HSK 2 Word List: Complete 300 Words with PDF Download (2026)

What Is HSK 2?

HSK 2 is the second level of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), China's official standardized test for Mandarin Chinese proficiency. It builds directly on HSK 1 and is designed for learners who can use Chinese to communicate about simple, everyday topics.

Passing HSK 2 proves that you can handle basic daily Chinese. You can talk about your routines, ask for directions, describe people and places, and hold short conversations on familiar subjects. The exam tests only listening and reading comprehension — there is no writing or speaking section at this level.

In terms of international standards, HSK 2 roughly corresponds to the CEFR A2 level, sometimes described as “elementary.” This means you can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance such as personal and family information, shopping, local geography, and employment.

The cumulative vocabulary requirement for HSK 2 is 300 words: the 150 words from HSK 1 plus 150 new words introduced at this level. These 150 new words expand your ability to discuss time, location, daily activities, and simple descriptions, giving you a meaningful step up from the survival-level vocabulary of HSK 1.

What's New in HSK 2

The 150 new words added in HSK 2 significantly expand your communicative range beyond the survival basics of HSK 1. While HSK 1 focuses on greetings, numbers, and the most essential nouns and verbs, HSK 2 introduces vocabulary that lets you describe your daily life in much more detail. Here is how the new words break down by concept.

More Complex Verbs

HSK 1 verbs are straightforward actions like “eat” (吃), “drink” (喝), and “go” (去). HSK 2 introduces verbs that express more nuanced actions and states. You will learn 准备 (zhǔn bèi, to prepare), 帮助 (bāng zhù, to help), 开始 (kāi shǐ, to begin), 介绍 (jiè shào, to introduce), 生病 (shēng bìng, to fall ill), and 希望 (xī wàng, to hope). These verbs let you move from stating simple facts to expressing intentions, requests, and descriptions of situations.

Time Expressions

One of the biggest leaps in HSK 2 is the ability to talk about when things happen relative to other events. HSK 1 gives you basic time words like “today” and “tomorrow.” HSK 2 adds 已经 (yǐ jīng, already), 以前 (yǐ qián, before/previously), 一直 (yì zhí, always/continuously), and 刚才 (gāng cái, just now). With these words, you can describe sequences of events: “I already ate,” “Before I came to China,” or “He was just here a moment ago.”

Location & Direction

HSK 2 unlocks the ability to navigate and describe spatial relationships. You will learn 旁边 (páng biān, beside), 左边 (zuǒ bian, left side), 右边 (yòu bian, right side), 外面 (wài miàn, outside), and 附近 (fù jìn, nearby). These are essential for asking and giving directions, describing where things are located, and understanding basic instructions in Chinese. Combined with HSK 1 words like 里 (inside) and 上 (on top), you can now describe the location of almost anything.

Daily Life Vocabulary

HSK 2 fills in crucial daily life vocabulary that makes real-world communication possible. You will learn words for places like 教室 (jiào shì, classroom), 操场 (cāo chǎng, playground/sports field), and 超市 (chāo shì, supermarket). Transportation words like 公共汽车 (gōng gòng qì chē, bus) and 自行车 (zì xíng chē, bicycle) let you talk about getting around. These words make an enormous practical difference when you are actually living or traveling in China.

Descriptive Words

HSK 1 gives you a handful of basic adjectives. HSK 2 dramatically expands your descriptive vocabulary with words like 可能 (kě néng, possible), 特别 (tè bié, special/especially), 非常 (fēi cháng, very/extremely), 一定 (yí dìng, certainly/definitely), and 一般 (yì bān, generally/ordinary). These adverbs and adjectives add color and precision to your sentences, letting you move beyond simple “good” and “bad” descriptions to express degrees, possibilities, and nuance.

Sports & Hobbies

HSK 2 introduces an entire category of leisure and hobby vocabulary that is almost absent from HSK 1. You will learn 运动 (yùn dòng, sports/exercise), 足球 (zú qiú, football/soccer), 篮球 (lán qiú, basketball), 游泳 (yóu yǒng, swimming), 唱歌 (chàng gē, to sing), and 跳舞 (tiào wǔ, to dance). Hobbies and sports are among the most common small talk topics in Chinese culture, so these words are immediately useful in everyday conversations.

