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HSK 1 vocabulary list: all 486 words with pinyin and examples

HSK 1 covers about 500 everyday words: pronouns, numbers, family, food, time and the most common verbs. It is enough for simple, slow conversations.

This level has 75 concepts in the skill map: 486 words in small groups and 13 lessons. Each one unlocks once you master what it builds on.

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Updated October 21, 2026

Grammar

• 了 (le): completed actions and changes 了 after a verb marks it as done (我吃了 "I ate"). 了 at the end can mark a new situation (下雨了 "it is raining…
• 的 (de): possession and describing nouns 的 links a describer to a noun: 我的书 "my book", 红色的车 "the red car".
• Question words: 什么, 谁, 哪儿, 几, 怎么 Put the question word where the answer would go: 你叫什么？ 我叫小明.
• 吗 (ma): yes/no questions Turn a statement into a yes/no question by adding 吗 at the end: 你是老师吗？
• Measure words: 个, 本, 杯 and friends Between a number (or 这/那) and a noun you need a measure word: 三个人, 一本书, 两杯水.
• 想, 要, 会, 能: want, will, can 想 "would like", 要 "want / will", 会 "know how to", 能 "be able to". They go right before the main verb.
• 有 (yǒu): "to have" and "there is" 有 means "have" (我有一个哥哥) and, after a place, "there is" (桌子上有一本书).
• 在 (zài): where something is or happens 在 + place says where: 我在家 "I am at home", 他在学校学习 "he studies at school".
• 是 (shì): saying "A is B" Use 是 to link two nouns: 我是学生 "I am a student". Do not use it before adjectives.
• 也 and 都: "also" and "all" 也 "also" and 都 "all / both" go after the subject and before the verb: 我也去, 我们都去.
• 没 / 没有 (méi yǒu): "did not" and "do not have" 没有 means "do not have". 没 before a verb means it did not happen: 我没去 "I did not go".
• 不 (bù): saying "not" 不 negates the present, the future, habits and wishes: 我不喝咖啡 "I do not drink coffee".
• 很 + adjective: "is big", "is good" Adjectives work like verbs in Chinese. Put 很 before them: 她很忙 "she is busy". No 是 needed.

Characters

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Word list