HSK 3 Vocabulary List

阿姨 ā yí woman of similar age to one's parents (term of address used by child); childcare worker; nursemaid; maternal aunt

矮 ǎi (of a person) short; (of a wall etc) low

爱人 ài ren spouse (PRC); lover (non-PRC)

安静 ān jìng quiet; peaceful; calm

安全 ān quán safe; secure; safety; security

把 bǎ (used to put the object before the verb: 把 + {noun} + {verb}); classifier: handful, bundle, bunch; classifier for things with handles

搬 bān to move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky); to shift

班级 bān jí class (group of students); grade (in school)

搬家 bān jiā to move house; to relocate

办 bàn to take care of (a matter); to deal with (a task, procedure etc); to organize (an event); to establish; to set up; to manage; to run (an enterprise)

办法 bàn fǎ way of handling sth; means; measure; (practical) solution to a problem

办公室 bàn gōng shì office; business premises

半天 bàn tiān a long time; half of the day

帮助 bāng zhù to help; to assist; assistance; aid

饱 bǎo to eat till full; satisfied

报纸 bào zhǐ newspaper

北 běi north

北方 běi fāng north

被 bèi used to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb); quilt

笔记 bǐ jì notes; to take down (in writing)

比较 bǐ jiào to compare; comparatively

笔记本 bǐ jì běn notebook (stationery); (computing) laptop; notebook

比如 bǐ rú for example; for instance; such as

比赛 bǐ sài competition (sports etc); to compete

必须 bì xū must; to have to; compulsory

变 biàn to change

遍 biàn classifier for actions: one time

变成 biàn chéng to change into

变化 biàn huà (intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation

表演 biǎo yǎn to perform; performance; to act; show; play

别的 bié de else

别人 bié ren other people; others; other person

宾馆 bīn guǎn hotel

冰 bīng ice; (of an object or substance) to feel cold; to chill sth; (of a person) cold

冰激凌 bīng jī líng ice cream

冰箱 bīng xiāng refrigerator

病人 bìng rén patient

不但 bù dàn not only (... but also ...)

不见 bù jiàn to have disappeared; to be missing

不用 bù yòng need not

不同 bù tóng different

不久 bù jiǔ soon

不行 bù xíng won't do

才 cái just now; (before an expression of quantity) only; then and only then

菜单 cài dān menu

参加 cān jiā to participate

草 cǎo grass; careless; straw; rough

草地 cǎo dì lawn; meadow

层 céng classifier for layers; floor (of a building); story; layer; stratum

查 chá to look up (e.g. a word in a dictionary); to check

差 chà not up to standard; inferior; to fall short; to lack

差不多 chà bu duō almost; about the same

尝 cháng to taste; to try (food); to experience

常 cháng often; common; always

常见 cháng jiàn common

常用 cháng yòng in common usage

常常 cháng cháng frequently; often

衬衫 chèn shān shirt; blouse

成绩 chéng jì grades; achievement

城市 chéng shì city; town

迟到 chí dào to arrive late

出发 chū fā to set off

出生 chū shēng to be born

出院 chū yuàn to leave hospital

初中 chū zhōng junior high school

除了 chú le apart from; besides; in addition to (used to exclude, as in 除了他，谁也没来 "apart from him, nobody came", or to include, as in 除了英语，他也会法语 "in addition to English, he also knows French"); (used to introduce one of two habitual alternatives in the pattern 除了 + A + 就是 + B, "either A or B")

船 chuán boat

春天 chūn tiān spring (season)

词典 cí diǎn dictionary

聪明 cōng ming intelligent; clever; bright

打扫 dǎ sǎo to clean; to sweep

打算 dǎ suàn to plan; plan; to intend

大概 dà gài probably; roughly; general idea

大人 dà ren adult; title of respect toward superiors

大小 dà xiǎo size

大熊猫 dà xióng māo giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

大衣 dà yī overcoat

带 dài to bring; to take along; to carry; belt; band; strap; to lead

担心 dān xīn to worry; anxious

蛋糕 dàn gāo cake

当然 dāng rán of course; certainly

到处 dào chù everywhere

得到 dé dào to get; to obtain; to receive

得分 dé fēn to score a point (in a competition, test etc); score; rating; grade

的话 de huà if (coming after a conditional clause)

