HSK Levels Explained: HSK 1 to 9 and CEFR Equivalents

The HSK has nine levels in three stages: HSK 1 to 3 are elementary, HSK 4 to 6 intermediate, and HSK 7 to 9 advanced. HSK 1 to 6 each have their own exam, while HSK 7, 8, and 9 share one exam whose score decides your level. The word lists grow from 300 words at HSK 1 to 11,000 by HSK 7-9. [1] [2]

This guide explains what each level means, how the HSK compares with the European CEFR scale (A1 to C2), and which level to aim for. The numbers are from the HSK 3.0 syllabus used for every exam from December 2026; if you studied for the older six-level exam, see HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0.

The Nine HSK Levels

“Characters” counts the characters you should recognize; the syllabus also lists 1,200 characters to write by hand across all levels. Exam figures are from the official HSK 3.0 sample papers. [2] [3] Each level links to its full word list, free to browse and download.

What You Can Do at Each Level

The official HSK 3.0 description of each level is a short list of tasks you can handle in Chinese. [4] In plain terms:

Elementary: HSK 1 to 3

• HSK 1: you can greet people, count, and say simple things about yourself and the people around you.
• HSK 2: you can talk about everyday life (family, food, shopping, time) in short, simple exchanges, and write a few basic characters.
• HSK 3: you can get by when traveling or at work, give basic opinions, and hold a short conversation, which the new speaking test checks.

This stage is where most learners spend their first year or two. HSK 1 and 2 are good first targets: small enough to finish in a few months, and they confirm you have the basics right.

Intermediate: HSK 4 to 6

• HSK 4: you can discuss familiar and some abstract topics fluently enough for everyday life in China. This is the usual minimum for studying in Chinese. [5]
• HSK 5: you can follow and take part in professional and academic Chinese: news, lectures, and work meetings, with effort.
• HSK 6: you can express nuance, read demanding texts, and write formally.

The jump in vocabulary is steep here: HSK 4 alone adds 1,000 words, and HSK 5 and 6 add 1,600 and 1,800.

Advanced: HSK 7 to 9

HSK 7-9 is near-native Chinese: specialized, literary, and academic language, plus translation into Chinese. It adds 5,600 words to reach 11,000. You take one exam and receive level 7, 8, or 9 depending on your score, or “below level 7”. [6]

HSK Levels and the CEFR

Many people want to know what an HSK level means on the CEFR, the A1 to C2 scale used for European languages. The honest answer: there is no official CEFR mapping for HSK 3.0. Neither the 2021 national standard, the 2025 syllabus, nor the official level descriptions mention the CEFR. [4] [7]

The old HSK 2.0 did have an official mapping, and it shows why such tables need care. It matched HSK 1 to A1 and so on up to HSK 6 = C2. Teachers of Chinese disputed this: the German association of Chinese teachers called it counterproductive and published a much lower estimate. [8]

HSK 3.0 asks for more at every level than HSK 2.0 did (the new HSK 4 needs 2,000 words, the old one 1,200), so old tables, official or not, understate the new levels. If someone asks for your CEFR level, give your HSK level and call any CEFR equivalent an estimate. For a job or university application, quote the HSK result itself: that is what institutions in China read.

Which HSK Level Should You Take?

• Testing your progress as a beginner: start with HSK 1 or 2. They are short, cheap, and a good check that your pinyin and tones hold up under exam conditions.
• Studying at a Chinese university: aim for HSK 4 at least. It is the basic requirement for international students in programs taught in Chinese, and many programs, especially graduate ones, set a higher bar of their own. [5] [9]
• Working in China: HSK results count toward the points system China uses for foreigners’ work permits. [10]
• Proving advanced Chinese: HSK 6 or HSK 7-9, for translation, teaching, or professional roles.

You do not need to pass lower levels first; register for the level that matches your goal and your current vocabulary. Going through a level’s word list is a quick way to check: if you know most of the words at a level, you are close to ready for it. How to learn HSK vocabulary shows how long each level’s list takes at 10 or 20 new words a day.

Next Steps

• Browse a level’s words: HSK 1, HSK 2, HSK 3, HSK 4, or the full HSK 3.0 vocabulary list.
• Plan the exam: the HSK 3.0 exam guide covers dates, format, registration, and scoring.