Complete HSK 2 Word Categories

The full 300-word HSK 2 vocabulary list includes everything from HSK 1 plus all the new words introduced at level 2. Below is a breakdown of the major categories. For the complete word-by-word list, download our free PDF above or browse the interactive HSK 2 vocabulary page.

HSK 1 Foundation (150 words)

All 150 HSK 1 words carry over into HSK 2. These cover greetings, numbers 1–10, basic pronouns, family members, food and drink, common verbs (to be, to have, to go, to eat), simple adjectives (good, big, small), question words, and essential classroom phrases. If you have not already mastered these, review our HSK 1 word list guide before moving on.

Verbs & Actions (30+ new words)

HSK 2 adds verbs that cover a much wider range of daily actions. Beyond the examples above, you will learn words for telling (告诉), answering (回答), knowing (知道), thinking (觉得), understanding (懂), arriving (到), finishing (完), letting or allowing (让), and many more. These verbs form the backbone of practical conversation and are used constantly in everyday Chinese.

Nouns & Places (35+ new words)

New nouns span several areas of daily life. You will encounter words for body parts (眼睛, 身体), weather (天气, 雪), school life (教室, 考试, 问题), transportation (公共汽车, 自行车, 飞机), and everyday objects (手机, 手表, 药). Places include the supermarket, hospital (医院), hotel (宾馆), and more. These nouns make it possible to talk about the physical world around you with much more detail.

Adjectives & Adverbs (20+ new words)

Descriptive language expands significantly at HSK 2. New adjectives include 快 (fast), 慢 (slow), 远 (far), 近 (near), 贵 (expensive), 便宜 (cheap), 新 (new), 旧 (old, of objects), 长 (long), and 短 (short). Adverbs like 已经 (already), 一直 (always), 非常 (very), and 特别 (especially) let you modify verbs and adjectives to express more precise meanings.

Time & Numbers (15+ new words)

HSK 2 extends your ability to discuss time well beyond the basics. You will learn larger numbers (百, hundred), ordinal prefixes (第), words for parts of the day (早上, 晚上), days and weeks (星期), and relative time words (以前, 刚才, 已经). You can now set up meetings, describe your schedule, and talk about when events happened or will happen.

Measure Words & Grammar Particles (10+ new words)

Chinese relies heavily on measure words (classifiers), and HSK 2 adds several important ones: 件 (for clothing and matters), 张 (for flat objects), 双 (a pair), and others. You will also learn grammar particles like 过 (to indicate past experience), 着 (to indicate an ongoing state), and 地 (used before verbs as an adverbial marker). Mastering these particles is crucial for sounding natural in Chinese.

HSK 2 Exam Format

The HSK 2 exam consists of two sections: listening and reading. There is no writing or speaking component at this level. The entire test takes approximately 55 minutes, including the time to fill in your answer sheet.

Listening Section: 35 items over approximately 25 minutes. You will hear short dialogues and sentences and answer multiple-choice questions about them. Each audio clip is played twice. The listening section accounts for 100 of the total 200 points.

Reading Section: 25 items over approximately 22 minutes. You will match sentences with pictures, complete sentences by filling in blanks, and determine whether statements match short passages. The reading section accounts for the other 100 points.

The total possible score is 200 points, and you need at least 120 points to pass. This is a combined score, so you do not need to hit a minimum in each individual section. Results are typically available about three weeks after the test date, and a passing certificate is valid indefinitely.

How Long Does It Take to Learn HSK 2?

The time needed to reach HSK 2 depends heavily on your starting point and study habits. Here are realistic estimates based on consistent daily study of 30 to 60 minutes.

From zero Chinese knowledge: Plan for 3 to 6 months. This includes the time to learn all 150 HSK 1 words, get comfortable with pinyin and tones, and then tackle the 150 new HSK 2 words. Learners whose native language shares some Chinese vocabulary (such as Japanese or Korean speakers) may be on the faster end of this range.