灯 dēng lamp

地点 dì diǎn place; location

地方 dì fang place; location; area; space; territory; aspect; part

地图 dì tú map

电 diàn electricity; electric (bound form); phone call or telegram etc

电梯 diàn tī elevator; escalator

电子书 diàn zǐ shū e-book

丢 diū to lose; to throw

东 dōng east

东北 dōng běi northeast

东方 dōng fāng east

东南 dōng nán southeast

冬天 dōng tiān winter

懂得 dǒng de to understand; to know; to comprehend

动物 dòng wù animal

动物园 dòng wù yuán zoo

短 duǎn short; brief

短裤 duǎn kù short pants

段 duàn classifier for stories, periods of time, lengths of thread etc; paragraph

锻炼 duàn liàn to engage in physical exercise; to work out; (fig.) to develop one's skills

对话 duì huà dialogue; conversation; to talk (with sb)

饿 è hungry

而且 ér qiě (not only ...) but also; moreover; in addition; furthermore

耳朵 ěr duo ear; handle (on a cup)

耳机 ěr jī headphones

发 fā to send out; to show (one's feeling); classifier for gunshots (rounds)

发烧 fā shāo to have a high temperature (from illness); to have a fever; (fig.) to be fascinated with; to obsess over

发生 fā shēng to happen; to occur; to take place; to break out

发现 fā xiàn to discover; to find; to detect; a discovery

发展 fā zhǎn to develop; development

方便 fāng biàn convenient; suitable; to facilitate; to make things easy

方便面 fāng biàn miàn instant noodles

方法 fāng fǎ method; way; technique; procedure

方向 fāng xiàng direction; orientation

房子 fáng zi house; apartment

放 fàng to put; to release; to set off (fireworks)

放假 fàng jià to have a holiday or vacation

放心 fàng xīn to feel relieved

放学 fàng xué to dismiss students at the end of the school day

分开 fēn kāi to separate

风 fēng wind

封 fēng classifier for sealed objects, esp. letters

夫妻 fū qī husband and wife; married couple

服务 fú wù to serve; service

附近 fù jìn nearby; neighboring; (in the) vicinity (of); neighborhood

复习 fù xí to review; revision

该 gāi should; probably

干净 gān jìng clean; neat

感兴趣 gǎn xìng qù to be interested (in sth)

感到 gǎn dào to feel; to sense; to perceive

感冒 gǎn mào to catch cold; (common) cold

干 gàn to do; to work; to manage

刚 gāng just; only a short while ago; exactly; precisely; barely; only just

刚才 gāng cái just now

刚刚 gāng gang just recently

高铁 gāo tiě high speed rail

根据 gēn jù according to; basis

更 gèng more

公斤 gōng jīn kilogram (kg)

公园 gōng yuán park (for public recreation)

工作日 gōng zuò rì workday; weekday

故事 gù shi narrative; story; tale

刮 guā to blow; to scrape; to shave

关 guān to close; to shut; to turn off

关机 guān jī to turn off (a machine or device); to finish shooting a film

关系 guān xi relationship; to have to do with; guanxi

关心 guān xīn to be concerned about; to care about

关于 guān yú about

关注 guān zhù to pay attention to; to follow sth closely; to follow (on social media); concern; interest; attention

国家 guó jiā country; nation; state

过节 guò jié to celebrate a festival

海 hǎi sea; great number of people or things

害怕 hài pà to be afraid; to be scared

好多 hǎo duō many

好久 hǎo jiǔ (coll.) for a long time

好像 hǎo xiàng to seem like; as if

号码 hào mǎ number

河 hé river

合适 hé shì suitable; fitting; appropriate

黑板 hēi bǎn blackboard

红绿灯 hóng lǜ dēng traffic light

后来 hòu lái afterwards; later

后年 hòu nián the year after next

后天 hòu tiān the day after tomorrow

护照 hù zhào passport

花园 huā yuán garden (for flowers, ornamental plants etc); (landscaped) park; yard with decorative plants

