān
to wear
学校
xué xiào
school
花
huā
flower
坐
zuò
to sit
早
zǎo
early
们
men
plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
身上
shēn shang
on the body
干
gān
dry
认识
rèn shi
to know
睡
shuì
to sleep
明天
míng tiān
tomorrow
Lesson 5 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
回来
huí lai
to return; to come back
四
sì
four
块
kuài
lump; chunk; piece
外
wài
outside
晚上
wǎn shang
evening
妈
mā
ma
球
qiú
ball
谢谢
xiè xie
to thank
学
xué
to learn
多少
duō shǎo
number
第二
dì èr
second
妈妈
mā ma
mama
错
cuò
mistake
少
shǎo
few
别的
bié de
else
难
nán
difficult (to...)
电影
diàn yǐng
movie; film
间
jiān
between
哪
nǎ
how
跑
páo
(of an animal) to paw (the ground)
回家
huí jiā
to return home
昨天
zuó tiān
yesterday
晚
wǎn
evening
书
shū
book
五
wǔ
five
先生
xiān sheng
teacher
男
nán
male
动
dòng
(of sth) to move
医院
yī yuàn
hospital
重
chóng
to repeat
真的
zhēn de
really, truly, indeed
子
zǐ
son
远
yuǎn
far
口
kǒu
mouth
学生
xué sheng
student
二
èr
two
儿子
ér zi
son
明白
míng bai
clear
杯
bēi
cup
记得
jì de
to remember
歌
gē
song
半
bàn
half
中国
Zhōng guó
China
Lesson 6 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
身体
shēn tǐ
the body
元
yuán
currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)
哪里
nǎ lǐ
where?
包
bāo
to cover
楼
lóu
house with more than 1 story
那里
nà li
there; that place
电视
diàn shì
television; TV
飞
fēi
to fly
介绍
jiè shào
to introduce (sb to sb)
下午
xià wǔ
afternoon
出去
chū qù
to go out
学习
xué xí
to learn
老师
lǎo shī
teacher
六
liù
six
唱
chàng
to sing
大学
dà xué
university
病
bìng
illness
医生
yī shēng
doctor
名字
míng zi
name (of a person or thing)
她们
tā men
they
马上
mǎ shàng
at once
今年
jīn nián
this year
手机
shǒu jī
cell phone
忙
máng
busy
十
shí
ten
看见
kàn jiàn
to see
听到
tīng dào
to hear
女儿
nǚ ér
daughter
说话
shuō huà
to speak
汽车
qì chē
car
爸爸
bà ba
(coll.) father; dad
字
zì
letter
高兴
gāo xìng
happy
白
bái
white
去年
qù nián
last year
热
rè
to warm up
试
shì
to test
来到
lái dào
to arrive; to come
睡觉
shuì jiào
to go to bed
电脑
diàn nǎo
computer
票
piào
ticket
西
xī
west
床
chuáng
bed
Lesson 7 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
第
dì
(prefix indicating ordinal number, as in 六 'sixth')
回到
huí dào
to return to
差
chā
difference; discrepancy
家里
jiā lǐ
home
教
jiāo
to teach
不用
bù yòng
need not
读
dòu
comma
忘
wàng
to forget
认真
rèn zhēn
conscientious
电
diàn
lightning
房子
fáng zi
house
冷
lěng
cold
山
shān
mountain; hill
常
cháng
always
飞机
fēi jī
airplane
早上
zǎo shang
early morning
回答
huí dá
to reply; to answer
记
jì
to record
关
guān
mountain pass
哥
gē
elder brother
爸
bà
father
风
fēng
wind
回去
huí qu
to return
累
lěi
to accumulate
打开
dǎ kāi
to open
病人
bìng rén
sick person
肉
ròu
meat
打电话
dǎ diàn huà
to make a telephone call
休息
xiū xi
rest
班
bān
team; class; grade
坏
huài
bad
一边
yī biān
one side
洗
xǐ
to wash; to bathe
有的
yǒu de
(there are) some (who are...)
