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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All 598 HSK 4 words

Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral/mixed.

火

huǒ

Fire

满

mǎn

Full

抱歉

bàoqiàn

Sorry

轻

qīng

Light

试

shì

Test

梦

mèng

Dream

嘴

zuǐ

Mouth

顿

dùn

Dayton

戴

dài

Wear

弹

dàn

Bomb

由

yóu

弄

nòng

Get

断

duàn

Break

血

xuè

Blood

猜

cāi

Guess

脱

tuō

Take off

破

pò

Break

按时

àn shí

on time

按照

àn zhào

according to

暗

àn

variant of 暗

报名

bào míng

to sign up

抱

bào

to hold

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

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

代替

dài tì

to replace

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

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

to happen; to occur; to take place; to break out

烦恼

fán nǎo

to be worried

反对

fǎn duì

to oppose; to be against; to object to

direction; orientation

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

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

个子

gè zi

height

工资

gōng zī

wages; pay

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

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

technology; technique; skill

寄

jì

to send

加班

jiā bān

to work overtime

加油站

jiā yóu zhàn

gas station

家具

jiā jù

furniture

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

骄傲

jiāo ào

pride

饺子

jiǎo zi

dumpling

节约

jié yuē

to economize

京剧

Jīng jù

Beijing opera

精彩

jīng cǎi

wonderful

镜子

jìng zi

mirror

究竟

jiū jìng

to go to the bottom of a matter

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

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

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

nationality; ethnic group

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

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

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

缺点

quē diǎn

weak point

缺少

quē shǎo

lack

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

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

foodstuff; food; provisions

收拾

shōu shi

to put in order

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

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

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

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

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

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

牙膏

yá gāo

toothpaste

研究生

yán jiū shēng

graduate student

盐

yán

salt

阳光

yáng guāng

sunshine

养成

yǎng chéng

to cultivate

钥匙

yào shi

key

也许

yě xǔ

perhaps

叶子

yè zi

leaf

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

暂时

zàn shí

temporary

脏

zàng

viscera

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

occupation; profession; vocation

植物

zhí wù

plant

只好

zhǐ hǎo

to have no other option but to ...; to have to; …

to manufacture; to make

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

to take the initiative

主意

zhǔ yi

plan

祝贺

zhù hè

to congratulate

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

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.