After passing HSK 1: 1 to 2 months of focused study. Since you already have the HSK 1 foundation, you primarily need to learn the 150 new words and get used to the slightly longer exam format. This is where spaced repetition really shines — it helps you learn and retain new words efficiently while reviewing the HSK 1 words you already know.

Factors that affect your speed: Prior language learning experience, the quality of your study materials, how much Chinese you encounter outside of study sessions, and your consistency all play a role. Learners who study every day for 30 minutes consistently outperform those who study for 3 hours once a week. If you are immersed in a Chinese-speaking environment, you may progress significantly faster than these estimates.

To track your progress, use the HSK 2 vocabulary tracker on HSKLord to see exactly how many of the 300 words you have mastered and which ones still need review.

HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0: What Changes for HSK 2?

If you have been researching the HSK, you may have heard about HSK 3.0, the updated version of the test that is being phased in. Here is what it means for HSK 2 specifically.

Vocabulary count: Under the current HSK 2.0, HSK 2 requires 300 cumulative words. Under HSK 3.0, the new HSK 2 expands to 600 cumulative words — double the current requirement. This is a significant increase, and it reflects a broader restructuring where the new HSK 3.0 system has 9 levels instead of 6.

Transition timeline: As of early 2026, most test centers still administer the HSK 2.0 version. The transition to HSK 3.0 is gradual, and test centers are adopting the new format on different timelines. Before registering, check with your specific test center to confirm which version they are using.

Our recommendation: Learn the 300-word HSK 2.0 list first. It is the foundation for both versions, and you will need to know every one of these words regardless of which exam format you take. If your test center has switched to HSK 3.0, you can then build up to 600 words using the additional vocabulary. Our HSK 2 vocabulary page clearly marks which words are in the 2.0 list and which are new additions for 3.0.

Study Tips for HSK 2

Reaching HSK 2 requires more than just memorizing word lists. Here are proven strategies to learn the vocabulary effectively and pass the exam.

1. Build on your HSK 1 foundation. Before diving into the 150 new HSK 2 words, make sure you genuinely know the 150 HSK 1 words. If any HSK 1 words are shaky, review them first. New vocabulary sticks better when it connects to words you already know well. For example, learning 教室 (classroom) is easier when you already know 老师 (teacher) from HSK 1.

2. Use spaced repetition (SRS). Spaced repetition is the single most effective technique for memorizing vocabulary long-term. Instead of cramming all 300 words at once, an SRS algorithm shows you each word right before you are about to forget it. This takes advantage of the spacing effect in memory science. HSKLord's SRS is specifically optimized for Chinese vocabulary and HSK word lists.

3. Practice conversations. HSK 2 vocabulary is designed for real communication. Whenever possible, use your new words in actual conversations or practice dialogues. Even talking to yourself about your daily routine using HSK 2 words helps solidify them. Try narrating what you are doing: “我已经准备好了” (I have already prepared), or “我要去教室” (I am going to the classroom).

4. Read simple Chinese texts. At the HSK 2 level, you can start reading very simple stories, children's books, or graded readers designed for beginners. Reading reinforces vocabulary in context, which is far more effective than studying isolated word lists. Look for texts tagged as “HSK 2” or “beginner” level.

5. Watch Chinese content with subtitles. Chinese TV shows, cartoons, and YouTube channels designed for learners provide valuable listening practice. Start with content that uses simple language and has both Chinese and English subtitles. As you get more comfortable, switch to Chinese-only subtitles. Even 15 minutes a day of passive listening helps train your ear for the HSK 2 listening section.

6. Set realistic daily goals. Aim to learn 5 to 10 new words per day while reviewing previously learned words. At that pace, you can learn all 150 new HSK 2 words in 15 to 30 days, with the remaining time spent on review and practice. Consistency matters more than volume. A dedicated HSK study app can help you maintain this pace by tracking your progress and adjusting the review schedule automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions