HSK 4 Vocabulary List
598 words · B1 (upper) · Mandarin Chinese
HSK 4 is a significant step up: 598 words covering a wide range of topics including current events, abstract ideas, professional contexts, and complex descriptions. Reaching HSK 4 means you can read simple texts and hold real conversations.
Study tip
Many HSK 4 words share components with words you already know. Use that visual similarity as a memory hook. Pay close attention to tonal minimal pairs - the vocabulary is dense enough that one wrong tone regularly produces a different real word.
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Start freeAll 598 HSK 4 words
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral/mixed.
对
duì
To
过
guò
Cross
任何
rènhé
Any
生活
shēnghuó
Life
够
gòu
Enough
可是
kěshì
But
与
yǔ
And
肯定
kěndìng
Sure
发
fā
Hair
干
gàn
Dry
死
sǐ
Dead
而
ér
And
好像
hǎoxiàng
Like
火
huǒ
Fire
最后
zuìhòu
Last
不管
bùguǎn
Regardless of
安全
ānquán
Security
满
mǎn
Full
所有
suǒyǒu
All
之
zhī
The
一切
yīqiè
Everything
抱歉
bàoqiàn
Sorry
指
zhǐ
Finger
最好
zuìhǎo
The best
全部
quánbù
Whole
警察
jǐngchá
Police
谈
tán
Talk
内
nèi
Within
轻
qīng
Light
到底
dàodǐ
In the end
以
yǐ
With
行
xíng
Row
拉
lā
Pull
无
wú
No
掉
diào
Fall
光
guāng
Light
完全
wánquán
Entirely
试
shì
Test
梦
mèng
Dream
嘴
zuǐ
Mouth
顿
dùn
Dayton
戴
dài
Wear
真正
zhēnzhèng
Real
甚至
shènzhì
Even
弹
dàn
Bomb
由
yóu
By
弄
nòng
Get
赢
yíng
Win
生命
shēngmìng
Life
原因
yuányīn
Reason
却
què
But
断
duàn
Break
血
xuè
Blood
等
děng
Wait
场
chǎng
Field
呀
ya
Yeah
猜
cāi
Guess
连
lián
Even
有趣
yǒuqù
Interesting
至少
zhìshǎo
At least
脱
tuō
Take off
消息
xiāoxī
News
算
suàn
Count
交
jiāo
Cross
成功
chénggōng
Success
接受
jiēshòu
Accepted
破
pò
Break
骗
piàn
Cheat
收
shōu
Income
乱
luàn
Random
博士
bóshì
Doctor
当
dāng
When the
爱情
ài qíng
romance; love
安排
ān pái
to arrange
按时
àn shí
on time
按照
àn zhào
according to
暗
àn
variant of 暗
包括
bāo kuò
to comprise
保护
bǎo hù
to protect
保证
bǎo zhèng
guarantee
报道
bào dào
to report
报名
bào míng
to sign up
抱
bào
to hold
倍
bèi
-fold
本来
běn lái
original
笨
bèn
stupid
笔记本
bǐ jì běn
notebook
毕业
bì yè
graduation
遍
biàn
variant of 遍
标准
biāo zhǔn
standard; norm; criterion
表达
biǎo dá
to express; to convey
表格
biǎo gé
form
表扬
biǎo yáng
to praise
饼干
bǐng gān
biscuit; cracker; cookie
并且
bìng qiě
and
不但
bù dàn
not only
不得不
bù dé bù
have no choice or option but to
不过
bù guò
only
不仅
bù jǐn
not just; not limited to
部分
bù fen
part
擦
cā
to rub; to scratch
材料
cái liào
material
参观
cān guān
to look around
差不多
chà bu duō
almost
尝
cháng
to taste; to try
超过
chāo guò
to surpass
吵
chǎo
to quarrel
成熟
chéng shú
mature; ripe
成为
chéng wéi
to become; to turn into
诚实
chéng shí
honest
乘坐
chéng zuò
to ride
吃惊
chī jīng
to be startled
抽烟
chōu yān
to smoke
出差
chū chāi
to go on an official or business trip
出发
chū fā
to set off
出生
chū shēng
to be born
传真
chuán zhēn
