HSK 3.0 word count per level: why the numbers differ
When comparing sites, you may see 1,600 words stated for HSK 5, and 1,071 on HanziMemo. Both numbers exist: they simply do not measure the same thing.
Two versions of the HSK
The old HSK (2009–2021) had 2,500 cumulative words at HSK 5, i.e. 1,300 new words over HSK 4; some sites round or mix these figures, hence the “1,600 words”. The new GF 0025-2021 standard, called HSK 3.0 and in force since 1 July 2021, redefines the lists entirely.
New words or cumulative words?
HSK 3.0 publishes a vocabulary appendix where each word belongs to the level where it first appears. You can count the new words of a level, or the cumulative total since HSK 1. The same level can therefore show two very different numbers.
The standard HanziMemo follows
Our lists use the official vocabulary appendix of the GF 0025-2021 standard (《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》), published by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the National Language Commission. Each level page shows the new words of that level: what you need to learn on top of what you already know. The cumulative total at the end of HSK 6 matches the official total exactly.
| Level | New words | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 500 | 174 |
| HSK 2 | 772 | 347 |
| HSK 3 | 973 | 617 |
| HSK 4 | 1,000 | 1,064 |
| HSK 5 | 1,071 | 1,685 |
| HSK 6 | 1,140 | 2,663 |