About HSK 3.0

What Is HSK 3.0?

HSK 3.0 is the revised HSK framework launching in 2026. It organizes the exam into three stages and nine levels instead of the older six-level model. Under this framework, Levels 1–3 are elementary, Levels 4–6 are intermediate, and Levels 7–9 are advanced.

In 2026, learners are still navigating a transition year. Legacy Levels 1–6 are still being offered, while HSK 7–9 is live as a separate advanced exam. Because of that overlap, many schools and programs still use older HSK level language even as the official framework shifts to HSK 3.0.

HSK 2 Flashcards

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Complete HSK 2 Word List

All 200 HSK 3.0 Level 2 vocabulary words sorted by pinyin. Use the search box to filter by Chinese characters, pinyin, or English meaning. Filter by part of speech using the buttons.

# Chinese Pinyin English Type

Essential HSK 2 Grammar

HSK 2 introduces more complex sentence structures. Below are the most important grammar patterns you should master, all illustrated with HSK 1–2 vocabulary.

Pattern 1

Comparisons with 比 (bǐ)

Use 比 to compare two things. The basic structure places 比 between the two items being compared, followed by the adjective. Do not use 很 in 比 sentences.

A + 比 + B + Adjective
他比我高。
Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.
He is taller than me.
火车比公交车快。
Huǒchē bǐ gōngjiāochē kuài.
The train is faster than the bus.
这个比那个便宜。
Zhège bǐ nàge piányi.
This one is cheaper than that one.
姐姐比妹妹大三岁。
Jiějie bǐ mèimei dà sān suì.
The older sister is three years older than the younger sister.
学校离我家比离他家近。
Xuéxiào lí wǒ jiā bǐ lí tā jiā jìn.
The school is closer to my home than to his home.
Pattern 2

Experience with 过 (guo)

Place 过 after a verb to indicate that an action has been experienced at some point in the past. Negate with 没(有)…过.

Subject + Verb + 过 + Object
我去过中国。
Wǒ qù guo Zhōngguó.
I have been to China.
你吃过饺子吗?
Nǐ chī guo jiǎozi ma?
Have you ever eaten dumplings?
他没有游过泳。
Tā méiyǒu yóu guo yǒng.
He has never swum before.
我看过那个电影。
Wǒ kàn guo nàge diànyǐng.
I've seen that movie.
Pattern 3

Cause and Effect: 因为…所以 (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ)

因为 introduces the reason, and 所以 introduces the result. You can use both together or just one.

因为 + Reason, 所以 + Result
因为下雨了,所以我们没出门。
Yīnwèi xiàyǔ le, suǒyǐ wǒmen méi chūmén.
Because it rained, we didn't go out.
因为他生病了,所以没去上班。
Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ méi qù shàngbān.
Because he got sick, he didn't go to work.
因为太累了,所以我早点儿睡觉了。
Yīnwèi tài lèi le, suǒyǐ wǒ zǎo diǎnr shuìjiào le.
Because I was too tired, I went to bed early.
Pattern 4

Concession: 虽然…但是 (suīrán…dànshì)

虽然 means "although" and 但是 means "but." Together they create a concessive sentence. 虽然 can appear before or after the subject.

虽然 + Clause A, 但是 + Clause B
虽然他很忙,但是他每天都运动。
Suīrán tā hěn máng, dànshì tā měi tiān dōu yùndòng.
Although he is busy, he exercises every day.
虽然这个菜不好看,但是很好吃。
Suīrán zhège cài bù hǎokàn, dànshì hěn hǎochī.
Although this dish doesn't look great, it tastes delicious.
虽然很远,但是我想去旅游。
Suīrán hěn yuǎn, dànshì wǒ xiǎng qù lǚyóu.
Although it's far, I want to travel there.
Pattern 5

Directional Complements: 来/去 (lái/qù)

来 and 去 are added after verbs to indicate the direction of movement relative to the speaker. 来 = toward the speaker; 去 = away from the speaker.

Verb + 来/去
请进来!
Qǐng jìnlái!
Please come in!
他出去了。
Tā chūqù le.
He went out.
她从楼上下来了。
Tā cóng lóu shàng xiàlái le.
She came down from upstairs.
我们上去看看吧。
Wǒmen shàngqù kànkan ba.
Let's go up and have a look.
请你过来一下。
Qǐng nǐ guòlái yíxià.
Please come over for a moment.
Pattern 6

Distance with 离 (lí)

离 means "from" or "away from" and is used to express the distance between two places or points in time.

