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 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
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
not to have; no
- 8
once; already
- 9
to fix; to set
- 10
(bound form) place; locality
- 11
(bound form) calm; peaceful
- 12
thin or slender; finely particulate
- 13
soldiers; a force
- 14
variant of 法[fa3]
- 15
no matter what or how; regardless of whether...
- 16
resident; inhabitant
- 17
to guard; to defend
- 18
already; since
- 19
wife and children
- 20
to burn; to set on fire
- 21
to drop; to fall
- 22
in hand; (a situation is) in sb's hands
- 23
one's conduct; deed
- 24
nowadays; now
- 25
(of a person) short; (of a wall etc) low
- 26
short and small; low and small
- 27
variant of 暗[an4]
- 28
on time; before deadline
- 29
to find a place for; to help settle down
- 30
to defeat; to damage
- 31
to arrange; to exhibit
- 32
to handle (affairs); to work
- 33
thin; cold in manner
- 34
to hold; to carry (in one's arms)
- 35
variant of 寶|宝[bao3]
- 36
treasured object; treasure
- 37
valuable; precious
- 38
to wrap up; to bind up
- 39
to comprise; to include
- 40
precious stone; gem
- 41
conservative; to guard
- 42
(two, three etc) -fold; times (multiplier)
- 43
stupid; foolish
- 44
to avoid; to shun
- 45
to weave; to plait
- 46
debate; argument
- 47
ice; CL:塊|块[kuai4]
- 48
ice and snow
- 49
not to be concerned; regardless of
- 50
not so; no
- 51
to go on foot; to walk
- 52
not to care
- 53
to rub; to scratch
- 54
property; assets
- 55
wealth; riches
- 56
(raw) material; data
- 57
to work; to operate
- 58
to survey; to measure
- 59
survey; to measure
- 60
to make a copy; to plagiarize
- 61
to copy; to transcribe
- 62
variant of 沉[chen2]
- 63
heavy; hard
- 64
to undertake; to assume (responsibility etc)
- 65
to reach adulthood; an adult
- 66
to admit; to concede
- 67
honest
- 68
to bear; to support
- 69
honesty; trustworthiness
- 70
to praise; to commend
- 71
a Chinese foot; one-third of a meter
- 72
size; dimensions
- 73
(of water) to dash against; to mix with water
- 74
insect; bug
- 75
to draw out; to pull out from in between
- 76
to put on (clothes etc)
- 77
window; CL:個|个[ge4],扇[shan4]
- 78
windowsill; window ledge
- 79
pure; simple
- 80
springtime
- 81
thorn; sting
- 82
this; these
- 83
besides; in addition
- 84
from now on; since then
- 85
(of sth long) wide; thick
- 86
(coll.) large bus; coach
- 87
to defeat; to overpower
- 88
for the most part; many
- 89
expert; scholar
- 90
general assembly; general meeting
- 91
to rumble with thunder; clap of thunder
- 92
building (a relatively large, multistory one); CL:幢[zhuang4],座[zuo4]
- 93
to clean; to sweep
- 94
to give a discount
- 95
the masses; the great bulk of the population
- 96
to put on or wear (glasses, hat, gloves etc); to respect
- 97
pouch; bag
- 98
to replace; to take the place of
- 99
insipid; diluted
- 100
bill; list
- 101
anxious; worried
- 102
proud of oneself; pleased with oneself
- 103
to scale (a height); to ascend
- 104
(stage) lighting; light
- 105
to climb a mountain; climbing
- 106
bottom; base
- 107
floor; ground
- 108
really; indeed
- 109
enemy; CL:個|个[ge4]
- 110
position; status
- 111
underground; subterranean
- 112
apex; crown of the head
- 113
to sway; to waver
- 114
to block up (a road, pipe etc); to stop up (a hole)
- 115
alone
- 116
belly; abdomen
- 117
to toughen; to temper
- 118
to contrast; contrast
- 119
regarding; as far as (sth) is concerned
- 120
many times; repeatedly
- 121
many years; for many years
- 122
many kinds of; multiple
- 123
variant of 惡心|恶心[e3 xin1]
- 124
judge (in court)
- 125
to have a high temperature (from illness); to have a fever
- 126
to feel vexed; to bother
- 127
contrary; in reverse
- 128
to turn over; to flip over
- 129
square; power or involution (math.)
- 130
to relax; to slacken
- 131
fat; fertile
- 132
to not be; not
- 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
scroll; book
- 205
to bloom; to blossom
- 206
apparently; it seems that
- 207
to pay a visit to; to see (sb)
- 208
to inspect; to observe and study
- 209
classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc
- 210
it can clearly be seen (that this is the case); it is (thus) clear
- 211
pocket; bag
- 212
bitter; hardship
- 213
wide; broad
- 214
wide; broad
- 215
honest; sincere
- 216
(bound form) tears; teardrops
- 217
physical strength
- 218
history; CL:門|门[men2],段[duan4]
- 219
interest (on a loan); CL:筆|笔[bi3]
- 220
benefit; (in sb's) interest
- 221
to measure
- 222
either side; both sides
- 223
foodstuff; cereals
- 224
to be classified as
- 225
stair; staircase
- 226
lawyer
- 227
wheel; disk
- 228
wheel; (derog.) Falun Gong practitioner
- 229
to fall or drop; (of the sun) to set
- 230
(wool) sweater; CL:件[jian4]
- 231
dream (CL:場|场[chang2]); (bound form) to dream
- 232
to dream about (sth or sb); to see in a dream
- 233
dense; close
- 234
tip; end
- 235
to feel with the hand; to touch
- 236
in silence; not speaking
- 237
hard to avoid; difficult to escape from
- 238
male-female; male and female
- 239
variant of 鬧|闹[nao4]
- 240
head; skull
- 241
capable; competent
- 242
concentrated; dense
- 243
signboard; plaque
- 244
to arrange in order; (math.) permutation
- 245
tray; plate
- 246
tray; plate
- 247
to cultivate; to breed
- 248
calm; tranquil
- 249
smooth; steady
- 250
urgent; pressing
- 251
the rest; the others
- 252
shallow; light (color)
- 253
in front; at the head
- 254
definitely; absolutely (not)
- 255
dear; beloved
- 256
intimate; close
- 257
light; gentle
- 258
clear-headed; sober
- 259
easy; simple
- 260
poor; destitute
- 261
poor people; the poor
- 262
livestock enclosure; pen
- 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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