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 452 HSK 3 words in our dictionary, each with pinyin, tone colors and a meaning in your language. 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 die; impassable
- 10
variant of 照[zhao4]; to shine
- 11
to make an appointment; to invite
- 12
heart; mind
- 13
to receive; to accept
- 14
until
- 15
to press; to push
- 16
each; every
- 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
finger; to point at or to
- 31
to link; to join
- 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
ox; cow
- 38
merely; only
- 39
thus; consequently
- 40
already; to stop
- 41
should; ought to
- 42
woman; female
- 43
mother
- 44
life (as the characteristic of living beings); living being
- 45
horse; CL:匹[pi3]
- 46
variant of 裡面|里面[li3 mian4]
- 47
before one's eyes; now
- 48
to come up; to approach
- 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
variant of 布[bu4]; to announce
- 70
a step; a pace
- 71
ministry; department
- 72
to repair; to patch
- 73
unpeaceful; unstable
- 74
need not; does not have to
- 75
have no choice or option but to; cannot but
- 76
unceasing; uninterrupted
- 77
whatever; no matter what (who, how etc)
- 78
talent; ability
- 79
color; multicolored
- 80
factory; yard
- 81
good aspects; strong points
- 82
imperial or royal court; government
- 83
degree; level
- 84
to succeed; success
- 85
accomplishment; success
- 86
to establish; to set up
- 87
mature; ripe
- 88
to be called; to be known as
- 89
full of; brimming with
- 90
(bound form) at first; initially
- 91
apart from; besides
- 92
first year in junior middle school; first day of a lunar month
- 93
to pass on; to spread
- 94
(of a sound) to come through; to be heard
- 95
legend; folk tale
- 96
to create; to bring about
- 97
to create; to produce
- 98
always; at all times
- 99
to exist; to deposit
- 100
village; (dialect) to scold
- 101
to exist; to be
- 102
mistaken; false
- 103
to reach; to achieve
- 104
to break; to smash
- 105
to ask about; to make some inquiries
- 106
approximately; probably
- 107
to be a substitute for; to act on behalf of
- 108
representative; delegate
- 109
to guide; to lead
- 110
at that time; originally
- 111
among; in the middle
- 112
finally; in the end
- 113
to score a point (in a competition, test etc); score
- 114
to wait; to wait for
- 115
the location below sth; afterwards
- 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
each; every
- 245
beautiful; very satisfactory
- 246
beautiful; fine
- 247
beautiful
- 248
culinary delicacy; fine food
- 249
to bewilder; crazy about
- 250
among the people; popular
- 251
nationality; ethnic group
- 252
clear; distinct
- 253
some; a certain
- 254
wood; log (CL:塊|块[kuai4],根[gen1])
- 255
don't tell me ...; could it be that...?
- 256
a man; a male
- 257
heart; innermost being
- 258
capability; ability
- 259
variant of 念[nian4], to read aloud
- 260
beginning of the year
- 261
a decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties); age
- 262
the end of the year; year-end
- 263
age; CL:把[ba3],個|个[ge4]
- 264
warm; nice and warm
- 265
to pat; to clap
- 266
sign; trademark
- 267
to judge; to determine
- 268
fat; plump
- 269
to join; to fit
- 270
matching; fitting in with
- 271
skin; peel
- 272
to criticize; criticism
- 273
apple; CL:個|个[ge4],顆|颗[ke1]
- 274
broken; damaged
- 275
destruction; damage
- 276
neat; even
- 277
variant of 期[qi1]; period
- 278
next; secondly
- 279
strange; odd
- 280
actually; in fact
- 281
around; from beginning to end
- 282
to go forward; to forge ahead
- 283
ahead; in front
- 284
ten million; countless
- 285
to leave for; to proceed towards
- 286
strong; powerful
- 287
big and strong; formidable
- 288
opportunely; coincidentally
- 289
parent; one's own (flesh and blood)
- 290
one's close relatives
- 291
personally; in person
- 292
to ask for guidance; to consult
- 293
area; region
- 294
to pass away; to die
- 295
deficiency; lack
- 296
definite; certain
- 297
lack; shortage of
- 298
indeed; really
- 299
variant of 群[qun2]
- 300
skirt; CL:條|条[tiao2]
- 301
to assign; to appoint
- 302
talent; talented person
- 303
recognition; to recognize
- 304
to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it
- 305
humanity; human race
- 306
the people
- 307
crowd
- 308
life (one's time on earth)
- 309
still; as before
- 310
easy; straightforward
- 311
how; what way
- 312
to injure; injury
- 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
since (used after a specified time or event)
- 395
silver; silver-colored
- 396
to beat; to win
- 397
to welcome; to greet
- 398
to put to use; to apply
- 399
to follow; from
- 400
to swim; variant of 遊|游[you2]
- 401
have plenty of; there's no lack of
- 402
advantageous; favorable
- 403
effective; in effect
- 404
swimming; to swim
- 405
due to; as a result of
- 406
to bring about; to create
- 407
for a long time; long since
- 408
responsibility; duty
- 409
to grow; to increase
- 410
to unfold; to spread out
- 411
to open up; to spread
- 412
true; real
- 413
to admonish; variant of 證|证[zheng4]
- 414
(bound form) whole; complete
- 415
to strive for; to vie for
- 416
evidence; proof
- 417
proof; certificate
- 418
orderly; neat
- 419
all day long; whole day
- 420
straight; to straighten
- 421
value; (to be) worth
- 422
to be in favor of; to support
- 423
to indicate; to point out
- 424
system (e.g. political, adminstrative etc); institution
- 425
to have no other option but to ...; to have to
- 426
at least; (to say the) least
- 427
only have ...; there is only ...
- 428
to manufacture; to make
- 429
to make; to manufacture
- 430
seed; species
- 431
great; important
- 432
seed; CL:顆|颗[ke1],粒[li4]
- 433
environs; surroundings
- 434
to pray for; to wish (sb bon voyage, happy birthday etc)
- 435
hog; pig
- 436
to take note of; to pay attention to
- 437
plan; idea
- 438
to advocate; to stand for
- 439
to grab; to catch
- 440
to grab hold of; to capture
- 441
to turn; to change direction
- 442
to chase; to pursue
- 443
to allow; to grant
- 444
since (a time); ever since
- 445
to realize; to be aware of
- 446
children; sons and daughters
- 447
nature; natural
- 448
to act independently; to be autonomous
- 449
(bound form) general; overall
- 450
to sum up; to conclude
- 451
always
- 452
left and right; nearby
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