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HSK 3.0 Level 1 Vocabulary: 30 Words for Everyday Chinese

HSK GO / Learn Chinese

Learn 30 useful HSK 3.0 Level 1 words through everyday situations, with clear Chinese characters, pinyin and examples you can use straight away.

HSK 3.0 launches worldwide on 13 December 2026. Its Level 1 vocabulary list contains 300 entries, compared with 150 in the previous HSK.

Why learn HSK 3.0 vocabulary by topic?

The new syllabus includes official topic categories. CTI describes five connected components: tasks, topics, vocabulary, grammar and Chinese characters. Together, they set out what learners should be able to communicate.

That gives these words a purpose. You can introduce yourself, talk about studying Chinese, order food, travel around town and describe your day. The five sections below are practical study groups for this article, with six Level 1 words in each.

Read the illustrated sentence, learn the six words, then make a sentence about your own life. Finish with the eight-question quiz.

Meet people

HSK 3.0 Level 1 Vocabulary: 30 Words for Everyday Chinese(图1)

大家好！我叫安娜。

Dàjiā hǎo! Wǒ jiào Ānnà.

Hello, everyone! My name is Anna.

我
wǒI, me

我是学生。

Wǒ shì xuésheng.

I'm a student.

你
nǐyou

你叫什么名字？

Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?

What's your name?

叫
jiàoto be called

我叫安娜。

Wǒ jiào Ānnà.

My name is Anna.

朋友
péngyoufriend

她是我的朋友。

Tā shì wǒ de péngyou.

She's my friend.

大家
dàjiāeveryone

大家好！

Dàjiā hǎo!

Hello, everyone!

家人
jiārénfamily members

我爱我的家人。

Wǒ ài wǒ de jiārén.

I love my family.

Learn Chinese

HSK 3.0 Level 1 Vocabulary: 30 Words for Everyday Chinese(图2)

我学习中文。

Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén.

I study Chinese.

老师
lǎoshīteacher

他是中文老师。

Tā shì Zhōngwén lǎoshī.

He's a Chinese teacher.

学习
xuéxíto study; to learn

我学习中文。

Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén.

I study Chinese.

书
shūbook

这是我的书。

Zhè shì wǒ de shū.

This is my book.

汉字
hànzìChinese character

我会写汉字。

Wǒ huì xiě hànzì.

I can write Chinese characters.

中文
ZhōngwénChinese language

我喜欢中文。

Wǒ xǐhuan Zhōngwén.

I like Chinese.

上课
shàngkèto attend class

我们九点上课。

Wǒmen jiǔ diǎn shàngkè.

We have class at nine o'clock.

Eat and drink

HSK 3.0 Level 1 Vocabulary: 30 Words for Everyday Chinese(图3)

我想吃饺子。

Wǒ xiǎng chī jiǎozi.

I'd like to eat dumplings.

茶
chátea

我喝茶。

Wǒ hē chá.

I drink tea.

水
shuǐwater

我想喝水。

Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.

I'd like some water.

吃
chīto eat

你想吃什么？

Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?

What would you like to eat?

包子
bāozisteamed stuffed bun

我想吃包子。

Wǒ xiǎng chī bāozi.

I'd like to eat steamed buns.

饺子
jiǎozidumpling

我喜欢吃饺子。

Wǒ xǐhuan chī jiǎozi.

I like eating dumplings.

鸡蛋
jīdànegg

我早上吃鸡蛋。

Wǒ zǎoshang chī jīdàn.

I eat eggs in the morning.

Get around

HSK 3.0 Level 1 Vocabulary: 30 Words for Everyday Chinese(图4)

我坐出租车去超市。

Wǒ zuò chūzūchē qù chāoshì.

I take a taxi to the supermarket.

去
qùto go

我去超市。

Wǒ qù chāoshì.

I'm going to the supermarket.

出租车
chūzūchētaxi

我们坐出租车。

Wǒmen zuò chūzūchē.

We're taking a taxi.

