HSK 2 vs HSK 1: what is different
HSK 1 gave you single words. HSK 2 teaches you how to put them together. The jump is not just 150 more words — it is a shift from memorizing vocabulary to building real sentences.
- Vocabulary: HSK 1 is 150 words. HSK 2 adds 150 new words.
- Grammar: HSK 1 is mostly words and simple particles like 吗 and 的. HSK 2 adds the 比 comparison, the 把 and 被 structures, and conjunctions like 因为…所以….
- Sentences: HSK 1 gets you "I want tea." HSK 2 gets you "Although I want tea, I already drank too much."
Use the level switcher
This page includes both levels, so you can review HSK 1 while you learn HSK 2. Use the buttons at the top:
- HSK 1 — 150 words. Review these whenever you need to refresh the foundation.
- HSK 2 — 150 words. The full HSK 2 deck.
- All — 477 words combined. Test yourself on everything at once.
Your progress saves separately for each level, so switching never loses your place.
How SRS helps you learn faster
Spaced repetition schedules each word for review right before you are about to forget it. Every time you rate a card, the algorithm pushes that word a little further into the future — harder words come back sooner, and words you know well are spaced further ahead. The result: you keep 150 words in long-term memory with far less effort than rote memorization.
Tips for HSK 2
- Master the grammar patterns, not just the words. Learn 比, 把, and 被 with two or three example sentences each.
- Keep reviewing HSK 1. HSK 2 assumes you know HSK 1 cold — use the level switcher to mix it in.
- Say full sentences out loud. At this level, single words are not enough. Practice connecting them.