画家 huà jiā painter

欢迎 huān yíng to welcome; welcome

环境 huán jìng environment; surroundings; circumstances

换 huàn to change (clothes etc); to convert (currency); to exchange

黄色 huáng sè yellow; vulgar; lewd; pornographic

回答 huí dá to reply; to answer; reply; answer

会议 huì yì meeting; conference

或 huò or

或者 huò zhě or; possibly; maybe; perhaps

鸡 jī chicken

几乎 jī hū almost; nearly; practically

机会 jī huì opportunity

极 jí extremely

急 jí worried; urgent; to make (sb) anxious

记 jì to remember; to memorize; to record; to note; classifier for blows, kicks, shots

季 jì season

季节 jì jié season; period

加 jiā to add; to increase; to augment; (math.) plus

假期 jià qī vacation

坚持 jiān chí to persevere with

检查 jiǎn chá to examine; inspection

简单 jiǎn dān simple; not complicated

检票 jiǎn piào to inspect a ticket

健康 jiàn kāng health; healthy

见面 jiàn miàn to meet; to see each other

讲 jiǎng to speak; to explain

角 jiǎo unit of money equal to 0.1 yuan, or 10 cents (a dime); corner; angle; horn

脚 jiǎo foot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object); classifier for kicks

接 jiē to answer (the phone); to meet or welcome sb; to receive; to catch; to connect

街 jiē street

节 jié (bound form) section; segment; classifier for segments: lessons, train wagons, biblical verses etc; seasonal festival; (bound form) to economize; to save

结婚 jié hūn to marry; to get married

节目 jié mù (TV or radio) program; show; item; act; segment; number (on the program of a concert, variety show or cultural event)

节日 jié rì holiday; festival

结束 jié shù to end; to finish; to conclude

解决 jiě jué to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandits etc)

姐妹 jiě mèi sisters; sister (school, city etc)

借 jiè to borrow; (used in combination with 给 or 出 etc) to lend

斤 jīn (PRC) weight equal to 500 g

经过 jīng guò to pass; process

经理 jīng lǐ manager

久 jiǔ (of a period of time) long

酒 jiǔ alcoholic beverage; wine (esp. rice wine); liquor

旧 jiù old; former

句 jù sentence; classifier for phrases or lines of verse

句子 jù zi sentence

决定 jué dìng to decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision

卡 kǎ (loanword) card; to stop; truck (from "car"); calorie

开花 kāi huā to bloom; to blossom; to flower

开会 kāi huì to hold a meeting; to attend a meeting

开机 kāi jī to boot up (a computer); to start an engine

开心 kāi xīn to feel happy; to have a great time; to make fun of sb

看来 kàn lai apparently

可 kě (prefix) can; may; able to; -able; (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very; but; however

渴 kě thirsty

可爱 kě ài adorable

可是 kě shì but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed

刻 kè quarter (hour); moment; to carve

课本 kè běn textbook

客人 kè rén guest; visitor; customer; client

课文 kè wén text

空调 kōng tiáo air conditioning; air conditioner (including units that have a heating mode)

哭 kū to cry; to weep

筷子 kuài zi chopsticks

矿泉水 kuàng quán shuǐ mineral water

来自 lái zì to come from (a place)

蓝 lán blue

老 lǎo old (of people); prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity; always

