HSK 3 Vocabulary List — Every Word with Pinyin & Meaning
Here is every HSK 3 word, each with pinyin, tone colors and its English meaning. The list is ordered by how often the word turns up in real Chinese text, so the highest-impact vocabulary comes first.
Updated June 2026
HSK 3 is part of the standard test of Mandarin proficiency. Below are all 454 HSK 3 words in our dictionary, each with pinyin, tone colors and an English meaning. They are ordered by how often they appear in real text, so the words that will repay your effort fastest come first.
- 1
actually; place
- 2
to make; to cause
- 3
to hold; to grasp
- 4
exactly; precisely
- 5
quilt; to cover (with)
- 6
and; furthermore
- 7
everything; every
- 8
city walls; city
- 9
to make an appointment; to invite
- 10
to die; impassable
- 11
variant of 照[zhao4]; to shine
- 12
heart; mind
- 13
to receive; to accept
- 14
until
- 15
each; every
- 16
to press; to push
- 17
(literary) tributary; branch of a river
- 18
father; also pr. [fu4 qin5]
- 19
category; genus (taxonomy)
- 20
and; besides
- 21
fire; urgent
- 22
to support; to sustain
- 23
blood; colloquial pr. [xie3]
- 24
neck; collar
- 25
variant of 救[jiu4]
- 26
knife; blade
- 27
gold; chemical element Au
- 28
to make; to build
- 29
inside; inner
- 30
to link; to join
- 31
finger; to point at or to
- 32
stone; CL:塊|块[kuai4]
- 33
(after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ...; (after a noun) person involved in ...
- 34
still; yet
- 35
sheep; goat
- 36
previously; formerly
- 37
horse; CL:匹[pi3]
- 38
merely; only
- 39
ox; cow
- 40
thus; consequently
- 41
already; to stop
- 42
should; ought to
- 43
variant of 布[bu4]; to announce
- 44
woman; female
- 45
each; every
- 46
mother
- 47
life (as the characteristic of living beings); living being
- 48
variant of 裡面|里面[li3 mian4]
- 49
compassion; kindness
- 50
to arrange; to plan
- 51
board; plank
- 52
to move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky)
- 53
to handle; to transact
- 54
to report; to inform
- 55
to defend; to protect
- 56
to conserve; to preserve
- 57
to inform; to report
- 58
to protect; to defend
- 59
behind; at the back
- 60
original; originally
- 61
to compare; to contrast
- 62
inevitable; certain
- 63
competition (sports etc); match
- 64
necessary; essential
- 65
(intransitive) to change; to vary
- 66
to change into
- 67
to make clear; to make known
- 68
standard; norm
- 69
a step; a pace
- 70
ministry; department
- 71
to repair; to patch
- 72
unpeaceful; unstable
- 73
need not; does not have to
- 74
have no choice or option but to; cannot but
- 75
unceasing; uninterrupted
- 76
whatever; no matter what (who, how etc)
- 77
talent; ability
- 78
color; multicolored
- 79
factory; yard
- 80
good aspects; strong points
- 81
imperial or royal court; government
- 82
degree; level
- 83
to succeed; success
- 84
accomplishment; success
- 85
to establish; to set up
- 86
mature; ripe
- 87
to be called; to be known as
- 88
full of; brimming with
- 89
(bound form) at first; initially
- 90
apart from; besides
- 91
first year in junior middle school; first day of a lunar month
- 92
to pass on; to spread
- 93
(of a sound) to come through; to be heard
- 94
legend; folk tale
- 95
to create; to bring about
- 96
to create; to produce
- 97
always; at all times
- 98
to exist; to deposit
- 99
village; (dialect) to scold
- 100
to exist; to be
- 101
mistaken; false
- 102
to reach; to achieve
- 103
to break; to smash
- 104
to ask about; to make some inquiries
- 105
approximately; probably
- 106
to be a substitute for; to act on behalf of
- 107
representative; delegate
- 108
to guide; to lead
- 109
at that time; originally
- 110
among; in the middle
- 111
finally; in the end
- 112
to score a point (in a competition, test etc); score
- 113
to wait; to wait for
- 114
the location below sth; afterwards
- 115
to agree; to conclude
- 116
at set dates; at regular intervals
- 117
to break; to snap
- 118
opponent; rival
- 119
to stop; to pause
