Zhenzhu
HSK 2.0 → 3.0 changes

HSK 1: 2.0 vs 3.0, word by word

HSK 1 doubled from 150 to 300 words, but almost nothing was taken away: 143 of the 150 HSK 2.0 Level 1 words are still Level 1.

300words at HSK 3.0 Level 1
143of HSK 2.0 Level 1’s 150 words stayed at this level
67moved here from another HSK 2.0 level
90were not in HSK 2.0 at all
7HSK 2.0 Level 1 words left this level

What changed at HSK 1

The other 157 places went to 67 words pulled down from higher levels and 90 words that HSK 2.0 never listed. The new ones are less new than they look: 89 of the 90 are written only with characters that already appear in HSK 2.0 Level 1–2 words. 他们 and 你们 build on 他 and 你, 这儿 and 那儿 on 这 and 那, and 唱 and 歌 now stand alone where HSK 2.0 taught the compound 唱歌.

The words that really arrive early are the ones pulled down. Family words such as 哥哥, 姐姐, 弟弟 and 妹妹 were HSK 2.0 Level 2; so were shopping words like 便宜, 贵 and 卖. Food moved furthest: 饺子 was Level 4 and 包子 was Level 5.

Two swaps stand out. 小姐 left Level 1 for Level 5, while 女士 came down from Level 5 to Level 1, so the safer polite word is now the one taught first. And three old Level 1 words lost their entries: 北京, 火车站 and 没. HSK 3.0 lists 火车 and 没有 at Level 1 instead, with 车站 at Level 2.

To see where the words in your own list or Anki deck landed, paste them into the HSK 2.0 → 3.0 checker. It runs in your browser and can add HSK3:: tags to an Anki export.

Where HSK 2.0 Level 1’s words went

HSK 3.0 levelWordsShare
Level 1 (same)143
Level 23
Level 51
Not in HSK 3.03

Now HSK 1, earlier than before

These 67 words were at a higher HSK 2.0 level. If you follow HSK 3.0, you need them sooner.

