HSK 3: 2.0 vs 3.0, word by word

What changed at HSK 3

67 words came down, 55 of them from HSK 2.0 Level 4. They are everyday verbs and connectors that learners need early: 发生, 坚持, 好像, 可是, 只要 and 最后. Thirteen arrived from Level 2, including 欢迎, 回答, 报纸 and 自行车.

The seasons show how HSK 3.0 prefers the word people actually say. 春, 夏, 秋 and 冬 were HSK 2.0 Level 3 entries and are now unlisted; 春天, 夏天, 秋天 and 冬天 are new Level 3 words. In the same way 熊猫 became 大熊猫, and 照相机 gave way to 照相 and 相机.

The 185 new words lean towards modern daily life: 外卖 (food delivery), 高铁 (high-speed rail), 电子书, 红绿灯 and 检票.

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 3’s words went

Now HSK 3, earlier than before

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

• 安全ān quánsafe; secure; safety; securityHSK 2.0: 4
• 笔记本bǐ jì běnnotebook (stationery) (CL:本)HSK 2.0: 4
• 比如bǐ rúfor example; for instance; such asHSK 2.0: 5
• 遍biàneverywhere; all over; classifier for actions: one timeHSK 2.0: 4
• 不但bù dànnot only (... but also ...)HSK 2.0: 4
• 差不多chà bu duōalmost; nearly; more or less; about the same; good enoughHSK 2.0: 4
• 尝chángto taste; to try (food); to experience; (literary) ever; onceHSK 2.0: 4
• 出发chū fāto set off; to start (on a journey)HSK 2.0: 4
• 出生chū shēngto be bornHSK 2.0: 4
• 词典cí diǎndictionaryHSK 2.0: 4
• 大概dà gàiroughly; probably; rough; approximate; about; general ideaHSK 2.0: 4
• 到处dào chùeverywhereHSK 2.0: 4
• 丢diūto lose; to put aside; to throwHSK 2.0: 4
• 对话duì huàto talk (with sb); dialogue; conversationHSK 2.0: 4
• 发fāfā: to send out · fà: hair; Taiwan pr. HSK 2.0: 4
• 发生fā shēngto happen; to occur; to take place; to break outHSK 2.0: 4
• 发展fā zhǎndevelopment; growth; to develop; to grow; to expandHSK 2.0: 4
• 方法fāng fǎmethod; way; technique; procedureHSK 2.0: 4
• 方向fāng xiàngdirection; orientationHSK 2.0: 4
• 干gāngān: dry; dried food; empty; hollow · gàn: tree trunk; main part of sthHSK 2.0: 4
• 刚刚gāng gangjust recently; just a moment agoHSK 2.0: 4
• 行hángháng: (bound form) row; line · xíng: (bound form) to walk; to go; to t…HSK 2.0: 4
• 好像hǎo xiàngas if; to seem likeHSK 2.0: 4
• 号码hào mǎnumberHSK 2.0: 4
• 合适hé shìsuitable; fitting; appropriateHSK 2.0: 4
• 后来hòu láiafterwards; later; newly arrivedHSK 2.0: 4
• 坚持jiān chíto persevere with; to persist in; to insist onHSK 2.0: 4
• 节jiéjoint; node; (bound form) section; segmentHSK 2.0: 5
• 开心kāi xīnto feel happy; to rejoice; to have a great timeHSK 2.0: 5
• 看来kàn laiapparently; it seems thatHSK 2.0: 5
• 可是kě shìbut; however; (used for emphasis) indeedHSK 2.0: 4
• 矿泉水kuàng quán shuǐmineral waterHSK 2.0: 5
• 来自lái zìto come from (a place); From: (in email header)HSK 2.0: 5
• 凉快liáng kuaipleasantly cool (weather etc); to cool oneself; to cool offHSK 2.0: 4
• 聊天儿liáo tiānrto chat; to gossipHSK 2.0: 4 · 2.0 spelling 聊天
• 留学liú xuéto study abroadHSK 2.0: 4
• 毛máohair; feather; down; wool; mildew; mold; coarse or semifinishedHSK 2.0: 5
• 难看nán kànugly; unsightlyHSK 2.0: 5
• 平时píng shíordinarily; in normal times; in peacetimeHSK 2.0: 4
• 瓶子píng zibottleHSK 2.0: 4
• 起飞qǐ fēi(of an aircraft or rocket) to take off; to lift offHSK 2.0: 4
• 请假qǐng jiàto request leave of absenceHSK 2.0: 4
• 请客qǐng kèto give a dinner party; to entertain guests; to invite to dinnerHSK 2.0: 4
• 沙发shā fā(loanword) sofa 条张)HSK 2.0: 4
• 勺子sháo zispoon; ladleHSK 2.0: 5
• 生活shēng huóto live; life; livelihoodHSK 2.0: 4
• 试shìto test; to try; experiment; examination; testHSK 2.0: 4
• 收shōuto receive; to accept; to collect; to put away; to restrainHSK 2.0: 4
• 受到shòu dàoto receive (praise, an education, punishment etc); to be ...ed…HSK 2.0: 4
• 挺tǐngstraight; erect; to stick out (a part of the body)HSK 2.0: 4
• 网球wǎng qiútennis; tennis ballHSK 2.0: 4
• 网站wǎng zhànwebsiteHSK 2.0: 4
• 卫生间wèi shēng jiānbathroom; toilet; WCHSK 2.0: 5
• 屋子wū zihouse; roomHSK 2.0: 5
• 洗衣机xǐ yī jīwashing machine; washerHSK 2.0: 4
• 页xiéxié: head · yè: page; leafHSK 2.0: 4
• 信用卡xìn yòng kǎcredit cardHSK 2.0: 4
• 学期xué qīterm; semesterHSK 2.0: 5
• 饮料yǐn liàodrink; beverageHSK 2.0: 4
• 羽毛球yǔ máo qiúbadminton; shuttlecockHSK 2.0: 4
• 语言yǔ yánlanguageHSK 2.0: 4
• 咱们zán menwe or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken t…HSK 2.0: 4
• 脏zàngzàng: viscera; (anatomy) organ · zāng: dirty; filthy; to get (sth) dirtyHSK 2.0: 4
• 只要zhǐ yàoso long as; provided; ifHSK 2.0: 4
• 嘴zuǐmouth; beak; nozzle; spout (of teapot etc)HSK 2.0: 4
• 最好zuì hǎobest; had better ...; it would be best to ...HSK 2.0: 4
• 最后zuì hòufinal; last; ultimate; finally; in the endHSK 2.0: 4

