HSK 2 Vocabulary List
135 words · A2 · Mandarin Chinese
HSK 2 builds on your foundation with 135 words covering travel, shopping, directions, time expressions, and everyday conversations. Combined with HSK 1, you have over 260 words for basic daily life.
Study tip
At this level, pay close attention to tones on words that look similar in pinyin. Rising tone (tone 2) and dipping tone (tone 3) are frequently confused - minimal-pair drills help lock in the difference.
Practise HSK 2 tones with audio
ToneDeck plays every word with native audio and colours pinyin by tone. Unlock HSK 2-6 with a Pro subscription.
Start freeAll 135 HSK 2 words
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral/mixed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HSK 1 and HSK 2?+
HSK 1 gives you the bare essentials: greetings, numbers, simple questions. HSK 2 adds travel vocabulary, more verbs, and the ability to describe routine activities and simple situations.
How hard are HSK 2 tones compared to HSK 1?+
The words are longer and include more tone combinations. Multi-syllable words require you to chain tones correctly, which is where ear training really pays off.
Can I skip HSK 1 if I already know some Mandarin?+
You can, but it is worth running through HSK 1 quickly to check your tones are solid. Inaccurate tones on common words create bad habits that become harder to fix later.
What level of Mandarin is HSK 2?+
HSK 2 corresponds roughly to CEFR A2 - elementary. You can handle simple, routine exchanges and describe familiar topics in a basic way.
Other HSK vocabulary lists
Ready to train your Mandarin tones?
ToneDeck combines this vocabulary with audio drills, spaced repetition, and an ear-training quiz so you learn the sounds, not just the definitions.
Start free - HSK 1 includedNew to Mandarin tones? Read how to learn the four Mandarin tones or go back to the ToneDeck home page.