车
chēvehicle; car

这是我的车。

Zhè shì wǒ de chē.

This is my car.

火车
huǒchētrain

我坐火车去北京。

Wǒ zuò huǒchē qù Běijīng.

I'm taking the train to Beijing.

超市
chāoshìsupermarket

我们去超市。

Wǒmen qù chāoshì.

We're going to the supermarket.

电影院
diànyǐngyuàncinema

电影院在哪儿？

Diànyǐngyuàn zài nǎr?

Where's the cinema?

Talk about your day

HSK 3.0 Level 1 Vocabulary: 30 Words for Everyday Chinese(图5)

我早上吃早饭。

Wǒ zǎoshang chī zǎofàn.

I have breakfast in the morning.

今天
jīntiāntoday

今天我学习中文。

Jīntiān wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén.

I'm studying Chinese today.

现在
xiànzàinow

我现在在上课。

Wǒ xiànzài zài shàngkè.

I'm in class now.

睡觉
shuìjiàoto sleep

我想睡觉。

Wǒ xiǎng shuìjiào.

I want to sleep.

早上
zǎoshangmorning

我早上喝茶。

Wǒ zǎoshang hē chá.

I drink tea in the morning.

早饭
zǎofànbreakfast

我吃早饭。

Wǒ chī zǎofàn.

I'm having breakfast.

晚饭
wǎnfàndinner

我们在家吃晚饭。

Wǒmen zài jiā chī wǎnfàn.

We're having dinner at home.

Make it yours: choose one sentence from each topic. Change the person, place or food, then say your new sentence aloud.

Quick practice

How many words do you remember?

Choose one answer per question for immediate feedback. You can change your answer or reset the quiz to practise again.

1. What does 饺子 (jiǎozi) mean?

Not quite. 饺子 means dumplings.
Correct. 饺子 means dumplings.
Not quite. 饺子 means dumplings.

2. Complete the greeting: ____ 好！

Not quite. 大家好 means hello, everyone.
Not quite. 大家好 means hello, everyone.
Correct. 大家好 means hello, everyone.

3. Which sentence means "I study Chinese"?

Not quite. 我学习中文 means I study Chinese.
Correct. 我学习中文 means I study Chinese.
Not quite. 我学习中文 means I study Chinese.

4. Which word means supermarket?

Correct. 超市 (chāoshì) means supermarket.
Not quite. 超市 (chāoshì) means supermarket.
Not quite. 超市 (chāoshì) means supermarket.

5. Which word means breakfast?

Not quite. 早饭 (zǎofàn) means breakfast.
Not quite. 早饭 (zǎofàn) means breakfast.
Correct. 早饭 (zǎofàn) means breakfast.

6. What does 家人 (jiārén) mean?

Not quite. 家人 means family members.
Correct. 家人 means family members.
Not quite. 家人 means family members.

7. Which word means train?

Not quite. 火车 (huǒchē) means train.
Not quite. 火车 (huǒchē) means train.
Correct. 火车 (huǒchē) means train.

8. Which sentence means "I want to eat dumplings"?

Correct. 我想吃饺子 means I want to eat dumplings.
Not quite. 我想吃饺子 means I want to eat dumplings.
Not quite. 我想吃饺子 means I want to eat dumplings.

HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0: What's changed?

LevelHSK 2.0 wordsHSK 3.0 words
1150300
2300500
36001,000
41,2002,000
52,5003,600
65,0005,400
7-9No equivalent11,000

These are cumulative vocabulary-entry totals: Level 2's 500 include the 300 from Level 1. This article follows the updated examination syllabus. Check the official syllabus for the complete lists.

Where can I find all 300 words?

See the complete HSK 3.0 Level 1 vocabulary list in the Chinese Test Service examination syllabus. Try using a few new words in your own sentences each day.

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Build your Chinese HSK 3.0 vocabulary with beginner lessons and everyday language practice.

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Sources: CTI's HSK overview, official examination syllabus and global launch announcement.