All 67, in pinyin order.

Now HSK 3, later than before

13 words were at a lower HSK 2.0 level and now belong here.

• 帮助bāng zhùassistance; aid; to help; to assistHSK 2.0: 2
• 报纸bào zhǐnewspaper; newsprintHSK 2.0: 2
• 船chuánboat; vessel; shipHSK 2.0: 2
• 公斤gōng jīnkilogram (kg)HSK 2.0: 2
• 欢迎huān yíngto welcome; welcomeHSK 2.0: 2
• 回答huí dáto reply; to answer; reply; answerHSK 2.0: 2
• 男人nán réna man; a male; menHSK 2.0: 2
• 女人nǚ rénnǚ rén: woman · nǚ ren: wifeHSK 2.0: 2
• 为wéiwéi: as (in the capacity of) · wèi: because of; for; toHSK 2.0: 2
• 西瓜xī guāwatermelonHSK 2.0: 2
• 向xiàngtowards; to face; to turn towards; direction; to supportHSK 2.0: 2
• 张zhāngto open up; to spread; sheet of paperHSK 2.0: 2
• 自行车zì xíng chēbicycle; bikeHSK 2.0: 2

All 13, in pinyin order.

New at HSK 3

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

• 爱人ài renspouse (PRC); lover (non-PRC)HSK 3.0: 3
• 班级bān jíclass (group of students); grade (in school)HSK 3.0: 3
• 办bànto take care of (a matter); to deal with (a task, procedure etc…HSK 3.0: 3
• 半天bàn tiānhalf of the day; a long time; quite a while; midairHSK 3.0: 3
• 笔记bǐ jìto take down (in writing); notesHSK 3.0: 3
• 变biànto change; to become different; to transform; to vary; rebellionHSK 3.0: 3
• 别的bié deelse; otherHSK 3.0: 3
• 冰bīngice; to chill sth; (of an object or substance) to feel coldHSK 3.0: 3
• 病人bìng rénsick person; patient; invalidHSK 3.0: 3
• 不见bù jiànnot to see; not to meet; to have disappeared; to be missingHSK 3.0: 3
• 不同bù tóngdifferent; distinct; not the same; not alikeHSK 3.0: 3
• 不行bù xíngwon't do; be out of the question; be no good; not workHSK 3.0: 3
• 草地cǎo dìlawn; meadow; sod; turfHSK 3.0: 3
• 常chángalways; ever; often; frequently; common; general; constantHSK 3.0: 3
• 常常cháng chángfrequently; oftenHSK 3.0: 3
• 常用cháng yòngin common usageHSK 3.0: 3
• 出院chū yuànto leave hospital; to be discharged from hospitalHSK 3.0: 3
• 春天chūn tiānspring (season)HSK 3.0: 3
• 大人dà renadult; grownup; title of respect toward superiorsHSK 3.0: 3
• 大熊猫dà xióng māogiant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)HSK 3.0: 3
• 大衣dà yīovercoat; topcoat; cloakHSK 3.0: 3
• 得分dé fēnto score a point (in a competition, test etc)HSK 3.0: 3
• 的话de huàif (coming after a conditional clause)HSK 3.0: 3
• 电diànlightning; electricity; electric (bound form)HSK 3.0: 3
• 东北dōng běinortheastHSK 3.0: 3
• 东方dōng fāngeastHSK 3.0: 3
• 冬天dōng tiānwinterHSK 3.0: 3
• 懂得dǒng deto understand; to know; to comprehendHSK 3.0: 3
• 短裤duǎn kùshort pants; shortsHSK 3.0: 3