毛
máo
hair
忘记
wàng jì
to forget
房间
fáng jiān
room
八
bā
eight; 8
左
zuǒ
left
吃饭
chī fàn
to have a meal
动作
dòng zuò
movement; motion; action
七
qī
seven
菜
cài
dish (type of food)
Lesson 8 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
衣服
yī fu
clothes
饿
è
to be hungry
树
shù
tree
右
yòu
right; right-hand side
上班
shàng bān
to go to work
生日
shēng rì
birthday
东
dōng
east
姐姐
jiě jie
older sister
课
kè
subject
国
guó
country; nation; state
饭
fàn
cooked rice
一半
yī bàn
half
家人
jiā rén
family member
有时
yǒu shí
sometimes
小姐
xiǎo jie
young lady
对不起
duì bu qǐ
I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon
进去
jìn qù
to go in
哥哥
gē ge
older brother
没什么
méi shén me
nothing
路上
lù shang
on the road
天气
tiān qì
weather
最好
zuì hǎo
best
南
nán
south
考试
kǎo shì
to take an exam
有时候
yǒu shí hou
sometimes
慢
màn
slow
旁边
páng biān
side; adjacent place
同学
tóng xué
to study at the same school
北
běi
north
帮忙
bāng máng
to help
进来
jìn lái
to come in
见面
jiàn miàn
to meet; to see each other
好看
hǎo kàn
good-looking
中间
zhōng jiān
the middle; the inside
女生
nǚ shēng
schoolgirl
茶
chá
tea
地点
dì diǎn
place
雨
yǔ
rain
星期
xīng qī
week
车上
chē shàng
Car
考
kǎo
to beat
九
jiǔ
nine
妹妹
mèi mei
younger sister
Lesson 9 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
生气
shēng qì
to get angry
地上
dì shang
on the ground
上午
shàng wǔ
morning
一会儿
yī huì r
a moment
贵
guì
expensive
记住
jì zhu
to remember
下次
xià cì
next time
知识
zhī shi
knowledge
机场
jī chǎng
airport; airfield
学院
xué yuàn
college
老人
lǎo rén
old man or woman
页
xié
head
工人
gōng rén
worker
那边
nà bian
over there
弟弟
dì di
younger brother
干净
gān jìng
clean
在家
zài jiā
to be at home
百
bǎi
hundred
网上
wǎng shàng
online
好吃
hǎo chī
tasty
明年
míng nián
next year
再见
zài jiàn
goodbye
妹
mèi
younger sister
这儿
zhè r
here
哪儿
nǎ r
where?
不对
bù duì
incorrect
中午
zhōng wǔ
noon
起床
qǐ chuáng
to get out of bed
是不是
shì bù shì
is or isn't
开车
kāi chē
to drive a car
干什么
gàn shén me
what are you doing?
奶
nǎi
breast
门口
mén kǒu
doorway
常常
cháng cháng
frequently
这边
zhè biān
this side
男生
nán shēng
schoolboy
火车
huǒ chē
train
奶奶
nǎi nai
(informal) grandma (paternal grandmother)
上次
shàng cì
last time
唱歌
chàng gē
to sing a song
右边
yòu bian
right side
上学
shàng xué
to go to school
牛奶
niú nǎi
cow's milk
Lesson 10 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
女朋友
nǚ péng you
girlfriend
上课
shàng kè
to go to class
爷爷
yé ye
(coll.) father's father
听见
tīng jiàn
to hear
新年
xīn nián
New Year
男朋友
nán péng you
boyfriend
下班
xià bān
to finish work
水果
shuǐ guǒ
fruit
读书
dú shū
to read a book
那儿
nà r
there
商店
shāng diàn
store; shop
鸡蛋
jī dàn
(chicken) egg
没关系
méi guān xi
it doesn't matter
地图
dì tú
map
姐
jiě
older sister
坐下
zuò xia
to sit down
零
líng
zero
桌子
zhuō zi
table
白天
bái tiān
daytime
请问
qǐng wèn
Excuse me, may I ask...?
哪些
nǎ xiē
which ones?
