HSK levels explained: what each one means and which you need
Chinese proficiency is measured on the HSK scale: six levels in the old exam format and nine in the new HSK 3.0 syllabus. The higher the number, the more words and the harder the tasks: level 1 is your first conversations about yourself, level 6 is the language of newspaper articles and lectures. Below: what each HSK level means, how many words it takes, and which level you need — for university, for work or for a trip.
How many HSK levels are there
In the old format, six: HSK 1 to HSK 6. The new syllabus, published in November 2025, has nine levels, grouped into three stages:
- Levels 1–3 — everyday communication.
- Levels 4–6 — study, work and daily life.
- Levels 7–9 — professional and academic Chinese. They are taken as one combined test.
The first six levels kept their numbers, but the requirements went up. What exactly changed and when the exam moves to the new syllabus is covered in the article "HSK 3.0".
HSK vocabulary: how many words at each level
The table shows how many words each level adds under the new syllabus and how many you have by its end, how many the old syllabus had, and what you can do once the level is done.
| Level | HSK 3.0: new / total | Old HSK | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 / 300 | 150 | Introductions, family, time, food and shopping, getting around |
| HSK 2 | 200 / 500 | 300 | Describe people and things, give directions, talk about a trip |
| HSK 3 | 500 / 1,000 | 600 | Compare, explain reasons, handle everyday errands |
| HSK 4 | 1,000 / 2,000 | 1,200 | Argue and persuade, talk about work, studies, the news |
| HSK 5 | 1,600 / 3,600 | 2,500 | Read articles, follow a long line of reasoning |
| HSK 6 | 1,800 / 5,400 | 5,000 | Newspaper articles, business reports, lectures |
| HSK 7–9 | another 5,600 | no such levels | Professional and academic Chinese |
Look at the start of the table: level 1 under the new syllabus is twice the old one, and level 4 is now 2,000 words instead of 1,200. So when someone says "I have HSK 4", it's worth asking under which syllabus.
HSK 1 and HSK 2: first conversations
HSK 1 is the very beginning. You can say hello, talk about yourself and your family, give the time and the date, order food and ask the way. A word of this level: . In our course level 1 is 61 lessons: about two months at one lesson a day. All the words are in the list "HSK 1 words", and you can test yourself with the HSK 1 mini test.
HSK 2 builds on the first. You no longer talk only about yourself: you describe people and things, give directions around town, talk about a trip, make arrangements and give advice. A typical word: . It's 39 lessons, about a month and a half. The list is "HSK 2 words", the check is the HSK 2 test.
What level is HSK 3, and HSK 4
HSK 3 closes the first stage. Conversation gets freer: you describe people and their personalities, compare, explain reasons, talk about plans and about what has already happened, and handle everyday errands, from shopping to a visit to the doctor. A word of the level: . In the course it's 94 lessons, about three months. The list is "HSK 3 words", the check is the HSK 3 test.
HSK 4 is the first level of the intermediate stage and the step from everyday talk to talking about anything. You describe feelings, argue and persuade, discuss work, studies, money, health, the news and technology, and read texts longer than a couple of paragraphs. A word of the level: . It's 169 lessons, about five and a half months. The list is "HSK 4 words", the check is the HSK 4 test.
From level 3 on, the exam is no longer just multiple choice: a writing part appears, and HSK 3–6 are now taken together with the HSKK speaking test. Details are in the article "The HSK exam".
HSK 5 and HSK 6: the language of news and books
HSK 5 is no longer textbook dialogues but the language of news, work and books. You follow a long argument, debate and clarify, read articles and catch nuances like "gradually", "despite" or "all the more". The topics are business and the economy, science and technology, society, and Chinese traditions and history. A word of the level: . The course has 269 lessons, about nine months. The list is "HSK 5 words", the check is the HSK 5 test.
HSK 6 is the last of the "regular" levels: only the combined 7–9 are above it. This is the language of newspaper articles, business reports and lectures: you tell apart words with close meanings, spoken and written style, and you understand the connectors of a complex text and set expressions. A word of the level: . It's 302 lessons, about ten months. The list is "HSK 6 words", the check is the HSK 6 test.
Add it all up and the six levels are 934 lessons, roughly two and a half years at one lesson a day. That's our course's pace, not a promise: skipped days stretch it, two lessons a day shorten it.
Which HSK level do you need
- To study at a Chinese university. Level 4 is often cited as the basic language requirement for studying in China. But the actual bar is set by the university and depends on the program: check the requirements on your university's website, and also which version of the exam it accepts.
- For work. There is no single rule: the employer sets the level, and it depends on what you'll be doing in Chinese. Ask before you register for the exam.
- For travel. You don't need a certificate at all, and HSK 1–2 knowledge is usually enough to get by in simple situations: say hello, order food, ask the way, buy a ticket. You won't have free conversation at that level yet.
Keep the validity in mind too: exam results are valid for two years. If you need the certificate by a certain date, there's no point in taking it too early.
How to find out your level right now
The quickest way is to take the mini tests in a row, starting with level 1: 20 questions on the words of the level — by ear, by the character and by the meaning. The level where you start making noticeably more mistakes is your next goal. All the tests and how to read their results are in the article "HSK tests".
A mini test checks vocabulary, not exam readiness: there's no timed listening or reading in it. How to prepare for the exam itself is in the article "How to prepare for the HSK".
Find your level
Mini tests on the words of each HSK level: 20 questions, results right away.
Start with HSK 1