  • 吧bābā: bar (loanword) (serving drinks, o… · ba: (modal particle indicating sugges…HSK 2.0: 2
  • 百bǎihundred; numerous; all kinds ofHSK 2.0: 2
  • 半bànhalf; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a halfHSK 2.0: 3
  • 包子bāo zibaozi; bao (steamed stuffed bun)HSK 2.0: 5
  • 便宜biàn yíbiàn yí: convenient · pián yi: cheap; inexpensiveHSK 2.0: 2
  • 超市chāo shìsupermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)HSK 2.0: 3
  • 穿chuānto wear; to put on; to dress; to bore through; to pierceHSK 2.0: 2
  • 大家dà jiāeveryone; influential family; great expertHSK 2.0: 2
  • 到dàoto reach; to arrive; to leave for; to go toHSK 2.0: 2
  • 弟弟dì diyounger brotherHSK 2.0: 2
  • 对duìright; correct; towards; at; for; concerning; regardingHSK 2.0: 4
  • 房间fáng jiānroomHSK 2.0: 2
  • 非常fēi chángvery; really; unusual; extraordinaryHSK 2.0: 2
  • 分fēnfēn: to divide; to separate · fèn: part; share; ingredient; componentHSK 2.0: 3
  • 哥哥gē geolder brotherHSK 2.0: 2
  • 给gěigěi: to; for; for the benefit of · jǐ: (bound form) to supply; to provideHSK 2.0: 2
  • 公司gōng sīcompany; firm; corporationHSK 2.0: 2
  • 贵guìexpensive; (bound form) highly valued; preciousHSK 2.0: 2
  • 还háihái: still; still in progress · huán: to pay back; to returnHSK 2.0: 2
  • 孩子hái zichildHSK 2.0: 2
  • 号háoháo: (bound form) to wail; to howl · hào: (literary) to call out; to commandHSK 2.0: 2
  • 好吃hǎo chīhǎo chī: tasty; delicious · hào chī: to be fond of eating; to be glutt…HSK 2.0: 2
  • 鸡蛋jī dàn(chicken) egg; hen's eggHSK 2.0: 2
  • 件jiànitem; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etcHSK 2.0: 2
  • 饺子jiǎo zidumpling; pot-stickerHSK 2.0: 4
  • 姐姐jiě jieolder sisterHSK 2.0: 2
  • 觉得jué deto think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc)HSK 2.0: 2
  • 可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to; not bad; pretty goodHSK 2.0: 2
  • 课kèsubject; course; class; lesson; to levy; taxHSK 2.0: 2
  • 口kǒumouthHSK 2.0: 3
  • 两liǎngtwo; both; some; a fewHSK 2.0: 2
  • 卖màito sell; to betray; to spare no effort; to show off or flauntHSK 2.0: 2
  • 忙mángbusy; hurriedly; to hurry; to rushHSK 2.0: 2
  • 妹妹mèi meiyounger sister; young womanHSK 2.0: 2
  • 面包miàn bāobreadHSK 2.0: 3
  • 面条儿miàn tiáornoodlesHSK 2.0: 3 · 2.0 spelling 面条
  • 您nínyou (courteous, as opposed to informal 你)HSK 2.0: 2
  • 牛奶niú nǎicow's milkHSK 2.0: 2
  • 女士nǚ shìlady; madam; Miss; MsHSK 2.0: 5
  • 起床qǐ chuángto get out of bed; to get upHSK 2.0: 2
  • 千qiānthousandHSK 2.0: 2
  • 去年qù niánlast yearHSK 2.0: 2
  • 上班shàng bānto go to work; to be on duty; to start work; to go to the officeHSK 2.0: 2
  • 生病shēng bìngto fall illHSK 2.0: 2
  • 时间shí jiān(concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) timeHSK 2.0: 2
  • 手机shǒu jīcell phone; mobile phoneHSK 2.0: 2
  • 它tāit; it (pronoun for an animal)HSK 2.0: 2
  • 外wàioutside; in addition; foreign; externalHSK 2.0: 2
  • 玩wánto play; to have fun; to trifle with; toyHSK 2.0: 2
  • 晚上wǎn shangevening; night; in the eveningHSK 2.0: 2
  • 问wènto ask; to inquireHSK 2.0: 2
  • 问题wèn tíquestion; problem; issue; topicHSK 2.0: 2
  • 小时xiǎo shíhourHSK 2.0: 2
  • 新xīnnew; newly; meso- (chemistry)HSK 2.0: 2
  • 休息xiū xirest; to restHSK 2.0: 2
  • 雪xuěsnow; (literary) to wipe away (a humiliation etc)HSK 2.0: 2
  • 要yāoyāo: (bound form) to demand; to coerce · yào: to want; to need; to ask forHSK 2.0: 2
  • 也yěalso; too; as well; (not ...) eitherHSK 2.0: 2
  • 元yuáncurrency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)HSK 2.0: 2
  • 再zàiagain; once more; re-; further; beyond this point of timeHSK 2.0: 2
  • 早上zǎo shangearly morningHSK 2.0: 2
  • 找zhǎoto try to find; to look for; to call on sb; to find; to seekHSK 2.0: 2
  • 真zhēnreally; truly; indeed; real; true; genuineHSK 2.0: 2
  • 正在zhèng zàito be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ingHSK 2.0: 2
  • 知道zhī dàoto know; to become aware of; also pr. HSK 2.0: 2
  • 只zhǐzhǐ: only; merely; just · zhī: grain that has begun to ripenHSK 2.0: 3
  • 中文Zhōng wénChinese languageHSK 2.0: 4

All 67, in pinyin order.

New at HSK 1

90 words at this level were not in the HSK 2.0 lists.

