What HSK 2 is
Level 2 of the HSK picks up where level 1 ends. With it you talk about more than yourself: you describe people and things, give directions, tell about a trip, make arrangements and give advice.
In the new HSK 3.0 syllabus level 2 has 200 new words — 500 together with level 1 — and 125 new characters to recognize. The level 1 words are not repeated here: their list is on the HSK 1 words page.
How to learn the words on the list
- By topic, not alphabetically. Words of one topic come up together: “tea”, “drink” and “cup” stick as one scene. That is why the list is split into topics, in the order they come in the course.
- With sound from the start. Tap a word to hear how it is pronounced. The tone is part of the word: māma and mǎ differ only in their melody. If the tones still blur together, start with the pinyin chart.
- Test, don’t reread. Turn on “Test yourself”: the meanings hide, and you recall them on your own. Recalling is harder than reading, and that is exactly what makes a word stick.
- A little every day. Five to seven new words a day, and you finish the list in a month and a half to two months. The arrow next to a word opens its page, with its characters stroke by stroke and phrases that use it. In the course, words come back for review just when you start to forget them.
Common questions
How many words do you need for HSK 2?
In the new HSK 3.0 syllabus, level 2 adds 200 new words — 500 together with level 1. In the old syllabus level 2 asked for 300 words.
How many characters are on level 2?
You need to recognize 125 new characters on top of level 1. For handwriting, the standard gives one shared list of 100 characters for levels 1–2.
Can you start with HSK 2 and skip level 1?
Only if you already know the level 1 words: level 2 builds on them, and they come up in its phrases all the time. Check yourself against the HSK 1 word list.
How long does it take to learn the HSK 2 words?
In the course it is 39 lessons of 5–7 minutes. At one lesson a day, with reviews, the 200 new words take about a month and a half.
The same 200 words, in lessons
39 short level 2 lessons: every word is heard in a dialogue and comes back for review. Start free, no sign-up.
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