HSK 3 Vocabulary List
294 words · B1 (lower) · Mandarin Chinese
HSK 3 introduces 294 words covering work, study, health, feelings, and social situations. With 556 total words across HSK 1-3, you can hold short conversations about everyday topics.
Study tip
HSK 3 words include many abstract concepts and measure words. Group them by category when reviewing - studying all the measure words together helps you see the patterns.
Practise HSK 3 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 294 HSK 3 words
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral/mixed.
Frequently asked questions
What topics does HSK 3 vocabulary cover?+
Health, weather, travel, work, hobbies, shopping, and expressing opinions. The vocabulary range expands significantly and you gain more grammatical flexibility.
How useful is HSK 3 for travel in China?+
Very useful. With HSK 3 you can ask for help, describe problems, handle most service interactions, and understand replies in familiar contexts.
Is HSK 3 conversational?+
Borderline. You can follow slow, clear speech on familiar topics. Real conversational fluency - where you keep up with native speed - typically comes around HSK 4-5.
How many total words do HSK 1-3 cover?+
HSK 1-3 together cover 556 words in ToneDeck's dataset. That is a solid base that covers the most frequent vocabulary in everyday speech.
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.
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