What is HSK 1?

HSK (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì, 汉语水平考试) is the standardized Chinese proficiency test. The HSK 1 vocabulary list has 150 words — the most basic, most frequent words you run into in everyday Chinese. On this site they are taught in simplified Chinese, the writing system used in mainland China.

The grammar at this level stays simple. HSK 1 is mostly about picking up the core vocabulary: numbers, family, time, food, and a handful of verbs. In practice, it is learning to say "hello, my name is, I want, thank you" — and getting the tones right.

What you will learn

  • Numbers and counting — 一 (one) through 十 (ten), plus 几 (how many) and 多少 (how much). The first step toward Chinese numbers 1 to 100 and beyond.
  • Family and people — 妈妈 (mom), 爸爸 (dad), 老师 (teacher), 朋友 (friend), and the pronouns 我 / 你 / 他 (I / you / he).
  • Time and dates — 今天 (today), 明天 (tomorrow), 昨天 (yesterday), 星期 (week), 年 (year), 月 (month).
  • Everyday verbs — 吃 (eat), 喝 (drink), 看 (look), 听 (listen), 去 (go), 来 (come), 买 (buy).
  • Question words — 什么 (what), 谁 (who), 哪 (which), 怎么 (how).
  • Core grammar particles — 吗 (question), 的 (possessive), 了 (completed action), 呢 (follow-up question).

How people study HSK 1

HSK 1 is less about volume and more about getting the foundation right — especially the Chinese tones.

  • Tones are the part most beginners underestimate. Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral tone. The same pinyin with a different tone is a different word (mā = mom, mǎ = horse).
  • At this stage, recognizing a character matters more than writing it by hand. Reading a word and recalling its meaning is the skill that pays off first.
  • Every word in this list has audio. Listening a lot early on trains both the ear and the mouth together.
  • Ten minutes a day works better than two hours once a week. Small, regular sessions stick better.

How long does HSK 1 take?

For a complete beginner putting in about 30 minutes a day, HSK 1 usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. The vocabulary itself is small — most of the time goes into training the ear for tones and getting used to a brand-new writing system.

A rough HSK 1 study plan

  • Week 1–2: Numbers, pronouns, and greetings. Lots of tone drilling with the flashcards.
  • Week 3–4: Verbs, question words, and simple sentences. Start combining words — "I want this", "how much is it".
  • Week 5–6: Review, fill the gaps, and practice listening. By the end, a mock HSK 1 test should feel comfortable.

Once the HSK 1 vocabulary feels solid, the natural next step is the HSK 2 word list.