HSK 4 Vocabulary List — Every Word with Pinyin & Meaning
Here is every HSK 4 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 4 is part of the standard test of Mandarin proficiency. Below are all 419 HSK 4 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
king or monarch; best or strongest of its type
- 2
old variant of 卻|却[que4]
- 3
to arrange; to line up
- 4
to return; to go back to
- 5
thereupon; as a result
- 6
and; as well as
- 7
(bound form) calm; peaceful
- 8
not to have; no
- 9
bottom; base
- 10
once; already
- 11
to fix; to set
- 12
variant of 法[fa3]
- 13
thin or slender; finely particulate
- 14
(bound form) place; locality
- 15
soldiers; a force
- 16
no matter what or how; regardless of whether...
- 17
resident; inhabitant
- 18
to guard; to defend
- 19
already; since
- 20
bill; list
- 21
wife and children
- 22
to burn; to set on fire
- 23
to drop; to fall
- 24
in hand; (a situation is) in sb's hands
- 25
to not be; not
- 26
one's conduct; deed
- 27
nowadays; now
- 28
(of a person) short; (of a wall etc) low
- 29
short and small; low and small
- 30
variant of 暗[an4]
- 31
on time; before deadline
- 32
to find a place for; to help settle down
- 33
to defeat; to damage
- 34
to arrange; to exhibit
- 35
to handle (affairs); to work
- 36
thin; cold in manner
- 37
to hold; to carry (in one's arms)
- 38
variant of 寶|宝[bao3]
- 39
treasured object; treasure
- 40
valuable; precious
- 41
to wrap up; to bind up
- 42
to comprise; to include
- 43
precious stone; gem
- 44
conservative; to guard
- 45
(two, three etc) -fold; times (multiplier)
- 46
stupid; foolish
- 47
to avoid; to shun
- 48
to weave; to plait
- 49
debate; argument
- 50
ice; CL:塊|块[kuai4]
- 51
ice and snow
- 52
not to be concerned; regardless of
- 53
not so; no
- 54
to go on foot; to walk
- 55
not to care
- 56
to rub; to scratch
- 57
property; assets
- 58
wealth; riches
- 59
(raw) material; data
- 60
to work; to operate
- 61
to survey; to measure
- 62
survey; to measure
- 63
to make a copy; to plagiarize
- 64
to copy; to transcribe
- 65
variant of 沉[chen2]
- 66
heavy; hard
- 67
to undertake; to assume (responsibility etc)
- 68
to reach adulthood; an adult
- 69
to admit; to concede
- 70
honest
- 71
to bear; to support
- 72
honesty; trustworthiness
- 73
to praise; to commend
- 74
a Chinese foot; one-third of a meter
- 75
size; dimensions
- 76
(of water) to dash against; to mix with water
- 77
insect; bug
- 78
to draw out; to pull out from in between
- 79
to put on (clothes etc)
- 80
window; CL:個|个[ge4],扇[shan4]
- 81
windowsill; window ledge
- 82
pure; simple
- 83
springtime
- 84
thorn; sting
- 85
this; these
- 86
besides; in addition
- 87
from now on; since then
- 88
(of sth long) wide; thick
- 89
(coll.) large bus; coach
- 90
to defeat; to overpower
- 91
for the most part; many
- 92
expert; scholar
- 93
general assembly; general meeting
- 94
to rumble with thunder; clap of thunder
- 95
building (a relatively large, multistory one); CL:幢[zhuang4],座[zuo4]
- 96
to clean; to sweep
- 97
to give a discount
- 98
the masses; the great bulk of the population
- 99
to put on or wear (glasses, hat, gloves etc); to respect
- 100
pouch; bag
- 101
to replace; to take the place of
- 102
insipid; diluted
- 103
anxious; worried
- 104
proud of oneself; pleased with oneself
- 105
to scale (a height); to ascend
- 106
(stage) lighting; light
- 107
to climb a mountain; climbing
- 108
floor; ground
- 109
really; indeed
- 110
enemy; CL:個|个[ge4]
- 111
position; status
- 112
underground; subterranean
- 113
apex; crown of the head
- 114
to sway; to waver
- 115
to block up (a road, pipe etc); to stop up (a hole)
- 116
alone
- 117
belly; abdomen
- 118
to toughen; to temper
- 119
to contrast; contrast
- 120
regarding; as far as (sth) is concerned
- 121
many times; repeatedly
- 122
many years; for many years
- 123
many kinds of; multiple
- 124
variant of 惡心|恶心[e3 xin1]
- 125
judge (in court)
- 126
to have a high temperature (from illness); to have a fever
- 127
to feel vexed; to bother
- 128
contrary; in reverse
- 129
to turn over; to flip over
- 130
square; power or involution (math.)
