HSK 2 characters

The 125 characters HSK 2 adds: the smallest set at any level, and only 5 of them are new to write by hand.

The syllabus bands writing across levels 1 and 2 together at 100 characters, and 95 of those already appeared at level 1. So this page adds 125 to read and almost nothing to write: the writing requirement waits until level 3 to start climbing.

The reading list pauses here the same way the word list does: 125 characters against the 246 of HSK 1. Everything from level 3 onward is steeper.

Characters

HSK 2 characters
Character	Pinyin	Meaning
啊	a, ā, á, ǎ, à	ah; (particle showing elation, doubt, puzzled surprise, or approval)真想睡过去啊。Zhēnxiǎng shuìguòqù a.I want to sleep.
帮	bāng	to help, to assist; to support, to defend; party他们不帮忙。Tāmen bù bāngmáng.They don't help.
备	bèi	to prepare; to get ready, to equip; ready他已经准备好了。Tā yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎo le.He already completed preparations.
比	bǐ	compare; (indicates comparison); to gesticulate as one talks我比他高。Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.I am taller than him.
笔	bǐ	pen, pencil, writing brush; to compose, to write; Hanzi stroke我买了很多笔记本。Wǒ mǎi le hěnduō bǐjìběn.I bought many notebooks.
表	biǎo	to show, to express, to display; outside, appearance; a watch有时间表吗？Yǒu shíjiānbiǎo ma?Is there a timetable?
别	bié	don't do something; don't别让狗进来。Bié ràng gǒu jìnlái.Keep the dog out.
步	bù	walk, stroll, pace, march; to make progress我喜欢跑步。Wǒ xǐhuān pǎobù.I like to run.
长	cháng	long; length这条路很长Zhè tiáo lù hěn cháng.This road is very long.
场	chǎng	courtyard; place; field我想去商场。Wǒ xiǎng qù shāngchǎng.I'd like to go to the mall.
词	cí	phrase, expression; words, speech汉语的词语很多。Hànyǔ de cíyǔ hěn duō.The Chinese language has many words and expressions.
次	cì	(measure word for number of times of occurrence); nth; order我记得第一次。Wǒ jìde dìyīcì.I remember the first time.
从	cóng	from; obey; observe他从中国回来了。Tā cóng zhōngguó huílái le.He came back from China.
错	cuò	mistake; error; blunder机会错过了。Jīhuì cuòguò le.The chance is gone.
但	dàn	only; but, however, yet, still我本来想走的，但后来忘了。Wǒ běnlái xiǎng zǒu de, dàn hòulái wàng le.I intended to go, but forgot to.
地	de	earth; ground我们见面的地点是学校门口。Wǒmen jiànmiàn de dìdiǎn shì xuéxiào ménkǒu.The place we meet is the school gate.
等	děng	to wait; rank; equal他们等得了。Tāmen děng de liǎo.They can wait.
店	diàn	shop, store; inn, hotel他去了商店。Tā qù le shāngdiàn.He went to the store.
动	dòng	to move, to happen; movement, action他爱做运动。Tā ài zuò yùndòng.He loves exercising.
懂	dǒng	understand; know你不懂的词做个记号。Nǐ bù dǒng de cí zuò gè jìhào.Mark the words that you cannot understand.
啡	fēi	coffee; morphine你喝茶还是咖啡？Nǐ hē chá háishi kāfēi?Would you prefer tea or coffee?
夫	fū	man, husband; worker; those你丈夫叫什么？Nǐ zhàngfū jiào shénme?What's your husband's name?
告	gào	to tell, to inform, to announce; to accuse告诉我！Gàosù wǒ!Tell me.