• 耳机ěr jīheadphones; earphones; telephone receiverHSK 3.0: 3
• 房子fáng zihouse; building (single- or two-story); apartment; roomHSK 3.0: 3
• 放假fàng jiàto have a holiday or vacationHSK 3.0: 3
• 分开fēn kāito separate; to partHSK 3.0: 3
• 封fēngto confer; to grant; to bestow a title; to sealHSK 3.0: 3
• 夫妻fū qīhusband and wife; married coupleHSK 3.0: 3
• 服务fú wùto serve; serviceHSK 3.0: 3
• 感到gǎn dàoto feel; to sense; to perceiveHSK 3.0: 3
• 刚gāng(literary) hard; firm; strong; exactly; preciselyHSK 3.0: 3
• 高铁gāo tiěhigh speed railHSK 3.0: 3
• 关机guān jīto turn off (a machine or device); to finish shooting a filmHSK 3.0: 3
• 关注guān zhùto pay attention to; to follow sth closely; to follow (on socia…HSK 3.0: 3
• 海hǎiocean; sea; great number of people or things; (dialect) numerousHSK 3.0: 3
• 好多hǎo duōmany; quite a lot; much betterHSK 3.0: 3
• 红绿灯hóng lǜ dēngtraffic light; traffic signalHSK 3.0: 3
• 后年hòu niánthe year after nextHSK 3.0: 3
• 画家huà jiāpainterHSK 3.0: 3
• 黄色huáng sèyellow; vulgar; lewd; pornographicHSK 3.0: 3
• 鸡jīfowl; chicken; (slang) prostituteHSK 3.0: 3
• 季jìseason; the last month of a seasonHSK 3.0: 3
• 记jìto record; to note; to memorize; to remember; mark; signHSK 3.0: 3
• 假期jià qīvacationHSK 3.0: 3
• 检票jiǎn piàoto inspect a ticket; to examine a ballotHSK 3.0: 3
• 姐妹jiě mèisisters; siblings; sister (school, city etc)HSK 3.0: 3
• 斤jīncatty; (PRC) weight equal to 500 gHSK 3.0: 3
• 句jùsentence; clause; phraseHSK 3.0: 3
• 卡kǎkǎ: to stop; to block · qiǎ: to block; to be stuckHSK 3.0: 3
• 开会kāi huìto hold a meeting; to attend a meetingHSK 3.0: 3
• 开机kāi jīto start an engine; to boot up (a computer)HSK 3.0: 3
• 课本kè běntextbookHSK 3.0: 3
• 课文kè wéntextHSK 3.0: 3
• 练liànto practice; to train; to drill; to perfect (one's skill)HSK 3.0: 3
• 留学生liú xué shēngstudent studying abroad; returned student; foreign student; int…HSK 3.0: 3
• 楼梯lóu tīstair; staircaseHSK 3.0: 3
• 路口lù kǒucrossing; intersection (of roads)HSK 3.0: 3
• 马路mǎ lùstreet; roadHSK 3.0: 3
• 名单míng dānlist of namesHSK 3.0: 3
• 名人míng rénpersonage; celebrityHSK 3.0: 3
• 男生nán shēngschoolboy; male student; boy; guy (young adult male)HSK 3.0: 3
• 难题nán tídifficult problemHSK 3.0: 3
• 牛niúox; cow; bull; newton (abbr. for 牛顿); (slang) awesomeHSK 3.0: 3
• 女生nǚ shēngschoolgirl; female student; girlHSK 3.0: 3
• 怕pàto be afraid; to fear; to dread; to be unable to endure; perhapsHSK 3.0: 3
• 起qǐto rise; to raise; to get up; to set out; to start; to appearHSK 3.0: 3
• 汽车qì chēcar; automobile; busHSK 3.0: 3
• 前天qián tiānthe day before yesterdayHSK 3.0: 3
