HSK 1 Vocabulary and Study Guide: HSK 3.0 Standard

HSK 1 Pronunciation Standards and Tone Colors

The HSK 1 Beginner level of the HSK 3.0 ($2025$ Standard) includes a vocabulary list of $300$ words. Understanding the tone system is fundamental to this level. The four main tones and the neutral tone are demonstrated using the syllable "ma": Tone 1 is represented by $mā$, Tone 2 by $má$, Tone 3 by $mǎ$, Tone 4 by $mà$, and the Neutral tone by $ma$.

Cardinal Numbers, Currency, and Quantifiers

The number one is 一 ($yī$), and it also serves as a single unit or the article "a." For example: 小川很喜欢看书，他一进去就看见一本书，书的上面有好看的水果画。 Other cardinal numbers include seven or 七 ($qī$), used in the context of waking up at $7:00$ (今天早上七点，在马东的家里，马东起床了); three or 三 ($sān$), as seen when 方小丽 runs three laps (方小丽跑三圈，停下来喝水); nine or 九 ($jiǔ$), when 林雨晴 reads at $9:00$ PM (晚上九点，在北京大学的宿舍里，林雨晴在看书); and two or 二 ($èr$), which can also mean stupid in Beijing dialect, as in 马东 needing $20$ minutes for his commute (马东说：“我的公司很远，我要坐二十分钟。”).

The number five is 五 ($wǔ$), used when something is repeated five times (你说五次了). Eight is 八 ($bā$), as in being $18$ years old (谢小文看月亮，说：“下个月，我也十八岁了。”). Six is 六 ($xiù$), used to describe 小川's age of $6$ years old. Ten is 十 ($shí$), representing the age of 周阿姨 who is over $40$ (这个工作人员是周阿姨，她四十多岁). Higher denominations include hundred or 百 ($bǎi$), used for a total of $200$ yuan (服务员说：“一共两百块。”), and thousand or 千 ($qiān$), referring to tickets and hotels costing several thousand units (机票要好几千块，酒店也要好几千块。). The number zero is 零 ($líng$), appearing in time formats such as $8:05$ (今天早上八点零五分).

Related to quantity, 一下 ($yī xià$) indicates a bit or a little duration, or a sudden action, like 马东 moving his foot. 一些 ($yī xiē$) means some or a few, such as buying some meat and vegetables. Half is denoted as 一半 ($yī bàn$) as in “half the road,” or 半 ($bàn$) alone, as in dinner being ready at $6:30$ (六点半，晚饭做好了). 一点儿 ($yī diǎn r$) or 点 ($diǎn$) signifies a small amount; for example, 小川 is a little worried. The general classifier is 个 ($gè$), used when no specific classifier exists, such as “next month” (下个月). Units of currency include 元 ($yuán$) for a ten-yuan meal (吃饭，十元) and 块 ($kuài$) for a lump, chunk, or piece, often used for prices like $200$ yuan.

Temporal Expressions: Times of Day, Weeks, and Years

Morning is 上午 ($shàng wǔ$), and the early morning is 早上 ($zǎo shang$) or 早 ($zǎo$), such as why 爸爸 leaves so early. Midday or noon is 中午 ($zhōng wǔ$), shown when 邓雨 buys dumplings at the school canteen. Afternoon is 下午 ($xià wǔ$). Evening and night are represented by 晚上 ($wǎn shang$) or 晚 ($wǎn$), used when people are late by $40$ minutes (我们晚了四十分钟！). Today is 今天 ($jīn tiān$), as in "today is Saturday" (今天星期六). Tomorrow is 明天 ($míng tiān$) and yesterday is 昨天 ($zuó tiān$).

Year-based terms include this year or 今年 ($jīn nián$) for 林小美 being $8$ years old, last year or 去年 ($qù nián$) for a racing story, and next year or 明年 ($míng nián$). General durations include 年 ($nián$) for driving for $15$ years, 月 ($yuè$) for months, and 日 ($rì$) for dates, such as "Appreciation Day" (感谢日). Minutes are 分钟 ($fēn zhōng$) and the concept of time is 时间 ($shí jiān$). The moment something happens is 时候 ($shí hou$). Hours are 小时 ($xiǎo shí$). The week is 星期 ($xīng qī$), with Sunday having three variants: 星期天 ($Xīng qī tiān$), 星期日 ($Xīng qī rì$), or 号 ($hào$) for a specific day of the month.