老人 lǎo rén old man or woman; the elderly; one's aged parents or grandparents

离开 lí kāi to depart; to leave

礼物 lǐ wù gift; present

历史 lì shǐ history

脸 liǎn face

练 liàn to practice

练习 liàn xí to practice; exercise

凉快 liáng kuai pleasantly cool (weather etc); to cool oneself; to cool off

辆 liàng classifier for vehicles

聊 liáo (coll.) to chat

聊天儿 liáo tiān r to chat; to gossip

了解 liǎo jiě to understand; to find out

邻居 lín jū neighbor

留学 liú xué to study abroad

留学生 liú xué shēng student studying abroad; returned student; foreign student; international student

楼梯 lóu tī staircase

路边 lù biān curb; roadside; wayside

路口 lù kǒu crossing

马 mǎ horse

马路 mǎ lù street

马上 mǎ shàng at once

满意 mǎn yì satisfied

毛 máo classifier for Chinese fractional monetary unit ( = 角 , = one-tenth of a yuan or 10 fen 分); hair

米 mǐ uncooked rice; meter (unit of length)

面前 miàn qián in front of; (in the) presence (of)

明白 míng bai to understand; to realize; clear; obvious; unequivocal

名单 míng dān list of names

名人 míng rén celebrity; personage

南 nán south

难 nán difficult (to...); difficulty

南方 nán fāng south; southern direction

难过 nán guò to feel sad; to feel unwell

难看 nán kàn ugly

男人 nán rén a man

男生 nán shēng male student; guy (young adult male)

难题 nán tí difficult problem

难听 nán tīng unpleasant to hear; offensive; coarse

年级 nián jí grade

年轻 nián qīng young

牛 niú cow; (slang) awesome

努力 nǔ lì to make an effort; to try hard; to strive; hard-working; conscientious

女人 nǚ rén woman

女生 nǚ shēng female student; girl

爬 pá to climb

怕 pà to be afraid; perhaps

拍照 pāi zhào to take a picture

盘子 pán zi plate; dish

胖 pàng fat

啤酒 pí jiǔ beer (loanword)

平时 píng shí ordinarily; in normal times

瓶子 píng zi bottle

骑 qí to ride (a horse, bike etc)

奇怪 qí guài strange

其实 qí shí actually; in fact; really

其他 qí tā other; (sth or sb) else

起 qǐ to get up; verb suffix, to start; to start; starting from (a time, place, price etc)

起飞 qǐ fēi (of an aircraft or rocket) to take off; to lift off

汽车 qì chē car

铅笔 qiān bǐ (lead) pencil

前年 qián nián the year before last

前天 qián tiān the day before yesterday

清楚 qīng chu clear; to be clear about

请假 qǐng jià to request leave of absence

请客 qǐng kè to invite to dinner

秋天 qiū tiān autumn

球场 qiú chǎng court; field; sports ground

裙子 qún zi skirt

然后 rán hòu then; after that; afterwards

热情 rè qíng enthusiastic; passion

认得 rèn de to recognize; to know

认为 rèn wéi to believe; to think; to consider; to feel

认真 rèn zhēn conscientious; earnest; serious; to take seriously; to take to heart

容易 róng yì easy; straightforward; likely; liable to; apt to

如果 rú guǒ if; in case; in the event that

伞 sǎn umbrella

扫 sǎo to sweep (with a brush or broom); to sweep (one's eyes etc) over; to scan; to sweep away; to wipe out; to get rid of

沙发 shā fā (loanword) sofa; (Internet slang) first reply to a forum post

山 shān mountain; hill

上衣 shàng yī jacket

勺子 sháo zi spoon; ladle

身边 shēn biān at one's side; on hand

身高 shēn gāo (a person's) height

声 shēng sound; classifier for sounds; voice

生活 shēng huó life; to live; livelihood

生气 shēng qì to get angry; to be furious; vitality; liveliness

声音 shēng yīn sound; voice

市 shì city; market

试 shì to try; to test

室 shì room; work unit

世界 shì jiè world

收 shōu to receive; to collect; to put away

收到 shōu dào to receive

受 shòu to receive; to suffer; (passive marker)

