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HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) for the HSK Exam
HSK 1 requires only 150 vocabulary words and tests listening and reading. These words cover the most fundamental categories: greetings (你好/nǐ hǎo), numbers, dates, family members, basic objects, and simple verbs. A complete mastery of these 150 words enables 100% exam readiness for HSK 1.
Locale-specific study guides
Pass-rate data, regulatory context, and study tips for HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) all change by candidate locale. Pick your context:
- HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) · United StatesCalibrated for American candidates
- HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) · United KingdomCalibrated for British candidates
- HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) · IndiaCalibrated for Indian candidates
- HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) · PhilippinesCalibrated for Filipino candidates
- HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) · NigeriaCalibrated for Nigerian candidates
Common failure modes
These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.
- !Confusing similar-looking characters (大/太, 人/入, 日/目)
- !Recognising characters but not knowing tones — wrong tone = wrong word in Chinese
- !Forgetting measure words (量词/liàngcí): 一个 not 一
Study tips
- 1Download the official HSK 1 vocabulary list from the Hanban website and study all 150 words with tones.
- 2Use spaced repetition (Anki with HSK 1 deck) — 15 minutes daily covers all 150 words in 2 weeks.
- 3Practice writing characters alongside learning pronunciation — visual memory reinforces tonal recall.
Sample HSK HSK 1 — Vocabulary (150 Words) questions
These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real HSK questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.
- 1
What does "我叫李明" (Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng) mean?
- AI am going to Li Ming's house
- BMy name is Li MingCorrect
- CLi Ming is my friend
- DI call Li Ming
Why this answer?
"我" (wǒ) = I/me; "叫" (jiào) = to be called/named; "李明" (Lǐ Míng) = a personal name. "我叫李明" is the standard way to introduce yourself in Chinese: "My name is Li Ming."
- 2
How do you say "How much does this cost?" in Mandarin?
- A这是什么?(Zhè shì shénme?)
- B你好吗?(Nǐ hǎo ma?)
- C多少钱?(Duōshao qián?)Correct
- D几点了?(Jǐ diǎn le?)
Why this answer?
"多少钱?" (Duōshao qián?) literally means "how much money?" and is the standard phrase for asking a price. "什么" = what; "你好吗" = how are you; "几点" = what time.
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HSK 1 through 6 — vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading.