# HSK 3 Word List (HSK 3.0, 2026)

> Completes the elementary band — enough to handle most daily situations.
> 500 words with pinyin and English translations.
>
> Web version: https://anukauchika.com/chinese/hsk/level-3/
> Practice these words with free stroke-by-stroke writing drills: https://anukauchika.com/chinese/

| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 阿姨 | ā yí | maternal aunt |
| 矮 | ǎi | short (height) |
| 爱人 | ài ren | spouse |
| 安静 | ān jìng | quiet |
| 安全 | ān quán | safe |
| 把 | bǎ | CL: handful / BA |
| 搬 | bān | to move (relocate) |
| 班级 | bān jí | class; grade |
| 搬家 | bān jiā | to move house |
| 办 | bàn | to handle; to do |
| 办法 | bàn fǎ | method; way |
| 办公室 | bàn gōng shì | office |
| 半天 | bàn tiān | half of the day |
| 帮助 | bāng zhù | assistance |
| 饱 | bǎo | to eat till full |
| 报纸 | bào zhǐ | newspaper |
| 北 | běi | north |
| 北方 | běi fāng | north |
| 被 | bèi | by (passive marker) |
| 笔记 | bǐ jì | notes |
| 比较 | bǐ jiào | to compare |
| 笔记本 | bǐ jì běn | notebook |
| 比如 | bǐ rú | for example |
| 比赛 | bǐ sài | competition; match |
| 必须 | bì xū | to have to |
| 变 | biàn | to change |
| 遍 | biàn | CL: times (actions) |
| 变成 | biàn chéng | to change into |
| 变化 | biàn huà | change |
| 表演 | biǎo yǎn | play |
| 别的 | bié de | else |
| 别人 | bié ren | other people |
| 宾馆 | bīn guǎn | guesthouse |
| 冰 | bīng | ice |
| 冰激凌 | bīng jī líng | ice cream |
| 冰箱 | bīng xiāng | refrigerator |
| 病人 | bìng rén | sick person |
| 不但 | bù dàn | not only |
| 不见 | bù jiàn | not to see |
| 不用 | bù yòng | need not |
| 不同 | bù tóng | different |
| 不久 | bù jiǔ | not long after |
| 不行 | bù xíng | won't do |
| 才 | cái | only then; just |
| 菜单 | cài dān | menu |
| 参加 | cān jiā | to participate |
| 草 | cǎo | grass |
| 草地 | cǎo dì | lawn |
| 层 | céng | CL: layers/floors |
| 查 | chá | to research |
| 差 | chà | different |
| 差不多 | chà bu duō | almost |
| 尝 | cháng | to taste |
| 常 | cháng | always |
| 常见 | cháng jiàn | commonly seen |
| 常用 | cháng yòng | in common usage |
| 常常 | cháng cháng | frequently |
| 衬衫 | chèn shān | shirt |
| 成绩 | chéng jì | achievement |
| 城市 | chéng shì | city |
| 迟到 | chí dào | to arrive late |
| 出发 | chū fā | to set off |
| 出生 | chū shēng | to be born |
| 出院 | chū yuàn | to leave hospital |
| 初中 | chū zhōng | junior high school |
| 除了 | chú le | apart from |
| 船 | chuán | boat |
| 春天 | chūn tiān | spring season |
| 词典 | cí diǎn | dictionary |
| 聪明 | cōng ming | intelligent |
| 打扫 | dǎ sǎo | to clean |
| 打算 | dǎ suàn | to plan |
| 大概 | dà gài | roughly |
| 大人 | dà ren | adult |
| 大小 | dà xiǎo | large and small |
| 大熊猫 | dà xióng māo | giant panda |
| 大衣 | dà yī | overcoat |
| 带 | dài | to bring; to carry |
| 担心 | dān xīn | anxious |
| 蛋糕 | dàn gāo | cake |
| 当然 | dāng rán | of course |
| 到处 | dào chù | everywhere |
| 得 | dé | to obtain |
| 得到 | dé dào | to get |
| 得分 | dé fēn | to score |
| 的话 | de huà | if (conditional) |
| 得 | děi | to have to |