fax
窗户
chuāng hu
window
词典
cí diǎn
dictionary
从来
cóng lái
always
粗心
cū xīn
careless
答案
dá àn
answer
打扮
dǎ ban
to decorate
打扰
dǎ rǎo
to disturb
打印
dǎ yìn
to affix a seal
打折
dǎ zhé
to give a discount
打针
dǎ zhēn
to give or have an injection
大夫
dà fū
senior official
大概
dà gài
roughly
大使馆
dà shǐ guǎn
embassy
大约
dà yuē
approximately
代表
dài biǎo
representative
代替
dài tì
to replace
当地
dāng dì
local
当时
dāng shí
then
刀
Dāo
surname Dao
导游
dǎo yóu
tour guide
到处
dào chù
everywhere
道歉
dào qiàn
to apologize
地球
dì qiú
the earth
地址
dì zhǐ
address
得意
dé yì
proud of oneself
底
de
equivalent to 的 as possessive particle
调查
diào chá
investigation
丢
diū
to lose
动作
dòng zuò
movement; motion; action
堵车
dǔ chē
traffic jam
肚子
dù zi
belly
对话
duì huà
to talk
对面
duì miàn
opposite
朵
duǒ
flower
儿童
ér tóng
child
发生
fā shēng
to happen; to occur; to take place; to break out
发展
fā zhǎn
development
法律
fǎ lǜ
law
翻译
fān yì
to translate
烦恼
fán nǎo
to be worried
反对
fǎn duì
to oppose; to be against; to object to
反映
fǎn yìng
to mirror
范围
fàn wéi
range
方法
fāng fǎ
method
方面
fāng miàn
respect
方向
fāng xiàng
direction; orientation
访问
fǎng wèn
to visit
放弃
fàng qì
to renounce; to abandon; to give up
放暑假
fàng shǔ jià
to be on summer vacation
分之
fēn zhī
indicating a fraction
份
fèn
classifier for gifts, newspaper, magazine, paper…
丰富
fēng fù
to enrich
风景
fēng jǐng
scenery; landscape
否则
fǒu zé
otherwise; if not; or
符合
fú hé
in keeping with
父亲
fù qīn
father
负责
fù zé
to be in charge of
复印
fù yìn
to photocopy
复杂
fù zá
complicated; complex
富
Fù
surname Fu
改变
gǎi biàn
to change
感动
gǎn dòng
to move
感觉
gǎn jué
feeling; impression; sensation
感情
gǎn qíng
emotion
感谢
gǎn xiè
thanks
干杯
gān bēi
to drink a toast
干燥
gān zào
to dry
刚刚
gāng gang
just recently
高级
gāo jí
high level
个子
gè zi
height
各
gè
each
工具
gōng jù
tool
工资
gōng zī
wages; pay
公里
gōng lǐ
kilometer
共同
gòng tóng
common
购物
gòu wù
shopping
估计
gū jì
to estimate
孤单
gū dān
lone
鼓励
gǔ lì
to encourage
鼓掌
gǔ zhǎng
to applaud
故意
gù yì
deliberately; on purpose
顾客
gù kè
customer; client
挂
guà
to hang or suspend
关键
guān jiàn
crucial point
观众
guān zhòng
spectators
管理
guǎn lǐ
to supervise
广播
guǎng bō
broadcast
广告
guǎng gào
to advertise
逛
guàng
to stroll
规定
guī dìng
to stipulate; to specify; to prescribe; to fix ;…
国际
guó jì
international
果然
guǒ rán
really
过程
guò chéng
course of events
咳嗽
ké sou
to cough
海洋
hǎi yáng
ocean
害羞
hài xiū
shy
寒假
hán jià
winter vacation
汗
hán
see 汗, 汗国
航班
háng bān
flight; sailing
好处
hǎo chǔ
easy to get along with
号码
hào mǎ
number
合格
hé gé
to meet the standard required
合适
hé shì
suitable
盒子
hé zi
box
猴子
hóu zi
monkey
后悔
hòu huǐ
to regret; to feel remorse
后来
hòu lái
afterwards; later
厚
hòu
thick
忽然
hū rán
suddenly; all of a sudden
互相
hù xiāng
each other
护士
hù shi
nurse
怀疑
huái yí
to doubt
回忆
huí yì
