HSK 3.0 · 1000 official words

HSK 4 vocabulary — 1,000 words to discuss varied topics

HSK 4 opens the door to abstract subjects: 1,000 words let you cover richer themes (culture, society, opinions), understand everyday articles, and express yourself more precisely. It's the level usually required to enter a Chinese university language program. Plan for around 320 cumulative hours of study.

For
Intermediate learners who passed HSK 3
Goal
Discuss abstract topics, understand everyday texts, express nuance.
Study time
~320 h total

The 1000 words of HSK 4

1000 words loaded from our database (1064 unique characters). Search in hanzi, pinyin or English.

HanziPinyinEnglish
…分之……fēn zhī…fraction (e.g., one-third)
一再yīzàiagain and again; repeatedly
一律yīlǜall; without exception; uniformly
一致yīzhìconsistent; unanimous; identical
一般来说yībānláishuōgenerally speaking; generally
万一wànyīif by any chance; just in case
丈夫zhàngfuhusband
上个月shàng ge yuèlast month
上楼shàng lóugo upstairs
上门shàngménvisit; come to one's door
下个月xià ge yuènext month
下楼xià lóugo downstairs
下载xiàzàidownload
下降xiàjiàngdrop; fall; descend
不在乎bùzàihunot care about; not mind
不然bùránotherwise; if not
不管bùguǎnno matter; regardless of
不要紧bùyàojǐnit doesn't matter; never mind
专心zhuānxīnconcentrate; engrossed
业余yèyúamateur; spare time
两边liǎngbiānboth sides
yánstrict; severe
严格yángéstrict; rigorous
严重yánzhòngserious; grave
个体gètǐindividual; entity
个别gèbiéindividual; specific
中介zhōngjièagency; agent
中奖zhòngjiǎngwin a prize; win a lottery
临时línshítemporary; provisional
义务yìwùduty; obligation; volunteer; obligatory
主席zhǔxíchairman; president
主题zhǔtítheme; subject
之一zhīyīone of
之前zhīqiánbefore; formerly
之后zhīhòuafter; afterwards
之间zhījiānbetween; among
乐趣lèqùdelight; pleasure
了不起liǎobuqǐterrific; extraordinary
了解liǎojiěunderstand; comprehend
争论zhēnglùndebate; argue
事先shìxiānin advance; beforehand
事物shìwùthing; object
二手èrshǒusecond-hand
于是yúshìthen; therefore
五颜六色wǔyán-liùsècolorful; variegated
亚运会YàyùnhuìAsian Games
xiēsome; a few
交换jiāohuànexchange; trade
交际jiāojìsocial interaction; communication
产品chǎnpǐnproduct; goods; merchandise
亲密qīnmìintimate; close
亲爱qīn'àidear; beloved
人家rénjiaothers; family
从此cóngcǐfrom now on; henceforth
付出fùchūpay; expend
代替dàitìreplace; substitute
以内yǐnèiwithin
以及yǐjíand; as well as
以外yǐwàiapart from
企业qǐyèenterprise; company
优秀yōuxiùoutstanding; excellent; splendid
优美yōuměibeautiful; graceful; fine
优良yōuliángfine; good; excellent
huǒgroup; partner
伙伴huǒbànpartner; companion
会计kuàijìaccountant; accounting
sǎnumbrella; parasol
传统chuántǒngtradition; traditional
伤害shānghàiharm; hurt
似乎sìhūseem; as if
似的shìdeas if; like
位于wèiyúto be located at; to be situated in
位置wèizhìposition; location
体操tǐcāogymnastics
体检tǐjiǎnphysical examination; check-up
体重tǐzhòngweight
作为zuòwéias; act as
作出zuòchūproduce; make
使劲shǐjìnexert all one's strength
供应gōngyìngsupply; provide
依然yīránstill; as before
依靠yīkàorely on; depend on
促使cùshǐspur; urge; impel
促进cùjìnpromote; advance; facilitate
促销cùxiāosales promotion; promote sales
保守bǎoshǒuconservative; guard; keep
保密bǎomìkeep secret
liǎ(referring to two people) both; two
修理xiūlǐrepair
bèitimes; multiple
倒车dàochēreverse a car; switch (trains, buses, etc.)
倒车dǎochēreverse a car; switch (trains, buses, etc.)
倒闭dǎobìgo bankrupt; close down
假如jiǎrúif; supposing
做梦zuòmèngdream
停下tíngxiastop
健身jiànshēnfitness; bodybuilding
儿童értóngchild
兄弟xiōngdìbrothers
充分chōngfènsufficient; ample; full
Page 1 of 10 · 1000 words

5 must-know words

然而
rán'ér
however; yet
尽管
毕竟
由于
无论
wúlùn
no matter; regardless of

Key HSK 4 grammar

Advanced

  • Potential complement (V 得/不 + resultative: 听得懂 / 看不见)
  • Structure 越…越… (the more… the more…)
  • Structure 越来越 + adj/stative verb
  • Conjunction 不但…而且 (not only… but also)
  • Conjunction 既…又 (both… and)
  • Conjunction 只要…就 (as long as… then)
  • Conjunction 只有…才 (only if… then)
  • Conjunction 即使…也 (even if… still)
See all grammar points

Frequently asked questions

Is HSK 4 enough to study in China?

Yes for most language programs and some English-taught master's degrees. For a Chinese-taught bachelor's, aim at HSK 5.

How long between HSK 3 and HSK 4?

Usually 6 months to 1 year of steady study depending on your pace.

Does HSK 4 include chengyu?

A few common idiomatic expressions show up, but true literary chengyu really arrive at HSK 5 and 6.