• 秋天qiū tiānautumnHSK 3.0: 3
• 认得rèn deto recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it; to knowHSK 3.0: 3
• 扫sǎosǎo: to sweep (with a brush or broom) · sào: (bound form) a (large) broomHSK 3.0: 3
• 上衣shàng yījacket; upper outer garmentHSK 3.0: 3
• 身边shēn biānat one's side; on handHSK 3.0: 3
• 声shēngsound; voice; tone; noise; reputation; classifier for soundsHSK 3.0: 3
• 室shìroom; work unit; grave; scabbard; family or clanHSK 3.0: 3
• 收到shōu dàoto receiveHSK 3.0: 3
• 受shòuto receive; to accept; to suffer; subjected to; to bearHSK 3.0: 3
• 体育馆tǐ yù guǎngym; gymnasium; stadiumHSK 3.0: 3
• 听说tīng shuōto hear (sth said); one hears (that); hearsayHSK 3.0: 3
• 外地wài dìparts of the country other than where one isHSK 3.0: 3
• 外语wài yǔforeign languageHSK 3.0: 3
• 晚点wǎn diǎn(of trains etc) late; delayed; behind schedule; light dinnerHSK 3.0: 3
• 西北xī běinorthwestHSK 3.0: 3
• 西方Xī fāngthe West; the Occident; Western countriesHSK 3.0: 3
• 喜爱xǐ àito like; to love; to be fond of; favoriteHSK 3.0: 3
• 夏天xià tiānsummerHSK 3.0: 3
• 相机xiàng jīcamera (abbr. for 照相机); at the opportune momentHSK 3.0: 3
• 小区xiǎo qūhousing estate; community; neighborhoodHSK 3.0: 3
• 心里xīn lichest; heart; mindHSK 3.0: 3
• 行李xíng liluggageHSK 3.0: 3
• 休假xiū jiàto go on vacation; to have a holiday; to take leaveHSK 3.0: 3
• 牙yátooth; ivoryHSK 3.0: 3
• 牙刷yá shuātoothbrushHSK 3.0: 3
• 养yǎngto raise (animals); to bring up (children); to keep (pets)HSK 3.0: 3
• 一块儿yī kuàira piece; a chunkHSK 3.0: 3
• 以外yǐ wàiapart from; other than; except for; external; outside ofHSK 3.0: 3
• 以下yǐ xiàthat level or lower; that amount or less; the followingHSK 3.0: 3
• 邮件yóu jiànmail; post; emailHSK 3.0: 3
• 游客yóu kètraveler; tourist; (online gaming) guest playerHSK 3.0: 3
• 有关yǒu guānto have sth to do with; to relate to; related to; to concernHSK 3.0: 3
• 有用yǒu yòngusefulHSK 3.0: 3
• 遇见yù jiànto meetHSK 3.0: 3
• 园yuánland used for growing plants; site used for public recreationHSK 3.0: 3
• 运动会yùn dòng huìsports competitionHSK 3.0: 3
• 怎么办zěn me bànwhat's to be doneHSK 3.0: 3
• 怎样zěn yànghow; what kindHSK 3.0: 3
• 照相zhào xiàngto take a photographHSK 3.0: 3
• 直到zhí dàountilHSK 3.0: 3
• 只能zhǐ néngcan only; obliged to do sth; to have no other choiceHSK 3.0: 3
• 只是zhǐ shìmerely; only; just; nothing but; simply; but; howeverHSK 3.0: 3
• 中zhōngzhōng: within; among; in; middle; center · zhòng: to hit (a target)HSK 3.0: 3
• 住院zhù yuànto stay in hospital; to be hospitalizedHSK 3.0: 3
• 总zǒng(bound form) general; overall; to sum upHSK 3.0: 3

