Master of Languages
New HSK syllabus · in force since July 2026
HSK 3.0, explained
The new HSK has 9 levels and 11,000 words. Here is what changed from HSK 2.0, how many words and characters each level asks for, and how to get ready.
- 9 levels
- 11,000 words
- 3,088 characters
Words per level
Comparison
HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0
| Level | HSK 2.0 | HSK 3.0 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | 300 | +150 |
| HSK 2 | 300 | 500 | +200 |
| HSK 3 | 600 | 1,000 | +400 |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 | 2,000 | +800 |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 | 3,600 | +1,100 |
| HSK 6 | 5,000 | 5,400 | +400 |
| HSK 7–9 | – | 11,000 | New level |
HSK 3.0 · 汉语水平考试
HSK 3.0 vocabulary by level
- 中国ZhōngguóChina
- 我们wǒmenwe
- 他们tāmenthey
- 没有méiyǒuhaven't
- 可以kěyǐcan
- 工作gōngzuòto work
- 自己zìjǐoneself
- 已经yǐjīngalready
- 这样zhèyàngthis kind of
- 开始kāishǐto begin
- 因为yīnwèibecause
- 可能kěnéngmight (happen)
- 国家guójiācountry
- 发展fāzhǎndevelopment
- 主要zhǔyàomain
- 地方dìfangarea
- 如果rúguǒif
- 重要zhòngyàoimportant
- 进行jìnxíngto advance
- 经济jīngjìeconomy
- 社会shèhuìsociety
- 技术jìshùtechnology
- 成为chéngwéito become
- 通过tōngguòto pass through
- 人民rénmínthe people
- 地区dìqūlocal
- 企业qǐyècompany
- 生产shēngchǎnto produce
- 代表dàibiǎorepresentative
- 领导lǐngdǎolead
- 皇帝huángdìemperor
- 编辑biānjíto edit
- 革命gémìngto withdraw the mandate of heave…
- 群众qúnzhòngmass
- 中央zhōngyāngcentral
- 战争zhànzhēngwar
- 作为zuòwéione's conduct
- 委员会wěiyuánhuìcommittee
- 机关jīguānmechanism
- 行政xíngzhèngadministration
- 军事jūnshìmilitary affairs
- 国务院guówùyuànState Council (PRC)
track your HSK 3.0 progress while studying everything else
Questions
HSK 3.0 questions
When did HSK 3.0 start?
The new HSK syllabus was published in November 2025 and applies from July 2026. Trial exams in the new format ran during 2026, and the worldwide launch is planned for December 2026. Check your test centre for exact dates.
Should I study the HSK 2.0 or the HSK 3.0 words?
Study the list your exam uses; your test centre can tell you which format it runs. Master Chinese tracks both lists, so every word you learn counts toward both.
Why do levels 7, 8 and 9 share one list?
The syllabus treats levels 7 to 9 as one advanced band with 5,600 words on top of the 5,400 words of levels 1 to 6. One exam covers the band, and your score decides whether you reach level 7, 8 or 9.
How many characters do I need?
3,088 characters (hanzi) across all levels. HSK 1 starts with 246.
Does Master Chinese follow HSK 3.0?
Yes. It tracks HSK 3.0 and HSK 2.0 word by word and shows how many words of each level you already know. You learn them chapter by chapter with your textbook.
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