瘦 shòu thin; (of meat) lean; to lose weight; (of clothing) tight

受到 shòu dào to receive (praise, an education, punishment etc); to be ...ed (praised, educated, punished etc)

叔叔 shū shu father's younger brother; paternal uncle; form of address used by children for a male one generation older

树 shù tree

数学 shù xué mathematics

刷 shuā to brush; to scrub; to swipe (a card); a brush; to scroll on (a phone); (fig.) to remove; to eliminate (from a contest); to fire (from a job)

双 shuāng pair; both; double; two; even (number)

水平 shuǐ píng a standard; a level (of ability, development etc); horizontal; level

司机 sī jī chauffeur; driver

四季 sì jì four seasons, namely: spring 春, summer 夏, autumn 秋 and winter 冬

太阳 tài yang sun; sunlight; sunshine

糖 táng sugar; sweets

特别 tè bié unusual; special; very; especially; particularly

提高 tí gāo to improve; to raise; to increase

体育 tǐ yù sports; physical education

体育馆 tǐ yù guǎn gym; stadium

甜 tián sweet; (fig.) pleasant; endearing; lovely

跳 tiào to jump; to bounce; to hop

听说 tīng shuō to hear (sth said); one hears (that); hearsay

挺 tǐng (coll.) quite; to stick out (a part of the body); to support

同事 tóng shì colleague; co-worker

同意 tóng yì to agree

头发 tóu fa hair (on the head)

突然 tū rán sudden; abrupt; unexpected

图书馆 tú shū guǎn library

腿 tuǐ leg

外地 wài dì parts of the country other than where one is

外卖 wài mài takeout (meal); takeout (business); (of a restaurant) to provide a takeout or home delivery meal

外语 wài yǔ foreign language

完成 wán chéng to complete; to accomplish

碗 wǎn bowl

晚点 wǎn diǎn (of trains etc) late

晚会 wǎn huì evening party

网球 wǎng qiú tennis; tennis ball

网站 wǎng zhàn website

忘记 wàng jì to forget

为 wèi for; because of

为了 wèi le for; for the purpose of; in order to

卫生间 wèi shēng jiān bathroom

文化 wén huà culture; cultural

屋子 wū zi room; house

西 xī west

西北 xī běi northwest

西方 Xī fāng the West

西瓜 xī guā watermelon

西南 xī nán southwest

习惯 xí guàn habit; to be used to

喜爱 xǐ ài to like

洗衣机 xǐ yī jī washing machine; washer

洗澡 xǐ zǎo to bathe

夏天 xià tiān summer

先 xiān beforehand; first; earlier

香蕉 xiāng jiāo banana

相信 xiāng xìn to believe; to be convinced; to accept as true

箱子 xiāng zi suitcase; box

向 xiàng towards; direction; to face; to support

像 xiàng to resemble; such as

相机 xiàng jī camera

小区 xiǎo qū housing estate; community; neighborhood

小心 xiǎo xīn to be careful

校园 xiào yuán campus

校长 xiào zhǎng headmaster

鞋 xié shoe

心里 xīn li heart; mind; chest

新年 xīn nián New Year

新闻 xīn wén news

新鲜 xīn xiān fresh (experience, food etc); novel

信 xìn letter; to believe

信用卡 xìn yòng kǎ credit card

行 xíng all right; OK!; will do; capable; competent; (bound form) to walk; to go; to travel; (bound form) to do; to perform; behavior; conduct

行李 xíng li luggage

兴趣 xìng qù interest (desire to know about sth); interest (thing in which one is interested); hobby

休假 xiū jià to go on vacation; to have a holiday; to take leave

需要 xū yào to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs

选 xuǎn to choose; to elect

选择 xuǎn zé to select; to pick; choice; option; alternative

学期 xué qī term; semester

牙 yá tooth; ivory

牙刷 yá shuā toothbrush

羊 yáng sheep; goat

养 yǎng to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to support

要求 yāo qiú to request; to require; to ask; to demand; requirement

页 yè page

一定 yī dìng surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled; a certain ...; a given ...