Showing 120 of 185, picked evenly across the pinyin order. Check any word in the HSK 3.0 checker.

Left HSK 2.0 Level 3

Moved to a higher level (21)

• 鼻子bí zinoseHSK 3.0: 4
• 表示biǎo shì(of sb) to express; to state; to showHSK 3.0: 4
• 出现chū xiànto appear; to arise; to emerge; to show upHSK 3.0: 4
• 厨房chú fángkitchenHSK 3.0: 4
• 词语cí yǔword (general term including monosyllables through to short phr…HSK 3.0: 4
• 低dīlow; beneath; to lower (one's head); to let droop; to hang downHSK 3.0: 4
• 多么duō mehow (wonderful etc); what (a great idea etc)HSK 3.0: 4
• 敢gǎnto dare; daring; (polite) may I ventureHSK 3.0: 4
• 果汁guǒ zhīfruit juiceHSK 3.0: 4
• 黄huángyellow; pornographic; to fall throughHSK 3.0: 6
• 街道jiē dàostreet; subdistrict; residential districtHSK 3.0: 4
• 举行jǔ xíngto hold (a meeting, ceremony etc)HSK 3.0: 4
• 帽子mào zihat; cap; (fig.) label; bad nameHSK 3.0: 4
• 葡萄pú taograpeHSK 3.0: 4
• 普通话pǔ tōng huàPutonghua; standard MandarinHSK 3.0: 4
• 使shǐto make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; to sendHSK 3.0: 4
• 相同xiāng tóngidentical; sameHSK 3.0: 4
• 眼镜yǎn jìngspectacles; eyeglassesHSK 3.0: 4
• 云yún(classical) to say; cloudHSK 3.0: 4
• 祝zhùto pray for; to wish (sb bon voyage, happy birthday etc)HSK 3.0: 4
• 作用zuò yòngto act on; to affect; action; function; activityHSK 3.0: 4

All 21, in pinyin order.