跟	gēn	heel; follow; with我不跟你要好了。Wǒ bù gēn nǐ yào hǎo le.I'm going to stop trying to be friendly with you.
馆	guǎn	public building; shop, house, establishment旅馆在哪里？Lǚguǎn zài nǎlǐ?Where is the hotel?
过	guò	indicates a past experience他穿过公路。Tā chuānguò gōnglù.He crossed the street.
黑	hēi	black; dark; Heilongjiang province (abbreviation)猫是黑色的。Māo shì hēisè de.The cat is black.
红	hóng	red; symbol of success; bonus她穿着红大衣。Tā chuānzhe hóng dàyī.She's wearing a red overcoat.
画	huà	draw; picture; painting她在作画。Tā zài zuòhuà.She's painting.
花	huā	flower; blossom; spend money酒店中有花店吗？Jiǔdiàn zhōngyǒu huādiàn ma?Is there a flower shop in the hotel?
坏	huài	bad; broken不是所有外星人都坏。Búshì suǒyǒu wàixīngrén dōu huài.Not all aliens are bad.
记	jì	mark, sign; to note, to record你记得吗？Nǐ jìde ma?Do you remember?
己	jǐ	self, oneself; personal, private; 6th heavenly stem我看了自己的笔记。Wǒ kàn le zìjǐ de bǐjì.I looked at my notes.
交	jiāo	deliver; turn over; intersect我在公交车上睡觉了。Wǒ zài gōngjiāochē shàng shuìjiào le.I slept on the bus.
教	jiāo	teach他是教师。Tā shì jiàoshī.He is a teacher.
介	jiè	agent, go-between, intermediary; to introduce; shell, armor他做了自我介绍。Tā zuòle zìwǒ jièshào.He introduced himself.
进	jìn	enter; come in跳进来。Tiàojìnlái.Hop in.
近	jìn	near; close (to)我最近很忙。Wǒ zuìjìn hěn máng.I'm very busy these days.
经	jīng	the classics; to experience, to undergo您经常去吗？Nín jīngcháng qù ma?Do you go often?
睛	jīng	eyeball; pupil你的眼睛真漂亮。Nǐ de yǎnjīng zhēn piàoliàng.You have beautiful eyes.
就	jiù	then; at once; just昨天我十点就睡了。Zuótiān wǒ shí diǎn jiù shuì le.Yesterday I went to sleep at ten.
酒	jiǔ	wine, spirits, liquor, alcohol请给我一杯酒。Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi jiǔ.Please give me a glass of wine.
咖	kā	coffee; used in transliterations你喝茶还是咖啡？Nǐ hē chá háishi kāfēi?Would you prefer tea or coffee?
考	kǎo	to test, to investigate, to examine今天上午考试。Jīntiān shàngwǔ kǎoshì.I'm taking a test this morning.
裤	kù	pants, trousers我没穿裤子。Wǒ méi chuān kùzi.I'm not wearing pants.
快	kuài	fast; quick; swift我很快乐。Wǒ hěn kuàilè.I'm very happy.
篮	lán	basket; goal我不打篮球。Wǒ bù dǎlánqiú.I don't play basketball.
乐	lè	cheerful, happy, laughing; music我很快乐。Wǒ hěn kuàilè.I'm very happy.
累	lèi	tired她觉得很累。Tā juéde hěn lèi.She feels very tired.
离	lí	leave; depart; go away他们离开了。Tāmen líkāi le.They left.
留	liú	to leave (behind, a message); to retain; to stay我不能留下。Wǒ bùnéng liúxià.I can't stay.
楼	lóu	building, story男厕所在二楼。Náncèsuǒ zài èrlóu.The men's room is on the second floor.
路	lù	road; path; journey这条路很长Zhè tiáo lù hěn cháng.This road is very long.
绿	lǜ	green你喝绿茶吗？Nǐ hē lǜchá ma?Do you drink green tea?
旅	lǚ	journey, trip; to travel旅馆在哪里？Lǚguǎn zài nǎlǐ?Where is the hotel?
慢	màn	slow他们走得很慢。Tāmen zǒu de hěn màn.They walk very slowly.
每	měi	each; every我每天经过这家店。Wǒ měitiān jīngguò zhè jiā diàn.I pass by this shop every day.
门	mén	door; opening; gate门票多少钱？Ménpiào duōshǎo qián?How much is the admission?