| 灯 | dēng | lamp |
| 地 | dì | earth |
| 地点 | dì diǎn | place |
| 地方 | dì fang | area |
| 地图 | dì tú | map |
| 电 | diàn | electricity |
| 电梯 | diàn tī | elevator |
| 电子书 | diàn zǐ shū | electronic book |
| 丢 | diū | to lose |
| 东 | dōng | east |
| 东北 | Dōng běi | Northeast China |
| 东方 | dōng fāng | east |
| 东南 | dōng nán | southeast |
| 冬天 | dōng tiān | winter |
| 懂得 | dǒng de | to understand |
| 动物 | dòng wù | animal |
| 动物园 | dòng wù yuán | zoo |
| 短 | duǎn | short |
| 短裤 | duǎn kù | short pants |
| 段 | duàn | CL: sections |
| 锻炼 | duàn liàn | to exercise |
| 对话 | duì huà | dialogue |
| 饿 | è | hungry |
| 而且 | ér qiě | and also; moreover |
| 耳朵 | ěr duo | ear |
| 耳机 | ěr jī | headphones |
| 发 | fā | to send out |
| 发烧 | fā shāo | to have a fever |
| 发生 | fā shēng | to happen |
| 发现 | fā xiàn | to notice |
| 发展 | fā zhǎn | development |
| 方便 | fāng biàn | convenient |
| 方便面 | fāng biàn miàn | instant noodles |
| 方法 | fāng fǎ | method |
| 方向 | fāng xiàng | direction |
| 房子 | fáng zi | house |
| 放 | fàng | to put |
| 放假 | fàng jià | to have a holiday |
| 放心 | fàng xīn | to feel relieved |
| 放学 | fàng xué | school's out |
| 分开 | fēn kāi | to separate |
| 风 | fēng | wind |
| 封 | fēng | CL: letters |
| 夫妻 | fū qī | husband and wife |
| 服务 | fú wù | to serve |
| 附近 | fù jìn | nearby |
| 复习 | fù xí | to review |
| 该 | gāi | should |
| 干净 | gān jìng | clean |
| 感兴趣 | gǎn xìng qù | to be interested |
| 感到 | gǎn dào | to feel |
| 感冒 | gǎn mào | to catch cold |
| 干 | gàn | to do |
| 刚 | gāng | just (now) |
| 刚才 | gāng cái | just now |
| 刚刚 | gāng gang | just recently |
| 高铁 | gāo tiě | high speed rail |
| 根据 | gēn jù | according to |
| 更 | gèng | more |
| 公斤 | gōng jīn | kilogram kg |
| 公园 | gōng yuán | park |
| 工作日 | gōng zuò rì | workday |
| 故事 | gù shi | narrative |
| 刮 | guā | to scrape |
| 关 | guān | to close; to shut |
| 关机 | guān jī | to turn off (device) |
| 关系 | guān xi | relation |
| 关心 | guān xīn | to care about |
| 关于 | guān yú | about; regarding |
| 关注 | guān zhù | to pay attention to |
| 国家 | guó jiā | country |
| 过节 | guò jié | to celebrate a holiday |
| 过去 | guò qù | the past; previously |
| 海 | hǎi | ocean |
| 害怕 | hài pà | to be afraid |
| 好多 | hǎo duō | many |
| 好久 | hǎo jiǔ | quite a while |
| 好像 | hǎo xiàng | as if |
| 号码 | hào mǎ | number |
| 河 | hé | river |
| 合适 | hé shì | suitable |
| 黑板 | hēi bǎn | blackboard |
| 红绿灯 | hóng lǜ dēng | traffic light |
| 后来 | hòu lái | afterwards |
| 后年 | hòu nián | the year after next |
| 后天 | hòu tiān | day after tomorrow |
| 护照 | hù zhào | passport |
| 花园 | huā yuán | garden |
| 画家 | huà jiā | painter |
| 欢迎 | huān yíng | to welcome |
| 还 | huán | to pay back |
| 环境 | huán jìng | environment |
| 换 | huàn | to exchange |
| 黄色 | huáng sè | yellow |
| 回答 | huí dá | to reply |
| 会 | huì | meeting; gathering |
| 会议 | huì yì | meeting |
| 或 | huò | maybe |
| 或者 | huò zhě | or |
| 鸡 | jī | fowl |
| 几乎 | jī hū | almost |