Moved to a lower level (41)

• 啊āā: interjection of surprise; Ah!; Oh! · á: interjection expressing doubt or…HSK 3.0: 2
• 爱好ài hàoto like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen onHSK 3.0: 2
• 班bānteam; class; grade; (military) squad; work shiftHSK 3.0: 2
• 半bànhalf; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a halfHSK 3.0: 1
• 帮忙bāng mángto help; to lend a hand; to do a favor; to do a good turnHSK 3.0: 2
• 包bāoto cover; to wrap; to hold; to include; to take charge ofHSK 3.0: 2
• 超市chāo shìsupermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)HSK 3.0: 1
• 地dede: -ly · dì: earth; ground; field; place; landHSK 3.0: 2
• 地铁dì tiěunderground railway; subway; subway trainHSK 3.0: 2
• 鸟diǎodiǎo: penis · niǎo: birdHSK 3.0: 2
• 分fēnfēn: to divide; to separate · fèn: part; share; ingredient; componentHSK 3.0: 1
• 跟gēnheel; to follow closely; to go with; (of a woman) to marry sbHSK 3.0: 2
• 过去guò qùguò qù: (in the) past; former; previous · guò qu: (verb suffix)HSK 3.0: 2
• 还是hái shistill (as before); had better; unexpectedly; orHSK 3.0: 2
• 花huāflower; blossom; fancy pattern; florid; to spend (money, time)HSK 3.0: 2
• 画huàto draw; to paint; picture; painting (CL:幅张)HSK 3.0: 2
• 坏huàibad; spoiled; broken; to break down; (suffix) to the utmostHSK 3.0: 2
• 记得jì deto rememberHSK 3.0: 2
• 教jiāojiāo: to teach; to instruct · jiào: (bound form) to teach; to instructHSK 3.0: 2
• 经常jīng chángfrequently; constantly; regularly; oftenHSK 3.0: 2
• 口kǒumouthHSK 3.0: 1
• 裤子kù zipants; trousersHSK 3.0: 2
• 楼lóuhouse with more than 1 story; storied building; floorHSK 3.0: 2
• 面包miàn bāobreadHSK 3.0: 1
• 面条儿miàn tiáornoodlesHSK 3.0: 1 · 2.0 spelling 面条
• 拿náto hold; to seize; to catch; to apprehend; to takeHSK 3.0: 2
• 奶奶nǎi nai(informal) grandma (paternal grandmother)HSK 3.0: 2
• 上网shàng wǎngto go online; to connect to the InternetHSK 3.0: 2
• 舒服shū fucomfortable; feeling wellHSK 3.0: 2
• 虽然suī ránalthough; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 or 但是 e…HSK 3.0: 2
• 疼téng(it) hurts; sore; to love dearlyHSK 3.0: 2
• 条tiáostrip; item; article; clause (of law or treaty)HSK 3.0: 2
• 万wànten thousand; a great numberHSK 3.0: 2
• 位wèiposition; location; place; seatHSK 3.0: 2
• 为什么wèi shén mewhy?; for what reason?HSK 3.0: 2
• 洗手间xǐ shǒu jiāntoilet; lavatory; washroomHSK 3.0: 2
• 爷爷yé ye(coll.) paternal grandfather; grandpaHSK 3.0: 2
• 一会儿yī huìra moment; a while; in a moment; now...now...; also pr. HSK 3.0: 2
• 站zhànstation; to stand; to halt; to stopHSK 3.0: 2
• 只zhǐzhǐ: only; merely; just · zhī: grain that has begun to ripenHSK 3.0: 1
• 自己zì jǐoneself; (attributive) one's ownHSK 3.0: 2

All 41, in pinyin order.

No longer listed (10)

• 春chūnspring (season); gay; joyful; youthful; love; lust; lifeHSK 2.0: 3
• 电子diàn zǐelectronic; electron (particle physics)HSK 2.0: 3
• 冬dōngwinter; (onom.) beating a drum; rat-a-tatHSK 2.0: 3
• 绿lǜgreenHSK 2.0: 3
• 爬山pá shānto go for a hike (esp. in the hills or mountains)HSK 2.0: 3
• 秋qiūautumn; fall; harvest timeHSK 2.0: 3
• 夏xiàsummerHSK 2.0: 3
• 行李箱xíng li xiāngsuitcase; baggage compartment; overhead bin; (car) trunk; bootHSK 2.0: 3
• 熊猫xióng māopandaHSK 2.0: 3
• 照相机zhào xiàng jīcameraHSK 2.0: 3

All 10, 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.