HSK 3 vocabulary, grammar and exam guide

What HSK 3 means

With HSK 3 you can communicate in Chinese about everyday life, study and work in a basic way, and handle most situations when travelling in China. You understand slow, clear speech on familiar topics and read simple texts in characters only. The test organiser links it to CEFR B1; many European teachers would say A2+/B1. Either way, this is the level where learners stop depending on pinyin, and that changes everything.

	HSK 3
New words (HSK 3.0)	about 490
Total words (HSK 3.0)	about 1,000
Characters to recognise (cumulative)	about 650
Characters to write (cumulative)	about 250
Skills tested (current format)	listening, reading, writing + HSKK Elementary
Exam length (current format)	about 90 minutes, plus HSKK
Pass mark (current format)	180 of 300

The HSK 3 exam format

Part	Questions	Time	What you do
Listening	40	about 35 min	Dialogues and short monologues; match to pictures, judge statements, answer questions. Each recording plays twice.
Reading	30	about 30 min	Match sentences, fill in words, read short passages and answer questions. No pinyin.
Writing	10	about 15 min	Five sentence-building items (put words in order) and five items where you write a missing character.
HSKK Elementary	separate	about 20 min	Repeat sentences, describe pictures, answer questions; recorded on a computer.

More about test centres, dates and fees: HSK exam guide for the Netherlands.

Sample HSK 3 questions

Reading. 小王本来打算周末去爬山，可是天气预报说会下大雨，所以他决定在家看书。 ★ 小王周末会做什么？ A 爬山 · B 在家看书 · C 去书店. Answer: B.

Writing, part 1 (word order). 作业 / 写完了 / 我 / 把 / 已经 → 我已经把作业写完了。Wǒ yǐjīng bǎ zuòyè xiěwán le. “I have already finished my homework.”

Writing, part 2 (missing character). 他是我最好的朋（ yǒu ）。 Answer: 友.

HSK 3 grammar points

HSK 3 brings in the structures that make Chinese sound natural:

1. 把 bǎ sentences: doing something to an object: 请把门关上。Qǐng bǎ mén guānshang.
2. 被 bèi passives: 我的手机被偷了。Wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le.
3. Result complements: 写完, 看到, 听懂, 找到, 学会.
4. Direction complements: 走进来, 拿出去, 跑上楼.
5. Potential complements: 我听得懂。Wǒ tīng de dǒng. / 我看不清楚。Wǒ kàn bu qīngchu.
6. 越来越: more and more: 天气越来越冷了.
7. 一…就…: as soon as: 我一到家就给你打电话.
8. 除了…以外: apart from.
9. 不但…而且…: not only … but also.
10. 如果…就…: if … then.
11. 先…再…然后…: first, then, after that.
12. 是…的 to stress time, place or manner of a past action: 我是坐飞机来的。Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.
13. 跟…一样: as … as: 我跟你一样高.
14. 又…又…: both … and: 又便宜又好吃.
15. Comparisons with amounts: 他比我高多了, 今天比昨天热一点儿.

These patterns are explained step by step in Chinese grammar basics.

The complete HSK 3 vocabulary list

The words below are new at HSK 3; you also need HSK 1 and HSK 2.

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How long does it take to prepare for HSK 3?

From zero, about 300–450 hours, a year to a year and a half at two lessons a week. After HSK 2, roughly six to nine months. The extra time goes mostly into reading characters and building sentences. See how long it takes to learn Chinese.

After HSK 3

HSK 4 doubles the vocabulary again and is the level many universities and employers ask for. My HSK preparation course prepares you for both HSK 3 and the HSKK.

Word list: the official HSK 3.0 vocabulary (2025 syllabus), as compiled in the open complete-hsk-vocabulary project (MIT licence). Pinyin checked and meanings written by KeSong Chinese.

Frequently asked questions

Is HSK 3 hard?

HSK 3 is the first real challenge in the series. Pinyin disappears from the reading paper, there is a writing section, and you take the HSKK speaking test at the same time. The vocabulary doubles to about 1,000 words. With a steady year or more of study and focused exam practice, most adult learners pass it well.

How long does it take to prepare for HSK 3?

From zero, about 300–450 hours in total, roughly a year to a year and a half with two lessons a week. After HSK 2, plan another six to nine months. Reading characters without pinyin is usually what takes longest.

Do I need to take the HSKK with HSK 3?

At the Dutch test centres, yes: since January 2025 HSK 3 candidates register for the HSKK Elementary speaking test at the same time. You repeat sentences, describe pictures and answer questions, recorded on a computer. It takes about 20 minutes.

What is in the HSK 3 writing section?

In the current format there are ten writing items: five where you put given words in the right order to make a sentence, and five where you write the missing character, with its pinyin shown. In the internet-based test you type the characters using pinyin input.

Prepare for HSK 3 with Zoey

Reading without pinyin, writing sentences and the HSKK: focused HSK 3 preparation, online or in Amsterdam.

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About the author

Zoey (Ziqiao Zang, 臧子乔) has taught Chinese as a foreign language since 2011 and in the Netherlands since 2016. She holds a Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Zhejiang Normal University and set up and ran an official HSK online exam centre with more than 250 candidates.

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