  • 白天bái tiāndaytime; during the day; dayHSK 3.0: 1
  • 边biānbiān: side; edge; margin; border · bian: suffix of a noun of localityHSK 3.0: 1
  • 病bìngillness; disease; to fall ill; defectHSK 3.0: 1
  • 不要bù yàodon't!; must notHSK 3.0: 1
  • 唱chàngto sing; to call loudly; to chantHSK 3.0: 1
  • 车chēchē: car; vehicle; machine · jū: war chariot (archaic)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 大学dà xuéuniversity; collegeHSK 3.0: 1
  • 大学生dà xué shēnguniversity student; college studentHSK 3.0: 1
  • 第dì(prefix indicating ordinal number, as in 第六 "sixth")HSK 3.0: 1
  • 店diàninn; old-style hotel (CL:家); (bound form) shop; storeHSK 3.0: 1
  • 电话diàn huàtelephone; phone call; phone numberHSK 3.0: 1
  • 电影院diàn yǐng yuàncinema; movie theaterHSK 3.0: 1
  • 读书dú shūto read a book; to study; to attend schoolHSK 3.0: 1
  • 饭fàncooked rice; meal; (loanword) fan; devoteeHSK 3.0: 1
  • 饭店fàn diànrestaurant; hotelHSK 3.0: 1
  • 歌gēsong (CL:首,支); (bound form) to singHSK 3.0: 1
  • 国guócountry; nation; state; (bound form) nationalHSK 3.0: 1
  • 汉字hàn zìChinese character(s)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 好看hǎo kàngood-looking; nice-looking; (of a movie, book, TV show etc) goodHSK 3.0: 1
  • 好听hǎo tīngpleasant to hearHSK 3.0: 1
  • 好玩儿hǎo wánrhǎo wán: amusing; fun; interesting · hào wán: to be playfulHSK 3.0: 1
  • 后hòuempress; queen; (archaic) monarch; ruler; back; behind; rearHSK 3.0: 1
  • 火车huǒ chētrainHSK 3.0: 1
  • 家人jiā rénfamily member; (old) servantHSK 3.0: 1
  • 见jiànjiàn: to see; to meet · xiàn: to appear; also written 现HSK 3.0: 1
  • 今年jīn niánthis yearHSK 3.0: 1
  • 开车kāi chēto drive a car (or train etc)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 看病kàn bìngto visit a doctor; to see a patientHSK 3.0: 1
  • 没事méi shìit's not important; it's nothing; never mindHSK 3.0: 1
  • 没有méi yǒuhaven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not beHSK 3.0: 1
  • 们menplural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individualsHSK 3.0: 1
  • 明年míng niánnext yearHSK 3.0: 1
  • 哪个nǎ gewhich; whoHSK 3.0: 1
  • 哪里nǎ lǐwhere?; somewhere; anywhere; whereverHSK 3.0: 1
  • 哪儿nǎrwhere?; wherever; anywhere; somewhereHSK 3.0: 1
  • 哪些nǎ xiēwhich ones?; who?; what?HSK 3.0: 1
  • 那边nà bianover there; yonderHSK 3.0: 1
  • 那个nà gethat one; that thing; that (as opposed to this)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 那里nà lithere; that placeHSK 3.0: 1
  • 那儿nàrthereHSK 3.0: 1
  • 那些nà xiēthoseHSK 3.0: 1
  • 男nán(bound form) maleHSK 3.0: 1
  • 男朋友nán péng youboyfriendHSK 3.0: 1
  • 你好nǐ hǎohello; hiHSK 3.0: 1
  • 你们nǐ menyou (plural)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 女nǚfemale; woman; daughterHSK 3.0: 1
  • 女朋友nǚ péng yougirlfriendHSK 3.0: 1
  • 前qiánfront; forward; ahead; first; top (followed by a number); futureHSK 3.0: 1
  • 请问qǐng wènExcuse me, may I ask...?HSK 3.0: 1
  • 上课shàng kèto go to class; to attend class; to go to teach a classHSK 3.0: 1
  • 上学shàng xuéto go to school; to attend schoolHSK 3.0: 1
  • 事shìmatter; thing; item; work; affairHSK 3.0: 1
  • 书店shū diànbookstoreHSK 3.0: 1
  • 睡shuìto sleep; to lie downHSK 3.0: 1
  • 说shuìshuì: to persuade · shuō: to speak; to talk; to sayHSK 3.0: 1
  • 他们tā menthey; themHSK 3.0: 1
  • 她们tā menthey; them (females)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 它们tā menthey; themHSK 3.0: 1
  • 天tiānday; sky; heavenHSK 3.0: 1
  • 听见tīng jiànto hearHSK 3.0: 1
  • 外边wài bianoutside; outer surface; abroad; place other than one's homeHSK 3.0: 1
  • 晚wǎnevening; night; lateHSK 3.0: 1
  • 晚饭wǎn fànevening meal; dinner; supperHSK 3.0: 1
  • 午饭wǔ fànlunchHSK 3.0: 1
  • 下班xià bānto finish work; to get off work; next service (train, bus etc)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 下课xià kèto finish class; to get out of classHSK 3.0: 1
  • 小朋友xiǎo péng yǒuchild; kid (used to refer to a child, or by an adult to address…HSK 3.0: 1
  • 小学xiǎo xuéelementary school; primary schoolHSK 3.0: 1
  • 小学生xiǎo xué shēngprimary school student; schoolchild; (fig.) beginnerHSK 3.0: 1
  • 星期日Xīng qī rìSundayHSK 3.0: 1
  • 星期天Xīng qī tiānSundayHSK 3.0: 1
  • 学xuéto learn; to study; to imitate; science; -ologyHSK 3.0: 1
  • 一半yī bànhalfHSK 3.0: 1
  • 一点儿yī diǎnra bit; a little bitHSK 3.0: 1
  • 一下yī xià(after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or s…HSK 3.0: 1
  • 一些yī xiēsome; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...erHSK 3.0: 1
  • 有的yǒu de(there are) some (who are...); some (exist)HSK 3.0: 1
  • 有点儿yǒu diǎnrslightly; a little; somewhatHSK 3.0: 1
  • 有些yǒu xiēsome; somewhat; rather; a bitHSK 3.0: 1
  • 雨yǔyǔ: rain · yù: (literary) to rainHSK 3.0: 1
  • 早zǎoearly; morning; Good morning!; long ago; prematurelyHSK 3.0: 1
  • 早饭zǎo fànbreakfastHSK 3.0: 1
  • 这边zhè biānthis side; hereHSK 3.0: 1
  • 这个zhè ge(pronoun) this; (adjective) thisHSK 3.0: 1
  • 这里zhè lǐhereHSK 3.0: 1
  • 这儿zhèrhereHSK 3.0: 1
  • 这些zhè xiētheseHSK 3.0: 1
  • 中学zhōng xuémiddle schoolHSK 3.0: 1
  • 中学生zhōng xué shēngmiddle-school student; high school studentHSK 3.0: 1
  • 做饭zuò fànto prepare a meal; to cookHSK 3.0: 1

