HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0: What Vocabulary Has Changed?
HSK 3.0 changes both the size of the vocabulary lists and where words appear. HSK 1 grows from 150 listed entries to 300, while familiar words such as 手机 (mobile phone) move to earlier levels. New headwords such as 高铁 (high-speed rail) and 扫码 (scan a code) also appear.
We compared CTI's official 2015 HSK list with the HSK 3.0 vocabulary used in Novli, checking all 11,000 entries against the current official exam syllabus. Here is what the changes mean for your study plan.
Want to explore the words as you read? Open the free HSK 3.0 word lists, PDFs and Novli flashcard decks. For launch dates and registration details, see our HSK 3.0 guide.
HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0: vocabulary totals by level
These totals include the vocabulary from earlier levels. The increase column is the difference in list size; it is not the number of unfamiliar words an existing learner needs to study.
| Level | HSK 2.0 cumulative entries | HSK 3.0 cumulative entries | Net increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | 300 | +150 |
| HSK 2 | 300 | 500 | +200 |
| HSK 3 | 600 | 1,000 | +400 |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 | 2,000 | +800 |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 | 3,600 | +1,100 |
| HSK 6 | 5,000 | 5,400 | +400 |
| HSK 7-9 | No corresponding level | 11,000 | Advanced extension |
Two comparisons are especially useful. New HSK 1 has twice as many listed entries as old HSK 1. At HSK 6, the total rises from 5,000 to 5,400: an increase of 400, or 8%. That does not mean the new HSK 6 list is simply the old one plus 400 words, because the words assigned to each level have changed.
The 11,000 figure covers the full new system through HSK 7–9. Comparing it directly with old HSK 6's 5,000 can make the change sound like every learner's workload has doubled, even though those are different endpoints.
Familiar words have moved between levels
A word that is new to your target level may already be familiar from an older textbook. Here are examples from the two lists:
| Word and pinyin | Meaning | HSK 2.0 level | HSK 3.0 level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 手机 shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 2 | HSK 1 |
| 超市 chāoshì | supermarket | HSK 3 | HSK 1 |
| 包子 bāozi | steamed bun | HSK 4 | HSK 1 |
| 饺子 jiǎozi | dumpling | HSK 4 | HSK 1 |
| 前面 qiánmiàn | in front; ahead | HSK 1 | HSK 2 |
| 后面 hòumiàn | behind; at the back | HSK 1 | HSK 2 |
| 小姐 xiǎojiě | Miss; young lady | HSK 1 | HSK 5 |
A beginner using an old HSK 1 book will therefore need to check more than the total number of words. The new HSK 1 list already includes vocabulary that used to appear at HSK 2, 3 or 4.
Movement also goes the other way: 前面 and 后面 appear at new HSK 2, while 小姐 appears at new HSK 5. A level label tells you where an entry is listed; it does not mean a word has become intrinsically harder or less useful.
New headwords include everyday transport, delivery and payments
The following headwords appear in the new syllabus but are absent from the official 2015 list. They are new to this vocabulary list, rather than necessarily new to Chinese or to your own knowledge.
| Word and pinyin | Meaning | HSK 3.0 level |
|---|---|---|
| 高铁 gāotiě | high-speed rail | HSK 3 |
| 外卖 wàimài | takeaway; food delivery | HSK 3 |
| 快递 kuàidì | express delivery | HSK 4 |
| 扫码 sǎomǎ | scan a code | HSK 4 |
| 网购 wǎnggòu | shop online | HSK 4 |
| 支付 zhīfù | pay; make a payment | HSK 4 |
| 二维码 èrwéimǎ | QR code | HSK 5 |
These examples give you an immediate way to make the vocabulary practical. You could practise asking about a train, describing a delivery or paying for something, then review the words you struggled to recall.
Explore the HSK 3 vocabulary and free decks →
Does a missing word mean it has been removed from Chinese study?
No. A headword comparison can reveal wording changes as well as changes in coverage. The old list includes 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē, bus) at HSK 2; the new list includes 公交车 (gōngjiāochē, bus) at HSK 2 instead. Those are different written headwords for a closely related everyday meaning.
Likewise, the old list has 唱歌 (chàng gē, sing) at HSK 2, while the new list separately includes 唱 (chàng, sing) and 歌 (gē, song) at HSK 1. A simple exact-match script would count the old phrase as absent without explaining that relationship.
This is why we avoid treating every unmatched string as a completely new concept, or a word you should stop learning. Useful Chinese does not become obsolete when its syllabus entry changes.
How to adapt your study plan
- Confirm your target exam. Check the version and level with your test centre. A matching level number is not a guarantee of identical requirements.
- Check the new cumulative list. If you are aiming for HSK 4, include vocabulary introduced at HSK 1, 2 and 3. An isolated level-4 deck is only part of that total.
- Separate familiar vocabulary from gaps. Review words you know, but give additional attention to unfamiliar entries and meanings.
- Practise words in context. Listen to pronunciation, read example sentences and use the vocabulary in a sentence of your own.
- Keep practising exam tasks. Vocabulary review supports preparation; combine it with grammar, listening, reading, writing and speaking work appropriate to your exam.
Study the updated vocabulary with free Novli decks
Novli's free HSK 3.0 resource contains searchable word lists, PDF downloads and 34 flashcard decks covering the 11,000 syllabus entries. Cards include pinyin, audio, translations, stroke order and example sentences.
The decks are organised by the additional vocabulary introduced at each level, with larger levels divided into smaller sections. They contain the new syllabus lists, not personalised “only the words you haven't learned” sets.
- Open our HSK 3.0 word lists and decks, choose your level and copy the import code for the deck you want.
- Download Novli for iPhone or Android.
- Open Flashcards → top-right menu → Import Deck, paste the code and tap Import.
See where to enter your deck code. If you prefer a printable checklist, choose your level's PDF from the same resource page.
Frequently asked questions
Does HSK 3.0 require 500 words at HSK 1?
The current exam syllabus used for this comparison lists 300 entries at HSK 1. The often-quoted 500-word figure belongs to the earlier 2021 proficiency standard. Check which document a resource is using before comparing counts.
Can I still use my HSK 2.0 textbooks?
They can still be useful for learning Chinese. Check their coverage against the new syllabus and supplement missing vocabulary and exam tasks rather than assuming the same level number means the same content.
Are the extra 400 entries at HSK 6 all I need to learn?
No. That is a net difference between cumulative totals. Words move between levels, and the new list includes different headwords. Your own gaps depend on what you have already learned.
Sources and comparison method
We used CTI's 2015 spreadsheet, which contains 5,000 level-tagged entries, and Novli's 11,000 indexed HSK 3.0 entries. We checked every new entry's headword and starting level against the vocabulary section of the official syllabus published in November 2025 and linked from Chinese Test Service. The comparison was checked on September 22, 2026.
Totals count syllabus entries, not unique Chinese spellings. For the examples, we compared written headwords, ignoring numerical sense labels and parenthesised part-of-speech labels, and used the first listed level. Additional senses may be introduced later. We did not merge synonyms or claim an overall percentage of words retained or removed.
- CTI: HSK vocabulary list, 2015 edition (Excel), available from the official download centre.
- Official current HSK exam syllabus (PDF), vocabulary section, printed pages 76–351.
- Ministry of Education: 2021 proficiency standard.