拿	ná	hold; take; seize我晚点再来拿。Wǒ wǎndiǎn zàilái ná.I'll come to pick it up later.
鸟	niǎo	bird它是一只鸟。Tā shì yì zhī niǎo.That's a bird.
旁	páng	side; beside, close, nearby坐我旁边。Zuò wǒ pángbiān.Sit beside me.
跑	pǎo	to run, to flee, to escape我喜欢跑步。Wǒ xǐhuān pǎobù.I like to run.
票	piào	ticket; bank note; a vote门票多少钱？Ménpiào duōshǎo qián?How much is the admission?
妻	qī	wife我妻子在家。Wǒ qīzǐ zàijiā.My wife is at home.
情	qíng	emotion, feeling, sentiment后来事情怎么样？Hòulái shìqing zěnme yàng?How did things turn out later?
晴	qíng	clear; fine (as of weather)有望会变晴。Yǒuwàng huì biànqíng.The weather promises to clear up.
球	qiú	ball, globe, sphere; round我踢足球。Wǒ tīzúqiú.I play football.
然	rán	certainly; naturally; suddenly先洗手，然后吃饭。Xiān xǐshǒu, ránhòu chīfàn.Wash your hands before you eat.
让	ràng	let, allow让我进去。Ràng wǒ jìnqù.Let me in.
肉	ròu	meat; flesh你喜欢吃羊肉吗？Nǐ xǐhuan chī yángròu ma?Do you like eating mutton?
色	sè	color, tint, hue, shade; beauty, form; sex猫是黑色的。Māo shì hēisè de.The cat is black.
绍	shào	to connect; to introduce他做了自我介绍。Tā zuòle zìwǒ jièshào.He introduced himself.
身	shēn	body, torso; person; pregnancy你身体不舒服吗？Nǐ shēntǐ bù shūfú ma?Are you not feeling well?
试	shì	to try; to test让我试试别的。Ràng wǒ shìshì biéde.Let me try another one.
室	shì	house, home; room, chamber学生们在教室里。Xuéshēng men zài jiàoshì lǐ.The students are in the classroom.
始	shǐ	to begin, to start; beginning新学期开始了。Xīn xuéqī kāishǐ le.The new semester has started.
舒	shū	relaxed, comfortable; to unfold, to stretch out你身体不舒服吗？Nǐ shēntǐ bù shūfú ma?Are you not feeling well?
思	sī	to think, to ponder, to consider; final particle这是什么意思？Zhèshì shénme yìsi?What does it mean?
送	sòng	deliver; to carry; to give我们在机场为她送行。Wǒmen zài jīchǎng wèi tā sòngxíng.We saw her off at the airport.
诉	sù	to accuse, to sue; to inform; to narrate告诉我！Gàosù wǒ!Tell me.
虽	suī	although, even though虽然正在下雪，但是我也非去不可。Suīrán zhèngzài xiàxuě, dànshì wǒ yě fēiqùbùkě.Although it is snowing, I must go.
所	suǒ	place, location; "that which", a particle introducing a passive clause所有人都笑了。Suǒyǒu rén dōu xiào le.Everyone laughed.
疼	téng	ache; sore; (it) hurts她全身都疼。Tā quánshēn dōu téng.She was aching all over.
体	tǐ	body; group, class; form, style, system你身体不舒服吗？Nǐ shēntǐ bù shūfú ma?Are you not feeling well?
踢	tī	to kick我踢足球。Wǒ tīzúqiú.I play football.
跳	tiào	to hop, to skip; to jump, to leap; to vault跳进来。Tiàojìnlái.Hop in.
铁	tiě	iron; strong, solid, firm坐高铁去上海只要五个小时。Zuò gāotiě qù Shànghǎi zhǐ yào wǔ ge xiǎoshí.The high-speed train to Shanghai takes only five hours.
头	tóu	head; chief, boss; first, top回头看！Huítóu kàn!Look back!
完	wán	to finish; be over; complete水喝完了。Shuǐ hēwán le.I finished drinking the water.
万	wàn	ten thousand万一我来晚的话，就别等我了。Wànyī wǒlái wǎn dehuà, jiùbié děng wǒ le.If by any chance I'm late, please don't wait for me.
望	wàng	to expect, to hope, to look forward to我希望你去。Wǒ xīwàng nǐ qù.I wish you'd go.