| 机会 | jī huì | opportunity |
| 极 | jí | extremely |
| 急 | jí | urgent |
| 记 | jì | to record |
| 季 | jì | season |
| 季节 | jì jié | season |
| 加 | jiā | to add |
| 假期 | jià qī | vacation |
| 坚持 | jiān chí | to persevere with |
| 检查 | jiǎn chá | inspection |
| 简单 | jiǎn dān | simple |
| 检票 | jiǎn piào | to inspect a ticket |
| 健康 | jiàn kāng | health |
| 见面 | jiàn miàn | to meet |
| 讲 | jiǎng | to speak |
| 角 | jiǎo | angle |
| 脚 | jiǎo | foot |
| 接 | jiē | to receive |
| 街 | jiē | street |
| 节 | jié | CL: classes/sections |
| 结婚 | jié hūn | to marry |
| 节目 | jié mù | TV or radio program |
| 节日 | jié rì | holiday |
| 结束 | jié shù | termination |
| 解决 | jiě jué | to solve |
| 姐妹 | jiě mèi | sisters |
| 借 | jiè | to borrow |
| 斤 | jīn | catty |
| 经过 | jīng guò | to pass |
| 经理 | jīng lǐ | manager |
| 久 | jiǔ | long (time) |
| 酒 | jiǔ | alcohol; wine |
| 旧 | jiù | old |
| 句 | jù | CL: sentences |
| 句子 | jù zi | sentence |
| 决定 | jué dìng | to decide |
| 卡 | kǎ | card |
| 开花 | kāi huā | to bloom |
| 开会 | kāi huì | to hold a meeting |
| 开机 | kāi jī | to turn on (device) |
| 开心 | kāi xīn | to feel happy |
| 看来 | kàn lai | apparently |
| 可 | kě | prefix can |
| 渴 | kě | thirsty |
| 可爱 | kě ài | adorable |
| 可是 | kě shì | but |
| 刻 | kè | CL: quarter hours |
| 课本 | kè běn | textbook |
| 客人 | kè rén | visitor |
| 课文 | kè wén | text |
| 空调 | kōng tiáo | air conditioning |
| 哭 | kū | to cry |
| 筷子 | kuài zi | chopsticks |
| 矿泉水 | kuàng quán shuǐ | mineral water |
| 来自 | lái zì | to come from a place |
| 蓝 | lán | blue |
| 老 | lǎo | old; prefix (fam.) |
| 老人 | lǎo rén | old man or woman |
| 离开 | lí kāi | to depart |
| 礼物 | lǐ wù | gift |
| 历史 | lì shǐ | history |
| 脸 | liǎn | face |
| 练 | liàn | to practice |
| 练习 | liàn xí | to practice |
| 凉快 | liáng kuai | cool (pleasantly) |
| 辆 | liàng | CL: vehicles |
| 聊 | liáo | to chat |
| 聊天儿 | liáo tiānr | to chat |
| 了解 | liǎo jiě | to understand |
| 邻居 | lín jū | neighbor |
| 留学 | liú xué | to study abroad |
| 留学生 | liú xué shēng | exchange student |
| 楼梯 | lóu tī | stair |
| 路边 | lù biān | curb |
| 路口 | lù kǒu | crossing |
| 马 | mǎ | horse |
| 马路 | mǎ lù | street |
| 马上 | mǎ shàng | at once |
| 满意 | mǎn yì | satisfied |
| 毛 | máo | dime (0.1 yuan); hair |
| 米 | mǐ | uncooked rice |
| 面前 | miàn qián | in front of |
| 明白 | míng bai | clear |
| 名单 | míng dān | list of names |
| 名人 | míng rén | personage |
| 南 | nán | south |
| 难 | nán | difficult to... |
| 南方 | nán fāng | south |
| 难过 | nán guò | to feel sad |
| 难看 | nán kàn | ugly |
| 男人 | nán rén | a man |
| 男生 | nán shēng | schoolboy |
| 难题 | nán tí | difficult problem |
| 难听 | nán tīng | unpleasant to hear |
| 年级 | nián jí | grade |
| 年轻 | nián qīng | young |
| 牛 | niú | ox |
| 努力 | nǔ lì | to make an effort |
| 女人 | nǚ rén | woman |
| 女生 | nǚ shēng | schoolgirl |
| 爬 | pá | to crawl |
| 怕 | pà | to be afraid |
| 拍照 | pāi zhào | to take a picture |
| 盘子 | pán zi | tray |
| 胖 | pàng | fat |