- 120
to issue (an order, decree etc); to send out
- 121
well-developed; flourishing
- 122
to start; to launch
- 123
to invent; an invention
- 124
to happen; to occur
- 125
to make a speech; statement
- 126
to oppose; to be against
- 127
variant of 反覆|反复[fan3 fu4]
- 128
to protect; to defend
- 129
to visit; to call on (a person or place)
- 130
house; building
- 131
to cost; to spend
- 132
(of planes etc) to fly; flying
- 133
cost; expenditure
- 134
to part; to leave each other
- 135
to enrich; rich
- 136
good fortune; happiness
- 137
to pay; to hand over to
- 138
rich; abundant
- 139
father and mother; parents
- 140
to overtake; to catch up with
- 141
to dare; daring
- 142
to hurry (to some place)
- 143
hurriedly; without delay
- 144
quickly; at once
- 145
in all parts of (a country); various regions
- 146
an individual; oneself
- 147
everybody; all (guests, colleagues etc)
- 148
every kind of; all kinds of
- 149
each; respective
- 150
fundamental; basic
- 151
more (than sth else); even more
- 152
(old) laborer
- 153
in total there are ...; to own jointly
- 154
ancient; old
- 155
to hang; to suspend (from a hook etc)
- 156
variant of 管[guan3]
- 157
to observe; to watch
- 158
to watch; to view
- 159
to supervise; to manage
- 160
relation; relationship
- 161
light; ray (CL:道[dao4])
- 162
(of an area) vast or extensive; large-scale
- 163
light; radiance
- 164
domestic; internal (to a country)
- 165
really; sure enough
- 166
to be afraid; to be scared
- 167
well; carefully
- 168
to close; to join
- 169
rational; reasonable
- 170
peace; peaceful
- 171
the back; the rear
- 172
the year after next
- 173
each other; mutually
- 174
to make into; to change into
- 175
ring; hoop
- 176
gaiety; gladness
- 177
to live; alive
- 178
extremely; exceedingly
- 179
to record; record (written account)
- 180
to commemorate; to honor the memory of
- 181
machine; CL:臺|台[tai2],部[bu4],個|个[ge4]
- 182
to calculate; to compute
- 183
to continue; to proceed with
- 184
to support; frame
- 185
furniture; CL:件[jian4],套[tao4]
- 186
price
- 187
family member; (family) dependent
- 188
hometown; native place
- 189
value; worth
- 190
to establish; to found
- 191
to persevere with; to persist in
- 192
to establish; to set up
- 193
staunch; strong
- 194
almost; nearly
- 195
in the future; future
- 196
(bound form) to compare; (literary) to dispute
- 197
to associate (with); to have contact (with)
- 198
to deal; to trade
- 199
to receive; to entertain
- 200
to untie; to undo
- 201
rugged; sturdy
- 202
barely; only
- 203
tight; strict
- 204
urgent; emergency
- 205
barely; only
- 206
gold medal; CL:枚[mei2]
- 207
still; calm
- 208
to experience; to go through
- 209
spirit; mind
- 210
experience; to go through
- 211
to engage in (business etc); to run
- 212
old; opposite: new 新
- 213
(of a period of time) long
- 214
to decide; to determine
- 215
to bloom; to open
- 216
to launch; to develop
- 217
reliable
- 218
amusing; entertaining
- 219
empty; air
- 220
fear; to dread
- 221
variant of 褲子|裤子, trousers; pants
- 222
to trap; to surround
- 223
difficult; challenging
- 224
to waste; to squander
- 225
happy; cheerful
- 226
kind; type
- 227
power; force
- 228
immediately; at once
- 229
power; force
- 230
theory; CL:個|个[ge4]
- 231
to exploit; to make use of
- 232
reason; grounds
- 233
to combine; to join
- 234
promptly; at once
- 235
cool water; unboiled water
- 236
additional; in addition
- 237
Chinese dragon; loong
- 238
to carve wood
- 239
in confusion or disorder; in a confused state of mind
- 240
trouble; inconvenience
- 241
slowly; gradually
- 242
to satisfy; to meet (the needs of)
- 243
fault; defect
- 244
beautiful; very satisfactory
- 245
beautiful; fine
- 246
beautiful
- 247
culinary delicacy; fine food
- 248
to bewilder; crazy about
- 249
among the people; popular
- 250
nationality; ethnic group
- 251
clear; distinct
- 252
some; a certain
- 253
wood; log (CL:塊|块[kuai4],根[gen1])
- 254
don't tell me ...; could it be that...?