忘	wàng	to forget, to miss, to neglect, to overlook我只想忘记。Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng wàngjì.I only wanted to forget.
网	wǎng	net; network我上网了。Wǒ shàngwǎng le.I am online.
往	wǎng	to go (in a direction); towards; in the past往后站！Wǎnghòu zhàn!Stand back!
为	wèi	for; because of; to为什么？Wèishénme?Why?
位	wèi	position; location; (polite measure word for people)我是位女士。Wǒ shì wèi nǚshì.I'm a lady.
舞	wǔ	to dance; to brandish我想要跳舞。Wǒ xiǎngyào tiàowǔ.I'd like to dance.
洗	xǐ	to wash; bathe洗手间在哪里？Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?Where is the bathroom?
希	xī	rare; to hope for, to strive for; to expect我希望你去。Wǒ xīwàng nǐ qù.I wish you'd go.
笑	xiào	to laugh; to smile我开玩笑。Wǒ kāiwánxiào.I'm kidding.
姓	xìng	family name您贵姓？Nín guìxìng?What's your surname please?
颜	yán	face, facial appearance你的车什么颜色？Nǐ de chē shénme yánsè?What color is your car?
眼	yǎn	eyelet, hole, opening你的眼睛真漂亮。Nǐ de yǎnjīng zhēn piàoliàng.You have beautiful eyes.
药	yào	medicine; drug; cure药店就在医院旁边。Yàodiàn jiù zài yīyuàn pángbiān.The pharmacy is right next to the hospital.
爷	yé	grandfather, old man爷爷买给我的！Yéyé mǎi gěi wǒ de!Grandpa bought it for me!
意	yì	thought, idea, opinion; desire, wish; meaning, intention我同意。Wǒ tóngyì.I agree.
已	yǐ	already; finished; to stop已经没事了。Yǐjīng méishì le.I'm fine now.
因	yīn	cause, reason; by; because她不在是因为病了。Tā bú zài shìyīnwèi bìng le.She's absent because she's sick.
阴	yīn	cloudy (weather); yin (the negative principle of Yin and Yang); secret天气阴沉。Tiānqì yīnchén.The weather is cloudy.
泳	yǒng	to swim, to dive我要游泳。Wǒyào yóuyǒng.I'll swim.
游	yóu	to wander, to travel, to tour, to roam我要游泳。Wǒyào yóuyǒng.I'll swim.
右	yòu	right; right-wing他左右看了看。Tā zuǒyòu kàn le kàn.He looked left and right.
鱼	yú	fish我讨厌鱼。Wǒ tǎoyàn yú.I hate fish.
远	yuǎn	far; distant; remote到机场有多远？Dào jīchǎng yǒuduōyuǎn?How far away is the airport?
运	yùn	to run; ship, transport; fortune, luck我运气很好。Wǒ yùnqì hěn hǎo.I'm lucky.
站	zhàn	stand; a station; be on one's feet往后站！Wǎnghòu zhàn!Stand back!
丈	zhàng	gentleman, man, husband; unit of length equal to 3.3 meters你丈夫叫什么？Nǐ zhàngfū jiào shénme?What's your husband's name?
着	zhe	ing (indicating action in progress)一边站着。Yībiān zhàn zhe.Stand aside.
周	zhōu	Zhou dynasty; circumference下周一开学。Xiàzhōuyī kāixué.School starts next Monday.
准	zhǔn	standard, accurate; to permit, to approve, to allow他准时来了。Tā zhǔnshí lái le.He arrived in time.
自	zì	self; private, personal; from你真的来自这里？Nǐ zhēnde láizì zhèlǐ?Are you really from here?
走	zǒu	to walk; to go; to move他走路很快。Tā zǒulù hěnkuài.He walks fast.
足	zú	foot; to attain, to satisfy; enough我踢足球。Wǒ tīzúqiú.I play football.
最	zuì	the most; -est; (indicator for superlative)你最好去。Nǐ zuìhǎo qù.You should go.
左	zuǒ	left; unorthodox, improper出口在左边。Chūkǒu zài zuǒbian.The entrance is on the left.

Source: the official 考试大纲 for HSK 3.0, published November 2025.

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