HSK Level 1 is the official first step on the Mandarin ladder. You’re picking up words for “hello,” “thank you,” and your first numbers – the survival kit that gets you from zero to pointing at a menu without panic. This list gathers the ~150 words that the HSK 1 exam expects and that real beginners actually use.
We skipped the dusty textbook fillers. This is the vocabulary that helps you say your name, ask simple questions, and handle your first real chat without freezing. HSK 1 is small, but it’s the foundation everything else stacks onto – and having it in one clean list makes review a lot less messy.
Ready for a tiny Chinese language win? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable HSK 1 vocabulary list list PDF and the free downloadable printable HSK 1 list flashcards, perfect for quick study sessions and cheerful review.
Want more than one list? Browse our Chinese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve got all 150 words locked in? Try the quick quiz below – it’s a no-stress way to spot which words still need a little love.
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | yī | one; 1; single | |
| 七 | qī | seven; 7 | |
| 三 | sān | three; 3 | |
| 上 | shàng | on top; upon; above | |
| 上午 | shàng wǔ | morning; CL:個|个[gè] | |
| 下 | xià | down; downwards; below | |
| 下午 | xià wǔ | afternoon; CL:個|个[gè]; p.m. | |
| 下雨 | xià yǔ | to rain; rainy | |
| 不 | bù | (negative prefix); not; no | |
| 不客气 | bù kè qi | you're welcome; impolite; rude | |
| 东西 | dōng xi | thing; stuff; person | |
| 个 | gè | variant of 個|个[gè] | |
| 中午 | zhōng wǔ | noon; midday; CL:個|个[gè] | |
| 中国 | Zhōng guó | China; Middle Kingdom | |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine; 9 | |
| 书 | shū | book; letter; CL:本 | |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy; to purchase | |
| 了 | le | (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (completed action marker) | |
| 二 | èr | two; 2; stupid (Beijing dialect) | |
| 五 | wǔ | five; 5 | |
| 些 | xiē | some; few; several | |
| 人 | rén | man; person; people | |
| 什么 | shén me | what?; who?; something | |
| 今天 | jīn tiān | today; at the present; now | |
| 他 | tā | he or him; (used for either sex when the sex is unknown or unimportant); (used before sb's name for emphasis) |
