How Many Words Do You Need for Each HSK Level? Full Vocabulary Guide
One of the first questions anyone prepping for HSK asks is simple: how many words do I actually need to know? The honest answer is that it roughly doubles at every level — which is exactly why HSK 4 feels like a wall after HSK 1–3 go smoothly.
HSK vocabulary size, level by level
| Level | Vocabulary | CEFR | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 150 | A1 | Greetings, numbers, and basic personal needs. |
| HSK 2 | 300 | A2 | Simple daily conversations and routine topics. |
| HSK 3 | 600 | B1 | Travel, work, and school topics; first Writing section. |
| HSK 4 | 1,200 | B2 | Fluent conversation across a wide range of topics. |
| HSK 5 | 2,500 | C1 | Reading newspapers and following long lectures. |
| HSK 6 | 5,000 | C2 | Near-native comprehension, including nuance and idiom. |
Why the jump matters
Going from HSK 1 to HSK 2 adds 150 words. Going from HSK 3 to HSK 4 adds 600 — the same size as the entire HSK 3 vocabulary. That's why HSK 4 is widely considered the hardest jump in the whole sequence: it's not just harder grammar, it's genuinely double the raw memorization load of the level before it.
What the CEFR mapping actually tells you
HSK levels are commonly mapped to the CEFR scale used for European languages — HSK 4 roughly corresponds to B2, the level most Chinese-taught university programs require for admission. If you've studied another language to an intermediate level before, CEFR gives you a rough sense of the ceiling: B1 (HSK 3) is "can get by," B2 (HSK 4) is "can function," C1 (HSK 5) is "can study or work in it."
Turning a word count into a study plan
A vocabulary target is only useful if you're reviewing it on a schedule that actually sticks. HSKpass uses SM-2 spaced repetition — the same algorithm behind Anki — so new words resurface right before you're about to forget them instead of on a fixed daily list. Full vocabulary and section breakdowns per level are in the HSK guide.