This page is a valuable resource for HSK 3 students looking to learn Chinese more effectively by strengthening their vocabulary through targeted practice. Each word from the official HSK 3 vocabulary list is linked to graded reader stories, allowing you to focus on the words you need to improve. By finding the word you struggle with and reading the corresponding story over and over again, you’ll reinforce your understanding of that word in context. This repeated exposure helps you master challenging vocabulary while improving your overall reading skills.
| Simplified Chinese | Pinyin | English | Suggested Reading |
| 阿姨 | ā yí | auntie [mother’s younger sister] | |
| 啊 | a | ah | |
| 矮 | ǎi | short [height] | |
| 爱好 | ài hào | interests; hobbies | My Hobby (我的爱好) |
| 安静 | ān jìng | to be quiet | A Day at the Office (办公室 的 一天) |
| 把 | bǎ | grasp; [measure word for knives] | |
| 搬 | bān | to move | |
| 班 | bān | class | |
| 半 | bàn | half | |
| 办法 | bàn fǎ | way; method; solution | |
| 办公室 | bàn gōng shì | office | A Day at the Office (办公室 的 一天) |
| 帮忙 | bāng máng | lend a hand | |
| 包 | bāo | a packet of; package | |
| 饱 | bǎo | full up; eaten to one’s satisfaction | |
| 北方 | běi fāng | the north | |
| 被 | bèi | quilt; by (somebody/something) | |
| 鼻子 | bí zi | nose | |
| 笔记本 | bǐ jì běn | notebook | |
| 比较 | bǐ jiào | compare | |
| 比赛 | bǐ sài | competition; match | |
| 必须 | bì xū | must | |
| 变化 | biàn huà | change | |
| 别人 | bié ren | other people | |
| 冰箱 | bīng xiāng | fridge | |
| 不但……而且…… | bù dàn ……ér qiě …… | not only……but also…… | |
| 菜单 | cài dān | menu | The Menu (菜单) |
| 参加 | cān jiā | to take part | |
| 草 | cǎo | grass | My Hobby (我的爱好) |
| 层 | céng | storey | |
| 差 | chà | lack; lacking | |
| 尝 | cháng | taste | |
| 超市 | chāo shì | supermarket | Fresh Fruit (新鲜 的 水果) |
| 衬衫 | chèn shān | shirt | New Clothes (新 衣服) |
| 成绩 | chéng jì | results; marks; achievement | |
| 城市 | chéng shì | city | |
| 迟到 | chí dào | arrive late | |
| 除了 | chú le | apart from (“chule…yiwai” construction) | |
| 船 | chuán | boat; ship; ferry | |
| 春 | chūn | spring | My Hobby (我的爱好) |
| 词典 | cí diǎn | dictionary | |
| 聪明 | cōng ming | clever; intelligent | |
| 打扫 | dǎ sǎo | to clean | |
| 打算 | dǎ suàn | plan; intention | |
| 带 | dài | carry | |
| 担心 | dān xīn | worry | |
| 蛋糕 | dàn gāo | cake | The Menu (菜单) |
| 当然 | dāng rán | of course | |
| 地 | de | …ly [particle to connect adverb to verb] | |
| 灯 | dēng | lamp | |
| 地方 | dì fang | place | My Hobby (我的爱好) |
| 地铁 | dì tiě | underground train; tube; metro | |
| 地图 | dì tú | map | |
| 电梯 | diàn tī | lift; elevator | |
| 电子邮件 | diàn zǐ yóu jiàn | ||
| 东 | dōng | east | |
| 冬 | dōng | winter | |
| 动物 | dòng wù | animals | |
| 短 | duǎn | short | New Clothes (新 衣服) |
| 段 | duàn | section; paragraph; [measure word for stories, pieces of music, recordings etc.] | |
| 锻炼 | duàn liàn | to engage in physical exercise | |
| 多么 | duō me | how … | |
| 饿 | è | hungry | The Menu (菜单) |
| 耳朵 | ěr duo | ears | |
| 发 | fā | to send (an email) | |
| 发烧 | fā shāo | fever; have a fever | |
| 发现 | fā xiàn | discover | |
| 方便 | fāng biàn | convenient | |
| 放 | fàng | to put; set free | |
| 放心 | fàng xīn | relax; feel relieved | |
| 分 | fēn | minute | |
| 附近 | fù jìn | nearby | |
| 复习 | fù xí | revise | |
| 干净 | gān jìng | clean | |
| 感冒 | gǎn mào | to catch a cold | |
| 感兴趣 | gǎn xìng qù | to be interested (in) | |
| 刚才 | gāng cái | just now | |
| 个子 | gè zi | height; stature | |
| 跟 | gēn | with | |
| 根据 | gēn jù | according to | |
| 更 | gèng | even more | |
| 公斤 | gōng jīn | kilogram | |
| 公园 | gōng yuán | park | Saturday in the Park (公园 里 的 星期六) |
| 故事 | gù shi | story; tale; plot | |
| 刮风 | guā fēng | windy | |
| 关 | guān | to close | |
| 关系 | guān xì | relationship | |
| 关心 | guān xīn | care about | |
| 关于 | guān yú | about | |
| 国家 | guó jiā | country | |
| 过 | guò | to celebrate (a birthday) | |
| 过去 | guò qu | (in the) past | |
| 还是 | hái shì | …or…? [in a question] | |
| 害怕 | hài pà | afraid | 小心! (Careful!) |
| 黑板 | hēi bǎn | blackboard | |
| 后来 | hòu lái | afterward | |
| 护照 | hù zhào | passport | |
| 花 | huā | spend | |
| 花 | huā | flower | |
| 画 | huà | to draw; paint (pictures) | |
| 坏 | huài | bad | |
| 欢迎 | huān yíng | to welcome | |
| 还 | huán | to return | |
| 环境 | huán jìng | environment | |
| 换 | huàn | to change (to another one) | |
| 黄河 | huáng hé | Yellow River | |
| 回答 | huí dá | reply | |
| 会议 | huì yì | meeting | A Day at the Office (办公室 的 一天) |
| 或者 | huò zhě | perhaps | |
| 几乎 | jī hū | almost | |
| 机会 | jī huì | opportunity | |
| 极 | jí | extreme | |
| 记得 | jì de | to remember | |
| 季节 | jì jié | season | |
| 检查 | jiǎn chá | inspect | |
| 简单 | jiǎn dān | simple | |
| 健康 | jiàn kāng | healthy; health | |
| 见面 | jiàn miàn | to meet | |
| 讲 | jiǎng | speak | |
| 教 | jiāo | to teach | |
| 脚 | jiǎo | foot | |
| 角 | jiǎo | horn; corner; jiao (written) [unit of currency = 0.1 yuan] | |
| 接 | jiē | connect | |
| 街道 | jiē dào | road | |
| 结婚 | jié hūn | marry | |
| 节目 | jié mù | programme | |
| 节日 | jié rì | festival | |
| 结束 | jié shù | finish | |
| 解决 | jiě jué | to resolve; solve | |
| 借 | jiè | to lend | |
| 经常 | jīng cháng | often; regularly | |
| 经过 | jīng guò | pass through | |
| 经理 | jīng lǐ | manager | A Day at the Office (办公室 的 一天) |
| 久 | jiǔ | long time | |
| 旧 | jiù | old; former | |
| 句子 | jù zi | sentence | |
| 决定 | jué dìng | decide | |
| 渴 | kě | thirsty | The Menu (菜单) |
| 可爱 | kě ài | lovely; loveable | |
| 刻 | kè | quarter (of an hour); to carve | |
| 客人 | kè rén | guest | |
| 空调 | kōng tiáo | air-conditioning | |
| 口 | kǒu | mouth; [measure word for family members] | |
| 哭 | kū | cry | |
| 裤子 | kù zi | trousers | New Clothes (新 衣服) |
| 筷子 | kuài zi | chopsticks | |
| 蓝 | lán | blue | |
| 老 | lǎo | old; aged | |
| 离开 | lí kāi | leave | A Day at the Office (办公室 的 一天) |
| 礼物 | lǐ wù | gift; present | |
| 历史 | lì shǐ | history | |
| 脸 | liǎn | face | |
| 练习 | liàn xí | to practise | |
| 辆 | liàng | [measure word for vehicles] | |
| 聊天 | liáo tiān | to chat | |
| 了解 | liǎo jiě | understand | |
| 邻居 | lín jū | neighbour | |
| 留学 | liú xué | study abroad | |
| 楼 | lóu | multi-storied building | |
| 绿 | lǜ | green | |
| 马 | mǎ | horse | |
| 马上 | mǎ shàng | immediately | |
| 满意 | mǎn yì | pleased; satisfied | |
| 帽子 | mào zi | hat | New Clothes (新 衣服) |
| 米 | mǐ | rice; metre | |