to recall
活动
huó dòng
to exercise
活泼
huó po
lively
获得
huò dé
to obtain; to receive; to get
积极
jī jí
active
积累
jī lěi
to accumulate
基础
jī chǔ
base; foundation; basis
激动
jī dòng
to move emotionally
及时
jí shí
timely; at the right time
即使
jí shǐ
even if; even though
极其
jí qí
extremely
集合
jí hé
to gather; to assemble
计划
jì huà
plan
记者
jì zhě
reporter; journalist
技术
jì shù
technology; technique; skill
既然
jì rán
since
继续
jì xù
to continue
寄
jì
to send
加班
jiā bān
to work overtime
加油站
jiā yóu zhàn
gas station
家具
jiā jù
furniture
假
gēi
used in 掰
价格
jià gé
price
坚持
jiān chí
to persevere with
减肥
jiǎn féi
to lose weight
减少
jiǎn shǎo
to lessen; to decrease; to reduce; to lower
将来
jiāng lái
in the future
奖金
jiǎng jīn
premium
降低
jiàng dī
to reduce; to lower; to bring down
交流
jiāo liú
to exchange
交通
jiāo tōng
to be connected
骄傲
jiāo ào
pride
饺子
jiǎo zi
dumpling
教授
jiào shòu
professor
教育
jiào yù
to educate
节约
jié yuē
to economize
结果
jiē guǒ
to bear fruit
解释
jiě shì
explanation
尽管
jǐn guǎn
despite
紧张
jǐn zhāng
nervous
进行
jìn xíng
to advance
禁止
jìn zhǐ
to prohibit
京剧
Jīng jù
Beijing opera
经济
jīng jì
economy
经历
jīng lì
experience
经验
jīng yàn
experience
精彩
jīng cǎi
wonderful
精神
jīng shén
spirit
竞争
jìng zhēng
to compete
竟然
jìng rán
unexpectedly
镜子
jìng zi
mirror
究竟
jiū jìng
to go to the bottom of a matter
举办
jǔ bàn
to conduct
拒绝
jù jué
to refuse; to decline; to reject
距离
jù lí
distance
开玩笑
kāi wán xiào
to play a joke
看法
kàn fǎ
way of looking at a thing
考虑
kǎo lǜ
to think over
科学
kē xué
science
棵
kē
classifier for trees, cabbages, plants etc
可怜
kě lián
pitiful
可惜
kě xī
it is a pity
空气
kōng qì
air
恐怕
kǒng pà
fear
苦
kǔ
bitter
宽
Kuān
surname Kuan
困
kùn
to trap
困难
kùn nan
difficult
扩大
kuò dà
to expand
垃圾桶
lā jī tǒng
rubbish bin
辣
là
old variant of 辣
来不及
lái bu jí
there's not enough time
来得及
lái de jí
to have enough time; can do it in time; can stil…
懒
lǎn
variant of 懒
浪费
làng fèi
to waste
浪漫
làng màn
romantic
老虎
lǎo hǔ
tiger
冷静
lěng jìng
calm; cool-headed; dispassionate
礼貌
lǐ mào
courtesy; politeness; manners
理发
lǐ fà
to get a haircut; to have one's hair done
理解
lǐ jiě
to comprehend; to understand
理想
lǐ xiǎng
an ideal
力气
lì qi
strength
厉害
lì hai
terrible
例如
lì rú
for example; for instance; such as
俩
liǎ
two
联系
lián xì
variant of 联系
凉快
liáng kuai
nice and cold
亮
liàng
bright
聊天
liáo tiān
to chat
另外
lìng wài
additional
流泪
liú lèi
to shed tears
流利
liú lì
fluent
流行
liú xíng
to spread
留
liú
old variant of 留
留学
liú xué
to study abroad
律师
lǜ shī
lawyer
麻烦
má fan
trouble; inconvenience
马虎
mǎ hu
careless
毛巾
máo jīn
towel
美丽
měi lì
beautiful
密码
mì mǎ
cipher; secret code
免费
miǎn fèi
free
民族
mín zú
nationality; ethnic group
母亲
mǔ qīn
mother
目的
mù dì
purpose; aim; goal; target; objective
耐心
nài xīn
to be patient
难道
nán dào
don't tell me ...