一共 yī gòng in total; altogether

一块儿 yī kuài r together; in the same place; in company; a piece; a chunk; (coll.) one yuan; a dollar

一样 yī yàng same; like

以后 yǐ hòu after; later; in the future

以前 yǐ qián before; ago

以上 yǐ shàng that level or higher; that amount or more; the above-mentioned; (used to indicate that one has completed one's remarks) That is all.

以外 yǐ wài apart from

以为 yǐ wéi to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief)

以下 yǐ xià that level or lower; that amount or less; the following

一般 yī bān ordinary; general; generally

一边 yī biān doing while; one side

一直 yī zhí continuously; always; all the way through; straight (in a straight line)

音乐 yīn yuè music

银行 yín háng bank

银行卡 yín háng kǎ bank card

饮料 yǐn liào drink

应该 yīng gāi ought to; should; must

影响 yǐng xiǎng influence; effect; to influence; to affect (usually adversely)

用 yòng to use; to make use of; to employ; (coverb) with; using; to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions)

邮件 yóu jiàn email; mail

游客 yóu kè traveler; tourist

游戏 yóu xì game; to play

邮箱 yóu xiāng email inbox; email; mailbox

有关 yǒu guān to have sth to do with; related to

有名 yǒu míng famous

有用 yǒu yòng useful

又 yòu (once) again; both... and...; also

羽毛球 yǔ máo qiú badminton; shuttlecock

语言 yǔ yán language

雨衣 yǔ yī raincoat

遇到 yù dào to meet; to run into; to come across

遇见 yù jiàn to meet

园 yuán land used for growing plants; site used for public recreation

员 yuán (bound form) member

愿意 yuàn yì willing (to do sth); to want

越 yuè the more... the more

月亮 yuè liang the moon

运动会 yùn dòng huì sports competition

运动员 yùn dòng yuán athlete

咱们 zán men we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to)

脏 zāng dirty; to get (sth) dirty

怎么办 zěn me bàn what's to be done

怎样 zěn yàng how; what kind

张 zhāng classifier for flat objects, sheet; sheet of paper; to open up

着急 zháo jí to worry; to feel anxious; to feel a sense of urgency; to be in a hurry

照 zhào to take (a photo); according to; to look at (one's reflection); to shine

照顾 zhào gu to take care of

照片 zhào piàn photograph

照相 zhào xiàng to take a photograph

直到 zhí dào until

纸 zhǐ paper

只能 zhǐ néng can only

只是 zhǐ shì merely; only; just; nothing but; but; however

只要 zhǐ yào so long as; provided; if

只有 zhǐ yǒu only have ...; there is only ...; (used in combination with 才) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通过治疗才能痊愈 "the only way to cure it is with therapy")

中 zhōng middle; center; within; among; in; while (doing sth); during

中间 zhōng jiān the middle; the inside; in the middle; within; between; among; during; in the meantime

终于 zhōng yú finally

种 zhǒng classifier for types, kinds, sorts

重要 zhòng yào important; significant; major

周末 zhōu mò weekend

主要 zhǔ yào main; principal; major; primary

注意 zhù yì to take note of; to pay attention to

住院 zhù yuàn to stay in hospital; to be hospitalized

字典 zì diǎn (coll.) dictionary; Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with a 词典, which has entries for words of one or more characters)

自行车 zì xíng chē bicycle; bike

子 zi noun suffix, as in 椅子 "chair"

总 zǒng in every case; always; invariably; anyway; after all; eventually; sooner or later; (bound form) general; overall; (after a person's name) abbr. for 总经理 or 总编 etc

总是 zǒng shì always

嘴 zuǐ mouth; beak; nozzle; spout (of teapot etc)

最好 zuì hǎo had better ...; it would be best to ...; best

最后 zuì hòu final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end

最近 zuì jìn recently; nearest; soon

做客 zuò kè to be a guest or visitor

作业 zuò yè school assignment; homework

Put it into practice