A + 离 + B + 近/远/Measure
学校离我家很近。
Xuéxiào lí wǒ jiā hěn jìn.
The school is very close to my home.
机场离这里很远。
Jīchǎng lí zhèlǐ hěn yuǎn.
The airport is far from here.
考试离现在还有两个星期。
Kǎoshì lí xiànzài hái yǒu liǎng gè xīngqī.
The exam is still two weeks away.
Pattern 7

The Degree Complement with 得 (de)

Place 得 after a verb to add a description or evaluation of how the action is performed.

Subject + Verb + 得 + Description
他跑得很快。
Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.
He runs very fast.
她说中文说得不错。
Tā shuō Zhōngwén shuō de búcuò.
She speaks Chinese quite well.
你写得很好看。
Nǐ xiě de hěn hǎokàn.
You write beautifully.
他画得很漂亮。
Tā huà de hěn piàoliang.
He draws beautifully.
Pattern 8

Ongoing State with 着 (zhe)

着 placed after a verb indicates an ongoing state or posture, similar to "-ing" in English but emphasizing the maintained state rather than the action in progress.

Verb + 着
门开着。
Mén kāi zhe.
The door is open.
他穿着一件新衣服。
Tā chuān zhe yí jiàn xīn yīfu.
He is wearing a new piece of clothing.
桌子上放着一本书。
Zhuōzi shàng fàng zhe yì běn shū.
A book is placed on the table.
Pattern 9

Imminent Action: 快要…了 (kuàiyào…le)

快要…了 indicates something is about to happen. 就要…了 and 要…了 are similar structures.

快要 + Verb + 了
快要下雨了。
Kuàiyào xiàyǔ le.
It's about to rain.
快要开学了。
Kuàiyào kāixué le.
School is about to start.
飞机快要到了。
Fēijī kuàiyào dào le.
The plane is about to arrive.
考试快要开始了,你准备好了吗?
Kǎoshì kuàiyào kāishǐ le, nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?
The exam is about to start; are you ready?
Pattern 10

每 (měi) + Measure Word: "Every"

每 means "every" and is placed before a measure word and noun. It often pairs with 都 later in the sentence.

每 + M.W. + Noun + 都 + Verb
每个人都很高兴。
Měi gè rén dōu hěn gāoxìng.
Everyone is happy.
他每天都跑步。
Tā měi tiān dōu pǎobù.
He runs every day.
我每个周都去游泳。
Wǒ měi gè zhōu dōu qù yóuyǒng.
I go swimming every week.
每次考试她都考得很好。
Měi cì kǎoshì tā dōu kǎo de hěn hǎo.
She does well on every exam.

Example Sentences by Topic

Practice reading sentences that use HSK 2 vocabulary in context. Each sentence is tagged by topic.

Vocabulary by Category

The 200 HSK 2 words organized into thematic groups. Studying by category helps you build practical conversational clusters.

Study Tips & Resources

Tone Color System

Pinyin on this page is color-coded by tone: 1st tone (red), 2nd tone (orange), 3rd tone (green), 4th tone (blue), and neutral tone (gray). This helps you internalize tonal shapes visually.

Build on HSK 1

HSK 2 assumes you know all 300 HSK 1 words. If any Level 1 vocabulary still feels shaky, review it before diving into Level 2. A strong foundation makes new words stick faster.

Focus on Grammar Patterns

HSK 2 introduces key grammar like 比 comparisons, 得 complements, 过 for experience, and 因为…所以. Practice each pattern with multiple example sentences until the structure feels natural.

Use Spaced Repetition

Use the above .csv download link to create your own Anki deck, and review daily. Spaced repetition is the most efficient way to move vocabulary into long-term memory. Even 15 minutes a day makes a real difference after a few weeks.

What Is HSK 3.0?

HSK 3.0 is the updated Chinese proficiency standard. HSK 2 corresponds roughly to CEFR A2 and adds 200 words to the 300 from Level 1, bringing your total to 500. For a full breakdown, see CLI's guide to the new HSK.

More CLI Tools

Try the Interactive HSK Vocabulary Trainer, review HSK 1 Vocabulary, or explore all HSK levels.

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