All 90, in pinyin order.

Left HSK 2.0 Level 1

Moved to a higher level (4)

  • 饭馆fàn guǎnrestaurantHSK 3.0: 2
  • 后面hòu mianthe back; the rear; the last bitHSK 3.0: 2
  • 前面qián miànahead; in front; preceding; above; also pr. HSK 3.0: 2
  • 小姐xiǎo jieyoung lady; miss; (slang) prostituteHSK 3.0: 5

All 4, in pinyin order.

No longer listed (3)

  • 北京Běi jīngBeijing municipality, capital of the People's Republic of China…HSK 2.0: 1
  • 火车站huǒ chē zhàntrain stationHSK 2.0: 1
  • 没méiméi: (negative prefix for verbs) have… · mò: drowned; to end; to dieHSK 2.0: 1

All 3, in pinyin order.

How these lists were made

We compared the HSK 3.0 levels from the official syllabus (Chinese Testing International, November 2025) with the HSK 2.0 levels word by word, one row per written word. Spelling variants that are the same word, such as 面条 and 面条儿, count once; “7-9” is treated as one level. The HSK 3.0 vs 2.0 guide explains the method and its limits.

HSK 2.0 levels and 72 HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 entries: drkameleon/complete-hsk-vocabulary (MIT). Pinyin and meanings: CC-CEDICT (MDBG), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; meanings are shortened to the first senses.

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