难受
nán shòu
to feel unwell
内容
nèi róng
content
能力
néng lì
capability
年龄
nián líng
age
农村
nóng cūn
rural area
暖和
nuǎn huo
warm
偶尔
ǒu ěr
occasionally
排列
pái liè
to arrange in order
判断
pàn duàn
to judge
陪
péi
to accompany
批评
pī píng
to criticize; criticism
皮肤
pí fū
skin
脾气
pí qi
character
篇
piān
sheet
乒乓球
pīng pāng qiú
table tennis
平时
píng shí
ordinarily
瓶子
píng zi
bottle
普遍
pǔ biàn
universal
其次
qí cì
next
其中
qí zhōng
among
起飞
qǐ fēi
to take off
起来
qǐ lai
to stand up
气候
qì hòu
climate
千万
qiān wàn
ten million
签证
qiān zhèng
visa
墙
qiáng
variant of 墙, wall
敲
qiāo
to hit
桥
qiáo
bridge
巧克力
qiǎo kè lì
chocolate
亲戚
qīn qi
a relative
轻松
qīng sōng
light
情况
qíng kuàng
circumstances; state of affairs; situation
请假
qǐng jià
to request leave of absence
请客
qǐng kè
to give a dinner party
穷
qióng
poor
区别
qū bié
difference
取
qǔ
to take
缺点
quē diǎn
weak point
缺少
quē shǎo
lack
确实
què shí
indeed
群
qún
variant of 群
然而
rán ér
however; yet; but
热闹
rè nao
bustling with noise and excitement
人民币
rén mín bì
Renminbi
任务
rèn wu
mission; assignment; task; duty; role
扔
rēng
to throw
仍然
réng rán
still; as before; yet
日记
rì jì
diary
入口
rù kǒu
entrance
软
ruǎn
soft
散步
sàn bù
to take a walk; to go for a walk
森林
sēn lín
forest
沙发
shā fā
sofa
伤心
shāng xīn
to grieve
商量
shāng liang
to consult
稍微
shāo wēi
a little bit
社会
shè huì
society
申请
shēn qǐng
to apply for sth
深
shēn
old variant of 深
省
shěng
to save; to economize; to be frugal
剩
shèng
to remain
失败
shī bài
to be defeated
失望
shī wàng
disappointed
师傅
shī fu
master
狮子
Shī zǐ
Leo
湿润
shī rùn
moist
十分
shí fēn
very
实际
shí jì
reality
实在
shí zài
really
食品
shí pǐn
foodstuff; food; provisions
使用
shǐ yòng
to use
世纪
shì jì
century
市场
shì chǎng
marketplace
适合
shì hé
to fit; to suit
适应
shì yìng
to adapt
收入
shōu rù
to take in
收拾
shōu shi
to put in order
首都
shǒu dū
capital
首先
shǒu xiān
first
受不了
shòu bù liǎo
unbearable
受到
shòu dào
to receive
售货员
shòu huò yuán
salesperson
输
shū
to lose; to be beaten
熟悉
shú xī
to be familiar with; to know well
数量
shù liàng
amount
数字
shù zì
numeral
帅
Shuài
surname Shuai
顺便
shùn biàn
conveniently
顺利
shùn lì
smoothly; without a hitch
顺序
shùn xù
sequence
说明
shuō míng
to explain
硕士
shuò shì
master's degree
速度
sù dù
speed
塑料袋
sù liào dài
plastic bag
酸
suān
sour
随便
suí biàn
as one wishes
随着
suí zhe
along with
孙子
Sūn zǐ
Sun Tzu, also known as Sun Wu 孙武 , general, stra…
台
Tái
Taiwan
抬
tái
to lift
态度
tài du
manner
汤
Tāng
surname Tang
躺
tǎng
to recline
趟
tāng
old variant of 趟
讨论
tǎo lùn