- 255
a man; a male
- 256
heart; innermost being
- 257
capability; ability
- 258
variant of 念[nian4], to read aloud
- 259
beginning of the year
- 260
a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties); age
- 261
the end of the year; year-end
- 262
age; CL:把[ba3],個|个[ge4]
- 263
warm; nice and warm
- 264
to pat; to clap
- 265
sign; trademark
- 266
to judge; to determine
- 267
fat; plump
- 268
to join; to fit
- 269
matching; fitting in with
- 270
skin; peel
- 271
to criticize; criticism
- 272
apple; CL:個|个[ge4],顆|颗[ke1]
- 273
broken; damaged
- 274
destruction; damage
- 275
neat; even
- 276
variant of 期[qi1]; period
- 277
next; secondly
- 278
strange; odd
- 279
actually; in fact
- 280
around; from beginning to end
- 281
to go forward; to forge ahead
- 282
ahead; in front
- 283
ten million; countless
- 284
to leave for; to proceed towards
- 285
strong; powerful
- 286
big and strong; formidable
- 287
opportunely; coincidentally
- 288
parent; one's own (flesh and blood)
- 289
one's close relatives
- 290
personally; in person
- 291
to ask for guidance; to consult
- 292
area; region
- 293
to pass away; to die
- 294
deficiency; lack
- 295
definite; certain
- 296
lack; shortage of
- 297
indeed; really
- 298
variant of 群[qun2]
- 299
skirt; CL:條|条[tiao2]
- 300
to assign; to appoint
- 301
talent; talented person
- 302
recognition; to recognize
- 303
to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it
- 304
humanity; human race
- 305
the people
- 306
crowd
- 307
life (one's time on earth)
- 308
still; as before
- 309
easy; straightforward
- 310
how; what way
- 311
to injure; injury
- 312
to come up; to approach
- 313
on top of; above-mentioned
- 314
to go up
- 315
to rise; to go up
- 316
to grieve; to be broken-hearted
- 317
jacket; upper outer garment
- 318
to design; to plan
- 319
to set up; to establish
- 320
old variant of 深[shen1]
- 321
to penetrate deeply; thorough
- 322
victory; success
- 323
to ascend; to rise
- 324
to produce; to manufacture
- 325
to exist; to survive
- 326
to state; to declare
- 327
life force; vitality
- 328
to grow; to grow up
- 329
old variant of 時|时[shi2]
- 330
room; work unit
- 331
world
- 332
time; juncture
- 333
to lose
- 334
experiment; test
- 335
undertaking; project
- 336
oil; petroleum
- 337
from beginning to end; all along
- 338
to sustain injuries; wounded (in an accident etc)
- 339
first of all; in the first place
- 340
to bind; bunch
- 341
to lose; to be beaten
- 342
to belong to; to fall under (a category)
- 343
variant of 雙|双[shuang1]
- 344
thought; thinking
- 345
to follow; to comply with
- 346
what one is good at; one's strong point
- 347
(classical) you (in letters); variant of 臺|台[tai2]
- 348
to speak; to talk
- 349
soup; hot or boiling water
- 350
to know from experience; to learn through experience
- 351
sweet; (fig.) pleasant
- 352
sky
- 353
to harmonize; to reconcile
- 354
to jump; to hop
- 355
to dance
- 356
iron (metal); arms
- 357
to stop; to halt
- 358
ache; pain
- 359
pain; suffering
- 360
diagram; picture
- 361
earth; dust
- 362
