How Many Words Are in HSK 1? 150, 300 or 500 Explained
Hanzi Grove · 2026-11-09
HSK 1 has 300 words in the current HSK exam syllabus, released in November 2025 (HSK 3.0) and marked for implementation in July 2026. You will also see 500 words, which is the HSK 1 list in the 2021 standard (GF0025-2021), and 150 words, which is the HSK 1 list of the old HSK 2.0 exam.
All three numbers are real. They come from three different documents. This guide explains where each one comes from, which list you should study, and how the numbers compare from HSK 1 to HSK 4.
The short answer
- 300 words: HSK 1 in the HSK exam syllabus released in November 2025. This is the list for the current exam. See the HSK 1 list (2025 syllabus).
- 500 words: level 1 in the 2021 Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards (GF0025-2021). This is a teaching standard. See the HSK 1 list (2021 standard).
- 150 words: HSK 1 in the old six-level HSK, usually called HSK 2.0. Many textbooks still use it. See the old HSK 1 list.
If you only remember one thing: for the exam, the number is 300.
Where does each number come from?
300 words: the 2025 exam syllabus
The HSK exam syllabus released in November 2025 sets the word lists for the new HSK exam, often called HSK 3.0. It is marked for implementation in July 2026. Its HSK 1 list has 300 words.
The lists are cumulative. HSK 2 adds 200 new words, for 500 in total. HSK 3 adds 500, for 1,000. HSK 4 adds 1,000, for 2,000. Higher up, HSK 5 reaches 3,600 words, HSK 6 reaches 5,400, and HSK 7–9 reach 11,000.
500 words: the 2021 standard
In 2021, China published a national standard for teaching and testing Chinese, GF0025-2021. It describes nine levels in three stages. Its level 1 list has 500 words, level 2 adds 772, level 3 adds 973 and level 4 adds 1,000.
The 2021 standard is a reference for courses and textbooks. It is not the same document as the exam syllabus, which is why its numbers are larger. Many websites and apps that were built between 2021 and 2025 use the 500-word figure. The Hanzi Grove app follows these 2021 lists too.
150 words: the old HSK 2.0
The six-level HSK that most learners know is now called HSK 2.0. Its HSK 1 list has 150 words, HSK 2 adds 150, HSK 3 adds 300, HSK 4 adds 600, HSK 5 adds 1,300 and HSK 6 adds 2,500. That gives 5,000 words in total by HSK 6.
Many popular textbooks and courses were written for these lists, so you will still meet them often. For a full history of the change, read HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0.
HSK 1–4 word counts compared
This table shows new words at each level, with the running total in brackets.
| Level | 2025 exam syllabus | 2021 standard | Old HSK 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 300 (300) | 500 (500) | 150 (150) |
| HSK 2 | 200 (500) | 772 (1,272) | 150 (300) |
| HSK 3 | 500 (1,000) | 973 (2,245) | 300 (600) |
| HSK 4 | 1,000 (2,000) | 1,000 (3,245) | 600 (1,200) |
Two things stand out. First, the 2025 running totals sit between the other two at every level. Second, the 2021 standard is much larger at the start, which makes its first level a big step for a beginner.
Which HSK 1 list should you study?
Choose by your goal, not by the biggest number.
- You plan to take the HSK exam. Study the 300-word list from the 2025 syllabus at /hsk/1. It is the list the current exam is built on.
- Your class or textbook uses the old HSK. Follow the 150-word list at /hsk-2/1 so your vocabulary matches your lessons. You can move to the new lists later.
- You use the Hanzi Grove app or a course built on the 2021 standard. Use the 500-word list at /hsk-2021/1.
- You are learning for yourself, with no exam planned. Start with the 300-word exam list. It is a manageable size and covers the most useful basic words.
Whichever you pick, the core is the same. Words like 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello), 谢谢 (xièxie, thank you), 中国 (Zhōngguó, China), 学生 (xuésheng, student), 老师 (lǎoshī, teacher) and 朋友 (péngyou, friend) appear in all three. Time spent on one list is not wasted if you later switch.
Does HSK 1 include handwriting?
In the 2025 exam syllabus, handwriting starts at HSK 2. You need to write 100 characters by hand by HSK 2, 250 by HSK 3 and 400 by HSK 4. At HSK 1 you need to recognise words, not write them.
That said, learning to write a few characters early helps you remember them. If you want to start, learn the basic strokes and the stroke-order rules first. They take less than an hour and make every later character easier.
How long does it take to learn 300 words?
At one group of 10 words a day, 300 words is 30 groups, or about six weeks with five learning days a week. At two groups a day, it is about three weeks. A group takes about six minutes to learn the first time, plus a few minutes of review.
On Hanzi Grove, each list is split into groups of 10. You learn a group, take a quick check, and repeat it after 1 day and after 3 days. The repeats matter more than the speed. If you fall behind, skip a new group, not a review.
You can begin right now with HSK 1, group 1. If you have never studied characters, our beginner path explains how characters are built in four short steps.
Why the numbers keep changing
HSK word lists have been revised twice in recent years. The old HSK 2.0 lists were the smallest. The 2021 standard set much larger lists for teaching. The 2025 exam syllabus then set exam lists that are larger than HSK 2.0 at each level but smaller than the 2021 standard.
Older articles, apps and flashcard decks were written at different times, so they quote different numbers. When you see a figure, ask which document it comes from. The table above lets you check quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Is HSK 1 300 or 500 words?
Both, depending on the document. The HSK exam syllabus released in November 2025 lists 300 words for HSK 1. The 2021 standard (GF0025-2021) lists 500. For the exam, study the 300-word list.
Is the old 150-word HSK 1 list still useful?
Yes. Many textbooks still follow it, and almost all of its words are basic, high-frequency words you will need anyway. If your course uses it, follow it.
How many characters do I need to write for HSK 1?
None. In the 2025 syllabus, handwriting starts at HSK 2, with 100 characters to write by hand by HSK 2.
Where can I see all the HSK lists?
All lists are on the HSK lists page: HSK 1–4 from the 2025 syllabus, HSK 1–4 from the 2021 standard, and old HSK 1–6. They are free, with no sign-up.
What should I study after HSK 1?
Move on to HSK 2, which adds 200 new words in the 2025 syllabus. Our HSK 2 study plan shows how to do it in four weeks.