to discuss; to talk over
讨厌
tǎo yàn
to dislike
特点
tè diǎn
characteristic
提供
tí gōng
to offer
提前
tí qián
to shift to an earlier date
提醒
tí xǐng
to remind
填空
tián kòng
to fill a job vacancy
条件
tiáo jiàn
condition; circumstance; term; factor
停止
tíng zhǐ
to stop; to halt; to cease
挺
tǐng
straight
通过
tōng guò
to pass through; to get through
通知
tōng zhī
to notify
同情
tóng qíng
to sympathize with
推
tuī
to push
推迟
tuī chí
to postpone
袜子
wà zi
socks
网球
wǎng qiú
tennis
网站
wǎng zhàn
website
往
wǎng
to go
往往
wǎng wǎng
usually
危险
wēi xiǎn
danger
味道
wèi dao
flavor; taste
温度
wēn dù
temperature
文章
wén zhāng
article
握手
wò shǒu
to shake hands
污染
wū rǎn
to pollute; to contaminate
无聊
wú liáo
bored
无论
wú lùn
no matter what or how
误会
wù huì
to misunderstand
吸引
xī yǐn
to attract; to appeal to; to fascinate
洗衣机
xǐ yī jī
washing machine; washer
西红柿
xī hóng shì
tomato
咸
Xián
surname Xian
现代
Xiàn dài
Hyundai, South Korean company
限制
xiàn zhì
to restrict
羡慕
xiàn mù
to envy
相反
xiāng fǎn
opposite
香
xiāng
fragrant
详细
xiáng xì
detailed
响
xiǎng
echo
小说
xiǎo shuō
novel
效果
xiào guǒ
result
笑话
xiào hua
joke; jest
心情
xīn qíng
mood; frame of mind
辛苦
xīn kǔ
exhausting
信任
xìn rèn
to trust
信心
xìn xīn
confidence
信用卡
xìn yòng kǎ
credit card
醒
xǐng
to wake up
兴奋
xīng fèn
excited
幸福
xìng fú
happiness
性别
xìng bié
gender
性格
xìng gé
nature
修
Xiū
surname Xiu
许多
xǔ duō
many
压力
yā lì
pressure
牙膏
yá gāo
toothpaste
亚洲
Yà zhōu
Asia
严格
yán gé
strict
严重
yán zhòng
grave
研究生
yán jiū shēng
graduate student
盐
yán
salt
演出
yǎn chū
to act
演员
yǎn yuán
actor or actress
阳光
yáng guāng
sunshine
养成
yǎng chéng
to cultivate
样子
yàng zi
appearance
邀请
yāo qǐng
to invite
钥匙
yào shi
key
也许
yě xǔ
perhaps
叶子
yè zi
leaf
页
xié
head
亿
yì
100 million
艺术
yì shù
art
意见
yì jiàn
idea
因此
yīn cǐ
thus; consequently; as a result
引起
yǐn qǐ
to give rise to; to lead to; to cause; to arouse
饮料
yǐn liào
drink
印象
yìn xiàng
impression
硬
yìng
hard; stiff; solid
永远
yǒng yuǎn
forever
勇敢
yǒng gǎn
brave; courageous
优点
yōu diǎn
merit
优秀
yōu xiù
outstanding; excellent
幽默
yōu mò
humor
尤其
yóu qí
especially; particularly
由于
yóu yú
due to
友好
Yǒu hǎo
Youhao district of Yichun city 市, Heilongjiang
友谊
yǒu yì
companionship
于是
yú shì
thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence
愉快
yú kuài
cheerful
羽毛球
yǔ máo qiú
shuttlecock
语法
yǔ fǎ
grammar
语言
yǔ yán
language
预习
yù xí
to prepare a lesson
原来
yuán lái
original
原谅
yuán liàng
to excuse
圆
yuán
circle
约会
yuē huì
appointment
阅读
yuè dú
to read
允许
yǔn xǔ
to permit
杂志
zá zhì
magazine