sudden; abrupt
- 363
round; lump
- 364
to retreat; to withdraw
- 365
to withdraw; to abort
- 366
to push open (a gate etc); to push away
- 367
outside (also pr. [wai4 mian5] for this sense); surface
- 368
to encircle; to surround
- 369
danger; dangerous
- 370
warm
- 371
character; script
- 372
house; room
- 373
to connect; to relate to
- 374
to come down; (completed action marker)
- 375
to go down; to descend
- 376
variant of 線|线[xian4]
- 377
to seem; to look
- 378
sophisticated; advanced (technology etc)
- 379
clearly; evidently
- 380
phenomenon; CL:個|个[ge4],種|种[zhong3]
- 381
fragrant; sweet smelling
- 382
to compare
- 383
similar; alike
- 384
(piece of) news; information
- 385
nature; character
- 386
luggage; CL:件[jian4]
- 387
image; form
- 388
form; shape
- 389
to decorate; to embellish
- 390
variant of 宣布[xuan1 bu4]
- 391
to disseminate; to give publicity to
- 392
to press; to push down
- 393
cigarette or pipe tobacco; CL:根[gen1]
- 394
before one's eyes; now
- 395
since (used after a specified time or event)
- 396
silver; silver-colored
- 397
to beat; to win
- 398
to welcome; to greet
- 399
to put to use; to apply
- 400
to follow; from
- 401
to swim; variant of 遊|游[you2]
- 402
have plenty of; there's no lack of
- 403
advantageous; favorable
- 404
effective; in effect
- 405
swimming; to swim
- 406
due to; as a result of
- 407
(bound form) person engaged in a certain field of activity; (bound form) member
- 408
to bring about; to create
- 409
for a long time; long since
- 410
responsibility; duty
- 411
to grow; to increase
- 412
to unfold; to spread out
- 413
to open up; to spread
- 414
true; real
- 415
to admonish; variant of 證|证[zheng4]
- 416
(bound form) whole; complete
- 417
to strive for; to vie for
- 418
evidence; proof
- 419
proof; certificate
- 420
orderly; neat
- 421
all day long; whole day
- 422
straight; to straighten
- 423
value; (to be) worth
- 424
to be in favor of; to support
- 425
to indicate; to point out
- 426
system (e.g. political, adminstrative etc); institution
- 427
to have no other option but to ...; to have to
- 428
at least; (to say the) least
- 429
only have ...; there is only ...
- 430
to manufacture; to make
- 431
to make; to manufacture
- 432
seed; species
- 433
great; important
- 434
seed; CL:顆|颗[ke1],粒[li4]
- 435
environs; surroundings
- 436
to pray for; to wish (sb bon voyage, happy birthday etc)
- 437
hog; pig
- 438
to take note of; to pay attention to
- 439
plan; idea
- 440
to advocate; to stand for
- 441
to grab; to catch
- 442
to grab hold of; to capture
- 443
to turn; to change direction
- 444
to chase; to pursue
- 445
to allow; to grant
- 446
since (a time); ever since
- 447
to realize; to be aware of
- 448
children; sons and daughters
- 449
nature; natural
- 450
to act independently; to be autonomous
- 451
(bound form) general; overall
- 452
to sum up; to conclude
- 453
always
- 454
left and right; nearby
Practice what you just learned
Read real Chinese with tap-to-reveal pinyin, tone colors and audio — and save words to spaced-repetition flashcards.