People, Family, and Social Titles

Individual pronouns are 我 ($wǒ$) for I/me, 你 ($nǐ$) for the informal you, 您 ($nín$) for the courteous you, and 他 ($tā$) for he/him, 她 ($tā$) for she/her, and 它 ($tā$) for it. Plurality is marked by 们 ($men$), leading to 我们 ($wǒ men$) for we/us, 你们 ($nǐ men$) for you (plural), 他们 ($tā men$) for they/them (male or mixed), 她们 ($tā men$) for they/them (specifically female), and 它们 ($tā men$) for they/them (objects/animals).

Family members include 爸爸 ($bà ba$) for father, 妈妈 ($mā ma$) for mother, 儿子 ($ér zi$) for son, and 女儿 ($nǚ ér$) for daughter. Siblings are 哥哥 ($gē ge$) for older brother, 弟弟 ($dì di$) for younger brother, 姐姐 ($jiě jie$) for older sister, and 妹妹 ($mèi mei$) for younger sister. Social circles include 朋友 ($péng you$) for friend, 男朋友 ($nán péng you$) for boyfriend, and 女朋友 ($nǚ péng you$) for girlfriend. Terms for people include 人 ($rén$), 大家 ($dà jiā$) for everyone, and 孩子 ($hái zi$) or 小朋友 ($xiǎo péng yǒu$) for children.

Professional and formal titles consist of 先生 ($xiān sheng$) for mister/teacher/husband, 老师 ($lǎo shī$) for teacher, 医生 ($yī shēng$) for doctor, 女士 ($nǚ shì$) for lady/madam, and 学生 ($xué sheng$). Specific categories of students are 小学生 ($xiǎo xué shēng$) for primary school, 中学生 ($zhōng xué shēng$) for middle school, and 大学生 ($dà xué shēng$) for university students.

Verbs of Motion, Communication, and Daily Activities

Daily routines include waking up or 起床 ($qǐ chuáng$) and going to bed/sleeping or 睡觉 ($shuì jiào$) and 睡 ($shuì$). Work-related verbs are 上班 ($shàng bān$) to start work, 下班 ($xià bān$) to finish work, and 工作 ($gōng zuò$) to work. Educational verbs are 上学 ($shàng xué$) to attend school, 上课 ($shàng kè$) to start class, 下课 ($xià kè$) to finish class, 学习 ($xué xí$) or 学 ($xué$) to learn, and 读书 ($dú shū$) to study or attend school.

Communication involves speaking, talking, or 说 ($shuō$), as well as 说话 ($shuō huà$). Listening or 听 ($tīng$) and hearing or 听见 ($tīng jiàn$) are used, as is singing or 唱 ($chàng$). Asking is 问 ($wèn$) and the polite version is 请问 ($qǐng wèn$). Other social interactions include meeting or 见 ($jiàn$), knowing someone or 认识 ($rèn shi$), knowing a fact or 知道 ($zhī dào$), and inviting/requesting or 请 ($qǐng$).

Physical actions include going or 去 ($qù$), coming or 来 ($lái$), reaching or 到 ($dào$), and returning or 回 ($huí$). To sit is 坐 ($zuò$), to stay or live is 住 ($zhù$), and to wait or let is used implicitly. Finding is 找 ($zhǎo$), while seeing or looking is 看 ($kàn$) and catching sight of is 看看见 ($kàn jiàn$). Reading aloud is 读 ($dú$) and writing is 写 ($xiě$). Buying is 买 ($mǎi$) and selling is 卖 ($mài$). Driving is 开车 ($kāi chē$) and opening/turning on is 开 ($kāi$). Dressing involves 穿 ($chuān$) for wearing clothes.