| 啤酒 | pí jiǔ | beer |
| 平时 | píng shí | ordinarily |
| 瓶子 | píng zi | bottle |
| 骑 | qí | to ride |
| 奇怪 | qí guài | strange |
| 其实 | qí shí | actually |
| 其他 | qí tā | other |
| 起 | qǐ | to rise |
| 起飞 | qǐ fēi | to take off |
| 汽车 | qì chē | car |
| 铅笔 | qiān bǐ | lead pencil |
| 前年 | qián nián | the year before last |
| 前天 | qián tiān | day before yesterday |
| 清楚 | qīng chu | clear |
| 请假 | qǐng jià | to ask for leave |
| 请客 | qǐng kè | to treat (a meal) |
| 秋天 | qiū tiān | autumn |
| 球场 | qiú chǎng | stadium |
| 裙子 | qún zi | skirt |
| 然后 | rán hòu | then |
| 热情 | rè qíng | cordial |
| 认得 | rèn de | to recognize |
| 认为 | rèn wéi | to believe |
| 认真 | rèn zhēn | conscientious |
| 容易 | róng yì | easy |
| 如果 | rú guǒ | if |
| 伞 | sǎn | umbrella |
| 扫 | sǎo | to sweep |
| 沙发 | shā fā | sofa |
| 山 | shān | mountain |
| 上衣 | shàng yī | jacket |
| 勺子 | sháo zi | spoon |
| 身边 | shēn biān | at one's side |
| 身高 | shēn gāo | height (of a person) |
| 声 | shēng | sound |
| 生活 | shēng huó | to live |
| 生气 | shēng qì | to get angry |
| 声音 | shēng yīn | voice |
| 市 | shì | market |
| 试 | shì | to test |
| 室 | shì | room |
| 世界 | shì jiè | world |
| 收 | shōu | to receive |
| 收到 | shōu dào | to receive |
| 受 | shòu | to receive |
| 瘦 | shòu | thin |
| 受到 | shòu dào | to be subjected to |
| 叔叔 | shū shu | uncle (paternal) |
| 树 | shù | tree |
| 数学 | shù xué | mathematics |
| 刷 | shuā | a brush |
| 双 | shuāng | CL: pairs |
| 水平 | shuǐ píng | horizontal |
| 司机 | sī jī | driver |
| 四季 | sì jì | four seasons |
| 太阳 | tài yang | sun |
| 糖 | táng | sugar |
| 特别 | tè bié | unusual |
| 提高 | tí gāo | to raise |
| 体育 | tǐ yù | sports |
| 体育馆 | tǐ yù guǎn | gym |
| 甜 | tián | sweet |
| 跳 | tiào | to jump |
| 听说 | tīng shuō | to hear sth said |
| 挺 | tǐng | quite; rather |
| 同事 | tóng shì | colleague |
| 同意 | tóng yì | to agree |
| 头发 | tóu fa | hair on the head |
| 突然 | tū rán | sudden |
| 图书馆 | tú shū guǎn | library |
| 腿 | tuǐ | leg |
| 外地 | wài dì | out of town |
| 外卖 | wài mài | takeout; delivery |
| 外语 | wài yǔ | foreign language |
| 完成 | wán chéng | to complete |
| 碗 | wǎn | bowl |
| 晚点 | wǎn diǎn | delayed; late |
| 晚会 | wǎn huì | evening party |
| 网球 | wǎng qiú | tennis |
| 网站 | wǎng zhàn | website |
| 忘记 | wàng jì | to forget |
| 为 | wèi | because of |
| 为了 | wèi le | for |
| 卫生间 | wèi shēng jiān | bathroom |
| 文化 | wén huà | culture |
| 屋子 | wū zi | house |
| 西 | Xī | the West |
| 西北 | Xī běi | northwest |
| 西方 | Xī fāng | the West |
| 西瓜 | xī guā | watermelon |
| 西南 | xī nán | southwest |
| 习惯 | xí guàn | habit |
| 喜爱 | xǐ ài | to like |
| 洗衣机 | xǐ yī jī | washing machine |
| 洗澡 | xǐ zǎo | to bathe |
| 夏天 | xià tiān | summer |
| 先 | xiān | beforehand |
| 香蕉 | xiāng jiāo | banana |
| 相信 | xiāng xìn | to believe |
| 箱子 | xiāng zi | suitcase |
| 向 | xiàng | towards |
| 像 | xiàng | to resemble |
| 相机 | xiàng jī | camera |
| 小区 | xiǎo qū | housing estate |
| 小心 | xiǎo xīn | to be careful |