咱们
zán men
we or us spoken to)
暂时
zàn shí
temporary
脏
zàng
viscera
责任
zé rèn
responsibility
增加
zēng jiā
to raise
增长
zēng zhǎng
to grow
窄
zhǎi
narrow
长城
Cháng chéng
the Great Wall
长江
Cháng Jiāng
Yangtze River, or Chang Jiang
招聘
zhāo pìn
to invite applications for a job
著名
zhù míng
famous
整理
zhěng lǐ
to arrange
整齐
zhěng qí
orderly
正常
zhèng cháng
regular
正好
zhèng hǎo
just
正确
zhèng què
correct; sound; right; proper
正式
zhèng shì
formal; official
证明
zhèng míng
proof
支持
zhī chí
to be in favor of
知识
zhī shi
knowledge
直接
zhí jiē
direct
值得
zhí de
to be worth
职业
zhí yè
occupation; profession; vocation
植物
zhí wù
plant
只好
zhǐ hǎo
to have no other option but to ...; to have to; …
只要
zhǐ yào
if only
制造
zhì zào
to manufacture; to make
质量
zhì liàng
quality
中文
Zhōng wén
Chinese language
重点
chóng diǎn
to recount
重视
zhòng shì
to attach importance to sth; to value
重新
chóng xīn
again; once more; re-
周围
zhōu wéi
environs; surroundings; periphery
猪
zhū
hog
逐渐
zhú jiàn
gradually
主动
zhǔ dòng
to take the initiative
主意
zhǔ yi
plan
祝贺
zhù hè
to congratulate
专门
zhuān mén
specialist
专业
zhuān yè
specialty
赚
zhuàn
to earn
撞
zhuàng
to knock against
准确
zhǔn què
accurate; exact; precise
准时
zhǔn shí
on time
仔细
zǐ xì
careful; attentive; cautious
自然
zì rán
nature
总结
zǒng jié
to sum up
租
zū
to hire
组成
zǔ chéng
to form
组织
zǔ zhī
to organize
尊重
zūn zhòng
to esteem
作者
zuò zhě
author; writer
座
zuò
seat
座位
zuò wèi
seat
做生意
zuò shēng yì
to do business
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the jump from HSK 3 to HSK 4?+
Noticeable. HSK 4 nearly doubles the word count and introduces more abstract, context-dependent vocabulary. Most learners spend 6-12 months at this level.
Can I watch Chinese TV with HSK 4?+
With subtitles and pausing - yes, for slower dramas. Fast dialogue and news broadcasts typically need HSK 5-6 to follow comfortably.
Is HSK 4 good enough for work in China?+
For simple office tasks, yes. Most professional environments expect HSK 5 or above for substantive participation in meetings and written communication.
What is the total vocabulary at HSK 1-4?+
ToneDeck's dataset includes 1,154 words across HSK 1-4. Combined with the frequency deck, you cover the vast majority of everyday spoken Mandarin.
Other HSK vocabulary lists
HSK 1
A1
View vocabulary list
HSK 2
A2
View vocabulary list
HSK 3
B1 (lower)
View vocabulary list
HSK 5
B2
View vocabulary list
HSK 6
C1
View vocabulary list
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.