Specialized activities include preparing a meal or 做饭 ($zuò fàn$), falling ill or 生病 ($shēng bìng$), seeing a doctor or 看病 ($kàn bìng$), and playing or 玩 ($wán$).

Objects, Food, and Environment

Educational objects include 书 ($shū$) for books, 汉字 ($hàn zì$) for Chinese characters, 中文 ($Zhōng wén$) and 汉语 ($Hàn yǔ$) for the Chinese language, and 课 ($kè$) for lessons. Technology and communications feature 手机 ($shǒu jī$) for cell phones, 打电话 ($dǎ diàn huà$) to make a call, 电话 ($diàn huà$) for telephone, 电脑 ($diàn nǎo$) for computer, and 电视 ($diàn shì$) for television. Household items include 桌子 ($zhuō zi$) for table, 椅子 ($yǐ zi$) for chair, 杯子 ($bēi zi$) for cup, 房间 ($fáng jiān$) for room, and 东西 ($dōng xī$) for things.

Food and drink categories cover water or 水 ($shuǐ$), tea or 茶 ($chá$), milk or 牛奶 ($niú nǎi$), and fruit or 水果 ($shuǐ guǒ$), such as apple or 苹果 ($píng guǒ$). Meals consist of lunch or 午饭 ($wǔ fàn$), dinner or 晚饭 ($wǎn fàn$), and breakfast or 早饭 ($zǎo fàn$). Specific foods include 饭 ($fàn$) for cooked rice/meals, 米饭 ($mǐ fàn$) specifically for cooked rice, 包子 ($bāo zi$) for steamed buns, 饺子 ($jiǎo zi$) for dumplings, 面条儿 ($miàn tiáo r$) for noodles, 面包 ($miàn bāo$) for bread, and 鸡蛋 ($jī dàn$) for eggs. Vegetables or dishes are referred to as 菜 ($cài$).

Clothing and accessories are represented by 衣服 ($yī fu$) for clothes. Animals include dogs or 狗 ($gǒu$) and cats or 猫 ($māo$). Environmental elements include rain or 雨 ($yǔ$), falling rain or 下雨 ($xià yǔ$), snow or 雪 ($xuě$), and the weather or 天气 ($tiān qì$). One's home or family is 家 ($jiā$), while family members are 家人 ($jiā rén$).

Locations, Organizations, and Transportation

Geographic and institutional locations include China or 中国 ($Zhōng guó$) and countries in general or 国 ($guó$). Urban spots include 商店 ($shāng diàn$) for stores, 书店 ($shū diàn$) for bookstores, 超市 ($chāo shì$) for supermarkets, 饭店 ($fàn diàn$) for restaurants, and 电影院 ($diàn yǐng yuàn$) or 电影 ($diàn yǐng$) for cinemas and movies. Healthcare and business are represented by 医院 ($yī yuàn$) for hospital, 公司 ($gōng sī$) for company, and 店 ($diàn$) for shops or inns.

Educational institutions include 学校 ($xué xiào$) for school, 小学 ($xiǎo xué$) for elementary school, 中学 ($zhōng xué$) for middle school, and 大学 ($dà xué$) for university. Transportation methods include 车 ($chē$) for vehicles, 出租车 ($chū zū chē$) for taxis, 火车 ($huǒ chē$) for trains, and 飞机 ($fēi jī$) for airplanes.

Positional and directional words include up/above or 上 ($shàng$), down/below or 下 ($xià$), front/ahead or 前 ($qián$), back/after or 后 ($hòu$), inside or 里 ($lǐ$), outside or 外 ($wài$) and 外边 ($wài bian$), and side/edge or 边 ($biān$). General locations are denoted by 这里 ($zhè lǐ$) and 这儿 ($zhè r$) for here, and 那里 ($nà li$) and 那儿 ($nà r$) for there. This side is 这边 ($zhè biān$) and that side is 那边 ($nà bian$).