| 校园 | xiào yuán | campus |
| 校长 | xiào zhǎng | principal; headmaster |
| 鞋 | xié | shoe |
| 心里 | xīn li | in one's heart/mind |
| 新年 | xīn nián | New Year |
| 新闻 | xīn wén | news |
| 新鲜 | xīn xiān | fresh |
| 信 | xìn | letter |
| 信用卡 | xìn yòng kǎ | credit card |
| 行 | xíng | to walk |
| 行李 | xíng li | luggage |
| 兴趣 | xìng qù | interest |
| 休假 | xiū jià | to go on vacation |
| 需要 | xū yào | to need |
| 选 | xuǎn | to choose |
| 选择 | xuǎn zé | to select |
| 学期 | xué qī | term |
| 牙 | yá | tooth |
| 牙刷 | yá shuā | toothbrush |
| 羊 | yáng | sheep |
| 养 | yǎng | to raise animals |
| 要求 | yāo qiú | to request |
| 页 | yè | CL: pages |
| 一定 | yī dìng | surely |
| 一共 | yī gòng | in total |
| 一块儿 | yī kuàir | a piece |
| 一样 | yī yàng | same |
| 以后 | yǐ hòu | after |
| 以前 | yǐ qián | before |
| 以上 | yǐ shàng | that level or higher |
| 以外 | yǐ wài | apart from |
| 以为 | yǐ wéi | to think |
| 以下 | yǐ xià | that level or lower |
| 一般 | yī bān | same |
| 一边 | yī biān | one side |
| 一直 | yī zhí | straight; always |
| 音乐 | yīn yuè | music |
| 银行 | yín háng | bank |
| 银行卡 | yín háng kǎ | bank card |
| 饮料 | yǐn liào | drink |
| 应该 | yīng gāi | ought to |
| 影响 | yǐng xiǎng | influence |
| 用 | yòng | to use |
| 邮件 | yóu jiàn | mail |
| 游客 | yóu kè | traveler |
| 游戏 | yóu xì | game |
| 邮箱 | yóu xiāng | mailbox |
| 有关 | yǒu guān | related to |
| 有名 | yǒu míng | famous |
| 有用 | yǒu yòng | useful |
| 又 | yòu | once again |
| 羽毛球 | yǔ máo qiú | badminton |
| 语言 | yǔ yán | language |
| 雨衣 | yǔ yī | raincoat |
| 遇到 | yù dào | to meet |
| 遇见 | yù jiàn | to meet |
| 园 | yuán | garden; park |
| 员 | yuán | member; -er (suffix) |
| 愿意 | yuàn yì | to wish |
| 越 | Yuè | more and more |
| 月亮 | yuè liang | the moon |
| 运动会 | yùn dòng huì | sports competition |
| 运动员 | yùn dòng yuán | athlete |
| 咱们 | zán men | we (inclusive) |
| 脏 | zāng | dirty |
| 怎么办 | zěn me bàn | what's to be done |
| 怎样 | zěn yàng | how |
| 站 | zhàn | to stand |
| 张 | zhāng | CL: flat things |
| 长 | zhǎng | to grow |
| 着急 | zháo jí | to worry |
| 照 | zhào | to shine |
| 照顾 | zhào gu | to take care of |
| 照片 | zhào piàn | photograph |
| 照相 | zhào xiàng | to take a photograph |
| 直到 | zhí dào | until |
| 只 | zhǐ | only |
| 纸 | zhǐ | paper |
| 只能 | zhǐ néng | can only |
| 只是 | zhǐ shì | merely |
| 只要 | zhǐ yào | so long as |
| 只有 | zhǐ yǒu | only have ... |
| 中 | zhōng | within |
| 中间 | zhōng jiān | the middle |
| 终于 | zhōng yú | at last |
| 种 | zhǒng | CL: types/kinds |
| 重要 | zhòng yào | important |
| 周末 | zhōu mò | weekend |
| 主要 | zhǔ yào | main |
| 注意 | zhù yì | to take note of |
| 住院 | zhù yuàn | to stay in hospital |
| 字典 | zì diǎn | dictionary |
| 自行车 | zì xíng chē | bicycle |
| 子 | zi | noun suffix |
| 总 | zǒng | always; overall |
| 总是 | zǒng shì | always |
| 嘴 | zuǐ | mouth |
| 最好 | zuì hǎo | best |
| 最后 | zuì hòu | final |
| 最近 | zuì jìn | recently |
| 做客 | zuò kè | to be a guest |
| 作业 | zuò yè | school assignment |