HSK 1 Vocabulary List for 2026: The First 300 Mandarin Words to Learn

HSK 1 vocabulary is one of the clearest places to start Mandarin, but there is an important 2026 update.

The familiar HSK 1 list contains 150 words. The new HSK syllabus expands Level 1 to 300 words. If you are preparing for a specific exam, confirm which format your test center uses. If you are learning for the long term, build toward the broader 300-word foundation.

Official reference: Chinese Tests Service Website: HSK

Start With a First-50 Core

Do not attack 300 words as one wall. Begin with words that unlock everyday sentences.

People and identity

| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 我 | wǒ | I, me | | 你 | nǐ | you | | 他 | tā | he, him | | 她 | tā | she, her | | 人 | rén | person | | 名字 | míngzi | name | | 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | | 学生 | xuésheng | student | | 朋友 | péngyou | friend | | 中国 | Zhōngguó | China |

Daily verbs

| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 是 | shì | to be | | 有 | yǒu | to have | | 要 | yào | to want | | 去 | qù | to go | | 来 | lái | to come | | 吃 | chī | to eat | | 喝 | hē | to drink | | 看 | kàn | to look, watch, read | | 听 | tīng | to listen | | 说 | shuō | to speak |

Questions and useful connectors

| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 什么 | shénme | what | | 谁 | shéi | who | | 哪里 | nǎlǐ | where | | 多少 | duōshao | how much, how many | | 怎么 | zěnme | how | | 吗 | ma | question particle | | 不 | bù | not | | 很 | hěn | very | | 也 | yě | also | | 和 | hé | and |

Food, movement, and time

| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 水 | shuǐ | water | | 茶 | chá | tea | | 米饭 | mǐfàn | cooked rice | | 菜 | cài | dish, vegetable | | 钱 | qián | money | | 出租车 | chūzūchē | taxi | | 车站 | chēzhàn | station | | 今天 | jīntiān | today | | 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | | 现在 | xiànzài | now |

Essential social words

| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello | | 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | | 不客气 | bú kèqi | you are welcome | | 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | sorry | | 没关系 | méi guānxi | it is okay | | 请 | qǐng | please | | 好 | hǎo | good, okay | | 可以 | kěyǐ | can, may | | 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye | | 懂 | dǒng | understand |

Turn Words Into Sentences

Your vocabulary becomes useful when it moves:

• 我是学生。 Wǒ shì xuésheng. I am a student.
• 我要茶。 Wǒ yào chá. I want tea.
• 车站在哪里？ Chēzhàn zài nǎlǐ? Where is the station?
• 这个多少钱？ Zhège duōshao qián? How much is this?
• 我不懂。 Wǒ bù dǒng. I do not understand.

Organize the Full 300 Words by Situation

Study the broader list in clusters:

1. people and family
2. numbers, dates, and time
3. food and drink
4. places and transport
5. common verbs
6. question words
7. adjectives and descriptions
8. particles and sentence glue

Connect food words to ordering food, transport words to Chinese travel vocabulary, and characters to HanziDex.

A Repeatable Review Method

For each word:

1. Say the word with its tone.
2. Recognize the character.
3. Use it in one short sentence.
4. Attach it to a situation.
5. Review it again without looking.

Use the HSK Path as your progression map and read the HSK 3.0 guide before choosing an exam-specific deck.

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