Qualifiers, Adjectives, and Feelings

Positive descriptions include good or 好 ($hǎo$), happy/glad or 高兴 ($gāo xìng$), beautiful/pretty or 漂亮 ($piào liang$), and delicious or 好吃 ($hǎo chī$). Sounds can be pleasant or 好听 ($hǎo tīng$), and activities can be fun or 好玩儿 ($hǎo wán r$). Visuals can be good-looking or 好看 ($hǎo kàn$). The word for correct or right is 对 ($duì$) or 是 ($shì$), while really or truly is 真 ($zhēn$).

Quantitative and intensifier adjectives include many/much or 多 ($duō$), few/less or 少 ($shǎo$), and very/really or 很 ($hěn$) and 非常 ($fēi cháng$). Too much or highest is 太 ($tài$). Items can be new or 新 ($xīn$) or cold or 冷 ($lěng$). Conversely, hot or to heat up is 热 ($rè$). Monetary value is described as expensive or 贵 ($guì$) or convenient/cheap or 便宜 ($biàn yí$).

Internal states include liking something or 喜欢 ($xǐ huan$), loving or 爱 ($ài$), thinking or wanting or 想 ($xiǎng$), needing or wanting or 要 ($yào$), feeling or thinking that… or 觉得 ($jué de$), and being busy or 忙 ($máng$). Situational qualifiers include having no issues such as 没事 ($méi shì$) or having a specific matter or 事 ($shì$), and questions about status like 怎么样 ($zěn me yàng$).

Interrogatives, Conjunctions, and Functional Particles

Questions are formed using what or 什么 ($shén me$), how or 怎么 ($zěn me$), who or 谁 ($shuí$), which or 哪 ($nǎ$), which one or 哪个 ($nǎ ge$), which ones or 哪些 ($nǎ xiē$), and where or 哪儿 ($nǎ r$) or 哪里 ($nǎ lǐ$). The amount or how much is 多少 ($duō shǎo$), and how many/several is 几 ($jǐ$).

Grammatical particles include 吗 ($ma$) for yes-no questions and 呢 ($ne$) for "what about?" or inquiring about locations. Suggestions or surmises are marked by 吧 ($ba$). The marker for completed actions or changes in state is 了 ($le$). Possessive or modifying relationships use 的 ($de$). Ordinal numbers are prefixed with 第 ($dì$).

Connecting words include and or 和 ($hé$), as well as also/too or 也 ($yě$). To indicate something is still in progress or still more, 还 ($hái$) is used. Frequency or repetition is marked by 再 ($zài$). Markers for "being in the process of" include 正在 ($zhèng zài$) or 在 ($zài$).

Negation is handled by 不 ($bù$) for "no/not," and 不要 ($bù yào$) for "don't/must not." Absence or "not having" is 没有 ($méi yǒu$) or 没 ($méi$). Courtesies include please or 请 ($qǐng$), thank you or 谢谢 ($xiè xie$), you're welcome or 不客气 ($bù kè qi$), goodbye or 再见 ($zài jiàn$), and apologies such as 对不起 ($duì bu qǐ$) or it doesn't matter/没关系 ($méi guān xi$). Demonstrative pronouns include this or 这 ($zhè$), this one or 这个 ($zhè ge$), these or 这些 ($zhè xiē$), and that or 那 ($nà$), that one or 那个 ($nà ge$), and those or 那些 ($nà xiē$).

Questions & Discussion

Question: 你看见我妈妈了吗？ Response: 学生说：“对不起，我没看见。”

Question: 小川的妈妈，小川的妈妈，你的儿子在找你！ Response: 周阿姨一边走一边喊，最终妈妈抱住小川，说：“小川，你去哪里了？”

Question: 老师，这两个字读什么？ Response: 叶老师说：“这两个字读‘朋友’。”

Question: 请问，公交站怎么走？ Response: 林奶奶问路，得到的指示是去寻找特定的站台或路线。

Question: 你有男朋友吗？ Response: 程风看着一个女生的眼睛问道，反映了社交关系中的询问。

Question: 还要什么？ Response: 服务员在写完订单后询问顾客是否还需要其他东西。

Question: 感觉怎么样？ Response: 李强询问曹大文对某事或某状态的感受。", "title": "HSK 1 Vocabulary and Study Guide: HSK 3.0 Standard"}