- 131
to relax; to slacken
- 132
fat; fertile
- 133
one after another; in succession
- 134
to scatter; to disperse
- 135
to divide sth into (parts); to subdivide
- 136
(indicating a fraction)
- 137
to close; to seal off
- 138
social custom; CL:個|个[ge4]
- 139
nearby; neighboring
- 140
husband and wife; married couple
- 141
lady; madam
- 142
lid; top
- 143
to correct; to amend
- 144
to separate; to partition
- 145
to separate
- 146
especially; particularly
- 147
root; basis
- 148
common; general
- 149
engineering; an engineering project
- 150
to supply; to provide (goods, services etc)
- 151
bone; CL:根[gen1],塊|块[kuai4]
- 152
melon; gourd
- 153
odd; strange
- 154
government official; governmental
- 155
to close; to shut (a window etc)
- 156
scale; scope
- 157
excessive; undue
- 158
fruit (produced by a plant); (fig.) fruits (of success etc)
- 159
seawater
- 160
to keep in the mouth; to contain
- 161
cold (climate); frigid
- 162
dark; darkly
- 163
thick; deep or profound
- 164
behind; the back
- 165
a household; door
- 166
to breathe
- 167
to delimit; to transfer
- 168
cucumber; CL:條|条[tiao2]
- 169
gold; golden (opportunity)
- 170
to recover; to revert
- 171
goods; money
- 172
(literary) to catch; to capture
- 173
meals (abbr. for 伙食[huo3 shi2]); variant of 夥|伙[huo3]
- 174
partner; companion
- 175
extremely; pole (geography, physics)
- 176
season; the last month of a season
- 177
to entrust; to place in sb's care
- 178
to move emotionally; to stir up (emotions)
- 179
almost; nearly
- 180
hastily
- 181
extremely
- 182
skill; technique
- 183
since; as
- 184
to write down; to record
- 185
if
- 186
household duties; housework
- 187
firm; firmly
- 188
gradually
- 189
to lessen; to decrease
- 190
river; CL:條|条[tiao2],道[dao4]
- 191
to reduce; to lower
- 192
to provide guidance; to lecture sb
- 193
knot; sturdy
- 194
street; CL:條|条[tiao2]
- 195
explanation; to explain
- 196
to strive one's hardest; to spare no effort
- 197
to prohibit; to forbid
- 198
energy
- 199
mirror; CL:面[mian4],個|个[ge4]
- 200
to go to the bottom of a matter; after all
- 201
to assemble; to gather (transitive or intransitive)
- 202
party; gathering
- 203
to reside; to dwell
- 204
livestock enclosure; pen
- 205
scroll; book
- 206
to bloom; to blossom
- 207
apparently; it seems that
- 208
to pay a visit to; to see (sb)
- 209
to inspect; to observe and study
- 210
classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc
- 211
it can clearly be seen (that this is the case); it is (thus) clear
- 212
pocket; bag
- 213
bitter; hardship
- 214
wide; broad
- 215
wide; broad
- 216
honest; sincere
- 217
(bound form) tears; teardrops
- 218
physical strength
- 219
history; CL:門|门[men2],段[duan4]
- 220
interest (on a loan); CL:筆|笔[bi3]
- 221
benefit; (in sb's) interest
- 222
to measure
- 223
either side; both sides
- 224
foodstuff; cereals
- 225
to be classified as
- 226
stair; staircase
- 227
lawyer
- 228
wheel; disk
- 229
wheel; (derog.) Falun Gong practitioner
- 230
to fall or drop; (of the sun) to set
- 231
(wool) sweater; CL:件[jian4]
- 232
dream (CL:場|场[chang2]); (bound form) to dream
- 233
to dream about (sth or sb); to see in a dream
- 234
dense; close
- 235
tip; end
- 236
to feel with the hand; to touch
- 237
in silence; not speaking
- 238
hard to avoid; difficult to escape from
- 239
male-female; male and female
- 240
variant of 鬧|闹[nao4]
- 241
head; skull
- 242
capable; competent
- 243
concentrated; dense
- 244
signboard; plaque
- 245
to arrange in order; (math.) permutation
- 246
tray; plate
- 247
tray; plate
- 248
to cultivate; to breed
- 249
calm; tranquil
- 250
smooth; steady
- 251
urgent; pressing
- 252
the rest; the others
- 253
shallow; light (color)
- 254
in front; at the head
- 255
definitely; absolutely (not)
- 256
dear; beloved
- 257
intimate; close
- 258
light; gentle
- 259
clear-headed; sober
- 260
easy; simple
- 261
poor; destitute
- 262
poor people; the poor
- 263
right (i.e. an entitlement to sth); (classical) power and wealth
- 264
however; but
- 265
bustling with noise and excitement; lively
- 266
enthusiastic; ardent
- 267
household; dwelling
- 268
diary; CL:則|则[ze2],本[ben3],篇[pian1]
- 269
weak; feeble
- 270
variant of 散[san4]
- 271
to sweep (with a brush or broom); to sweep away
- 272
color; CL:種|种[zhong3]
- 273
variant of 曬|晒[shai4]
- 274
to dodge; to duck out of the way
- 275
lightning; CL:道[dao4]
- 276
good and honest; kindhearted
- 277
to be good at; to be adept at
- 278
to bestow (a reward); to give (to an inferior)
