HSK 1 Vocabulary List: All 150 Words with Example Sentences

HSK 1 is 150 words. That's the first level of the HSK 2.0 exam, the version of China's official Chinese test that people have sat since 2010. All 150 are below, grouped by topic, each with its pinyin, its meaning and a short example sentence. Newer versions of the HSK set a bigger first level (300 or 500 words), and the next section explains which is which.

Every example sentence on this page comes from Mandarin Mosaic's HSK lessons and has been checked by a native speaker. We picked short, everyday sentences that use each word in its HSK 1 sense. Some include a word or two from later levels, because sentences made only from these 150 words quickly sound stilted.

Which HSK 1? 150, 300 or 500 Words

There are now three word lists with an "HSK 1" in them. These are the level 1 totals, from Wikipedia's HSK article:

The new exam's first official sitting is on 13 December 2026 (Shanghai Municipal Education Commission), after a trial exam at test centres worldwide on 31 January 2026 (Beijing Municipal Government). Registration is through the Chinese Tests Service website, the official site. If you're booking a test, check with your test centre which version your sitting uses.

If you're not taking a test, the version matters less than you'd think. The 150 words here are the everyday basics (I, you, to be, to have, to eat, numbers and days), so they're a sensible start whichever list you follow later. Mandarin Mosaic has lesson packs for both the HSK 2.0 levels and the new HSK 3.0 levels. For the exam itself, from what each level tests to whether it's worth taking, see should you take the HSK?

The HSK 1 Word List

The word column shows the simplified characters, with the traditional form in brackets where it's different. Pinyin in the word column has dictionary tones. Under each sentence, the pinyin shows 一 and 不 as they're said, so 一本 is yì běn and 不太 is bú tài; third-tone changes aren't marked. Our guide to tone sandhi explains both. If any sounds are new to you, the pinyin chart has audio for every syllable, and the four tones covers the basics.

Pronouns: I, You, He, She, This, That

Question Words

Numbers 1 to 10

With 一 to 十 you can say any number up to 99: 十一 (shíyī) is 11, 二十 (èrshí) is 20 and 九十九 (jiǔshíjiǔ) is 99.

Measure Words

A number, or 这 and 那, usually needs a measure word before the noun: 三本书 (sān běn shū) is "three books". When you don't know the right one, 个 (gè) works with most nouns.

Time and Dates

Dates go from the biggest unit to the smallest, so 十月十号 (shíyuè shí hào) is 10 October. Time words like 今天 and 明天 usually come before the verb.

People and Family

Places and Directions

Food, Drink and Everyday Things

Verbs: Everyday Actions

Verbs: Wanting, Liking and Being Able

Adjectives

Not, Very, Too and All

Particles and 和

These small words carry grammar more than meaning, so the example sentence tells you more than the translation does.

Greetings and Polite Phrases

How to Learn the 150 HSK 1 Words

A list like this is a good map, but reading down it isn't a good way to learn it. Three things work better:

• Learn each word inside a sentence. 会 (huì) on its own is "can". In 我会说中文 (wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén, I can speak Chinese) you also learn what it goes with and where it sits. That's the idea behind sentence mining.
• Review with spaced repetition. Come back to each word just before you'd forget it: after a day, then a few days, then a week or more. Each review takes seconds, and it's what makes words stick.
• Say the sentences aloud. HSK 1 words are the ones you'll say most often, so practise them with the right tones from the start.

How long does it take? At 5 to 10 new words a day, the 150 words take two to five weeks, plus a few minutes of reviews each day. Our post on how many characters to learn per day helps you pick a pace, and the Chinese study plan puts HSK 1 in the first month, after a week or two on pinyin and tones.

Mandarin Mosaic's HSK 1 lessons do all of this for you. Each lesson is a set of sentences with one new word in each where possible, and you fill in the missing word, which makes you recall it rather than just recognise it. Tap any word for its meaning and audio, and spaced repetition brings each word back in Review Lessons when it's due. The app is on iPhone and Android. At the time of writing, Premium's first month is free, and there's a limited free plan. Get it on iOS or Android.

Once you can read these sentences, the next step is saying them without looking. The Chunking Chinese fluency trainer gives you an English prompt, has you say the Chinese aloud, and scores the sound and tone of each character. Its courses start at HSK 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Words Are in HSK 1?

150 on the HSK 2.0 exam, the version people have sat since 2010. The 2021 standard puts 500 words at level 1, and the new exam syllabus published in November 2025 puts 300 words at level 1. The first official exam on the new syllabus is on 13 December 2026.

How Long Does It Take to Learn HSK 1?

Two to five weeks for the 150 words, at 5 to 10 new words a day with daily reviews. Add a week or two at the start if you're new to pinyin and tones. Being ready for the exam takes a little longer, because you also need to follow the words at speaking speed in the listening section.

Is HSK 1 Enough to Have a Conversation?

Enough for a very simple one. With these 150 words you can say hello, introduce yourself, give your age and job, ask what something is, where something is and how much it costs, and talk about times and days. You'll still struggle to follow a native speaker at normal speed.

Should I Learn the Old or the New HSK 1 List?

If you're sitting a test, learn the list for the version your sitting uses, and check with your test centre. If you're not, start with these 150 words: they're the most basic words in Chinese, so learning them first is never wasted, and you can carry on to the longer lists after.

Want to learn these 150 words in sentences, with audio and reviews built in? Mandarin Mosaic has HSK 1 lessons made of short sentences with one new word at a time. It's on iPhone and Android, and at the time of writing Premium's first month is free, and there's a limited free plan. Get it on iOS or Android.

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