晚饭
wǎn fàn
evening meal
小学
xiǎo xué
elementary school; primary school
图书馆
tú shū guǎn
library
开玩笑
kāi wán xiào
to play a joke
国外
guó wài
abroad
日期
rì qī
date
饭店
fàn diàn
restaurant
中学
zhōng xué
middle school
上网
shàng wǎng
to go online
商场
shāng chǎng
shopping mall
楼下
lóu xià
downstairs
面包
miàn bāo
bread
外国
wài guó
foreign (country)
生病
shēng bìng
to fall ill
好听
hǎo tīng
pleasant to hear
开会
kāi huì
to hold a meeting
钱包
qián bāo
purse
大学生
dà xué shēng
university student
车站
chē zhàn
rail station
走路
zǒu lù
to walk
小朋友
xiǎo péng yǒu
child
左边
zuǒ bian
left
Lesson 11 Vocabulary (43 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
北京
Běi jīng
Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China
有用
yǒu yòng
useful
爱好
ài hào
to like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on
不大
bù dà
not very
午饭
wǔ fàn
lunch
上车
shàng chē
to get on or into (a bus, train, car etc)
马路
mǎ lù
street
门票
mén piào
ticket (for theater, cinema etc)
机票
jī piào
air ticket
楼上
lóu shàng
upstairs
打球
dǎ qiú
to play ball
下雨
xià yǔ
to rain
下车
xià chē
to get off or out of (a bus, train, car etc)
杯子
bēi zi
cup
放假
fàng jià
to have a holiday or vacation
路口
lù kǒu
crossing
有名
yǒu míng
famous
中文
Zhōng wén
Chinese language
弟
dì
younger brother
电视机
diàn shì jī
television set
早饭
zǎo fàn
breakfast
一点儿
yī diǎn r
erhua variant of 一点
书店
shū diàn
bookstore
放学
fàng xué
to dismiss students at the end of the school day
关上
guān shàng
to close (a door)
玩儿
wán r
to play
半天
bàn tiān
half of the day
星期天
Xīng qī tiān
Sunday
车票
chē piào
ticket (for a bus or train)
看病
kàn bìng
to visit a doctor
电影院
diàn yǐng yuàn
cinema; movie theater
前天
qián tiān
the day before yesterday
后天
hòu tiān
the day after tomorrow
渴
kě
thirsty
洗手间
xǐ shǒu jiān
toilet
下课
xià kè
to finish class
请假
qǐng jià
to request leave of absence
米饭
mǐ fàn
(cooked) rice
里边
lǐ bian
inside
外语
wài yǔ
foreign language
没事儿
méi shì r
to have spare time
一块儿
yī kuài r
erhua variant of 一块
书包
shū bāo
schoolbag
Lesson 12 Vocabulary (33 words)
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
小学生
xiǎo xué shēng
primary school student
外边
wài bian
outside
中学生
zhōng xué shēng
middle-school student
本子
běn zi
book
星期日
Xīng qī rì
Sunday
课本
kè běn
textbook
汉语
Hàn yǔ
Chinese language
后边
hòu bian
the back; the rear; the last bit
西边
xī biān
west
上边
shàng bian
the top
打车
dǎ chē
to take a taxi (in town)
东边
dōng bian
east
包子
bāo zi
bao (steamed stuffed bun)
不客气
bù kè qi
you're welcome
南边
nán bian
south
北边
běi biān
north
女孩儿
nǚ hái r
erhua variant of 女孩
下边
xià bian
under
汉字
hàn zì
Chinese character
请进
qǐng jìn
'please come in'
好玩儿
hǎo wán r
erhua variant of 好玩
前边
qián bian
front
小孩儿
xiǎo hái r
erhua variant of 小孩
教学楼
jiào xué lóu
teaching block
网友
wǎng yǒu
online friend
课文
kè wén
text
请坐
qǐng zuò
please, have a seat
半年
bàn nián
half a year
听写
tīng xiě
(of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise)
面条儿
miàn tiáo r
erhua variant of 面条
男孩儿
nán hái r
erhua variant of 男孩
一下儿
yī xià r
erhua variant of 一下
有一些
yǒu yī xiē
somewhat
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words do I need for HSK 1?
HSK 1 requires 506 vocabulary words. This list covers all of them with pinyin, translations, and audio.
Do I need to handwrite the characters for HSK 1?
No. The HSK 1 exam only requires character recognition (reading). Handwriting becomes important from HSK 3 onward.
How should I memorize these 506 words?
Use spaced repetition: our flashcards use the SM-2 algorithm to schedule reviews right before you would forget. 10 minutes daily is enough.