- 279
to injure; to harm
- 280
to go upstairs
- 281
to drop in; to visit
- 282
stature; build (height and weight)
- 283
(a person's) height
- 284
even; so much so that
- 285
poem; CL:首[shou3]
- 286
variant of 濕|湿[shi1]
- 287
whether (or not); if
- 288
disappointed; to lose hope
- 289
head; chief
- 290
handwork; manual
- 291
to regain; to retake
- 292
practiced; proficient
- 293
woods; grove
- 294
father's younger brother; paternal uncle
- 295
a brush; to paint
- 296
(bound form) commander-in-chief; (bound form) to lead
- 297
to fall asleep
- 298
it seems; seemingly
- 299
pine; CL:棵[ke1]
- 300
pine; pine tree
- 301
sour; tart
- 302
conveniently; without extra trouble
- 303
son's daughter; granddaughter
- 304
grandson; son's son
- 305
to shorten; to reduce
- 306
steps; flight of steps
- 307
on stage
- 308
to recline; to lie down
- 309
to substitute for; to take the place of
- 310
to remind; to call attention to
- 311
to fill or stuff; (of a form etc) to fill in
- 312
to carry on a shoulder pole; to choose
- 313
to choose; to select
- 314
to stick; to paste
- 315
to throw (sth in a specific direction: ball, javelin, grenade etc); to cast (a ballot)
- 316
(bound form) to penetrate; to seep through
- 317
to throw into; to put into
- 318
land; soil
- 319
to shed; to take off
- 320
outer garment; jacket
- 321
to bend; bent
- 322
(of trains etc) late; delayed
- 323
just in case; if by any chance
- 324
tail; colloquial pr. [yi3 ba5]
- 325
not necessarily; maybe not
- 326
future; tomorrow
- 327
settled; steady
- 328
unable to; incapable of
- 329
countless; numberless
- 330
to breathe; to suck in
- 331
to like; to love
- 332
watermelon; CL:顆|颗[ke1]
- 333
to attract; to appeal to
- 334
to decline; to drop
- 335
all; everyone
- 336
fresh; bright (in color)
- 337
back of neck; item
- 338
to be in contact (with sb); to associate
- 339
opposite; contrary
- 340
to miss; to remember with longing
- 341
suitcase; chest
- 342
to digest (food); (fig.) to absorb (information etc)
- 343
classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several
- 344
bridegroom; groom
- 345
bride
- 346
to wake up; to be awake
- 347
to describe; (literary) countenance
- 348
brothers; younger brother
- 349
to repair; to fix
- 350
to select; to pick
- 351
learning; knowledge
- 352
rapid; speedy
- 353
to seek; to look for
- 354
(particle equivalent to 啊 after a vowel, expressing surprise or doubt)
- 355
tooth; ivory
- 356
salt; CL:粒[li4]
- 357
tight (closely sealed); stern
- 358
to prolong; to extend
- 359
tear; teardrop
- 360
to cultivate; to raise
- 361
to shake; to rock
- 362
the waist and lower back; (bound form) kidney of an animal (as food)
- 363
leaf (CL:片[pian4]); (slang) marijuana
- 364
to move; to shift
- 365
heredity; to inherit (a trait)
- 366
to move; movement
- 367
and; as well as
- 368
same; identical
- 369
to comment; to talk about
- 370
within; less than
- 371
to draw (e.g. a bow); to pull
- 372
to guide; to lead (around)
- 373
to recommend; to introduce (from outside)
- 374
to answer; to respond
- 375
heroic; gallant
- 376
shadow; reflection
- 377
brave; courageous
- 378
limited; finite
- 379
(bound form) to encounter; to happen upon
- 380
jade
- 381
to meet
- 382
circle; round
- 383
appointment; engagement
- 384
to use; to put to use
- 385
to rest with; to lie in
- 386
over and over again; again and again
- 387
to rest with; to lie in
- 388
to fight; to engage in combat
- 389
to prevail over; to defeat
- 390
fighter; soldier
- 391
war; conflict
- 392
husband
- 393
to call out to; to greet
- 394
to catch fire
- 395
to worry; to feel anxious
- 396
to break; to fracture
- 397
disposition of troops; wave
- 398
needle; pin
- 399
to argue; to debate
- 400
to rule; to govern
- 401
after; behind
- 402
(after a noun) between; among
- 403
before; prior to
- 404
plant; vegetation
- 405
one of (sth); one out of a multitude
- 406
kind; genus
- 407
blessings; to wish sb well
- 408
famous; noted
- 409
to rotate (about an axis); to revolve
- 410
(of a person) to turn round; to face about
- 411
to turn; to go around a corner
- 412
to focus one's attention; to concentrate on (doing sth)
- 413
to decorate; interior decoration
- 414
to pursue (a goal etc) stubbornly; to seek after
- 415
(bound form) self; oneself
- 416
to have confidence in oneself; self-confidence
- 417
premier; prime minister
- 418
to prevent; to block
- 419
to dream; to have a dream
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