| 面包 | miàn bāo | bread | The Menu (菜单) |
| 明白 | míng bai | to understand | |
| 拿 | ná | to take | |
| 奶奶 | nǎi nai | grandmother [father’s mother] | |
| 难 | nán | hard; difficult | |
| 南 | nán | south | |
| 难过 | nán guò | have a hard time | |
| 年级 | nián jí | (school) year/grade | |
| 年轻 | nián qīng | young | |
| 鸟 | niǎo | bird | |
| 努力 | nǔ lì | hardworking | |
| 爬山 | pá shān | to climb hills/mountains | My Hobby (我的爱好) |
| 盘子 | pán zi | tray | |
| 胖 | pàng | fat | |
| 啤酒 | pí jiǔ | beer | |
| 皮鞋 | pí xié | leather shoes | New Clothes (新 衣服) |
| 瓶子 | píng zi | bottle | |
| 骑 | qí | to ride (a bicycle, horse) | |
| 奇怪 | qí guài | strange | |
| 其实 | qí shí | in fact | |
| 其他 | qí tā | other | |
| 起飞 | qǐ fēi | take off [plane] | |
| 起来 | qǐ lái | stand up; sit up; rise to one’s feet | |
| 清楚 | qīng chu | clear | |
| 请假 | qǐng jià | ask for leave | |
| 秋 | qiū | autumn | |
| 裙子 | qún zi | skirt | |
| 然后 | rán hòu | and then; after that | Fresh Fruit (新鲜 的 水果) |
| 热情 | rè qíng | enthusiastic | |
| 认为 | rèn wéi | to think that; consider | |
| 认真 | rèn zhēn | earnest | |
| 容易 | róng yì | easy | |
| 如果 | rú guǒ | if | |
| 伞 | sǎn | umbrella | |
| 上网 | shàng wǎng | get on the internet | |
| 生气 | shēng qì | to get angry | |
| 声音 | shēng yīn | sound | 小心! (Careful!) |
| 试 | shì | to try | |
| 世界 | shì jiè | world | |
| 瘦 | shòu | thin | |
| 舒服 | shū fu | comfortable | New Clothes (新 衣服) 小心! (Careful!) |
| 叔叔 | shū shu | uncle [father’s younger brother] | |
| 树 | shù | tree | My Hobby (我的爱好) |
| 数学 | shù xué | maths | |
| 刷牙 | shuā yá | brush teeth | |
| 双 | shuāng | a pair of | |
| 水平 | shuǐ píng | level | |
| 司机 | sī jī | driver | |
| 太阳 | tài yáng | sun | |
| 特别 | tè bié | special; especially | |
| 疼 | téng | pain | |
| 提高 | tí gāo | raise | |
| 体育 | tǐ yù | physical education | |
| 甜 | tián | sweet | |
| 条 | tiáo | [measure word for long pieces (hair, branch, trousers etc.)] | |
| 同事 | tóng shì | colleague | A Day at the Office (办公室 的 一天) |
| 同意 | tóng yì | to agree | |
| 头发 | tóu fa | hair | |
| 突然 | tū rán | suddenly | 小心! (Careful!) |
| 图书馆 | tú shū guǎn | library | |
| 腿 | tuǐ | leg | |
| 完成 | wán chéng | complete | |
| 碗 | wǎn | a bowl of | |
| 万 | wàn | ten thousand | |
| 忘记 | wàng jì | forget | |
| 位 | wèi | position | |
| 为 | wèi | for (someone; something); to do; to be | |
| 为了 | wèi le | in order to | |
| 文化 | wén huà | culture | |
| 西 | xī | west | |
| 习惯 | xí guàn | be used to | |
| 洗手间 | xǐ shǒu jiān | toilets; washroom | Saturday in the Park (公园 里 的 星期六) |
| 洗澡 | xǐ zǎo | have a shower; bath | |
| 夏 | xià | summer | |
| 先 | xiān | first | |
| 香蕉 | xiāng jiāo | banana | Fresh Fruit (新鲜 的 水果) |
| 相信 | xiāng xìn | to believe | |
| 像 | xiàng | likeness; resemble; look as if | |
| 向 | xiàng | towards | |
| 小心 | xiǎo xīn | take care | 小心! (Careful!) |
| 校长 | xiào zhǎng | head teacher; principal | |
| 新闻 | xīn wén | news | |
| 新鲜 | xīn xiān | fresh | Fresh Fruit (新鲜 的 水果) |
| 信用卡 | xìn yòng kǎ | credit card | |
| 行李箱 | xíng li xiāng | trunk [luggage] | |
| 熊猫 | xióng māo | panda | |
| 需要 | xū yào | need | |
| 选择 | xuǎn zé | choice | |
| 越 | yuè | the more…the more…. | |
| 要求 | yāo qiú | requirement | |
| 爷爷 | yé ye | grandfather [father’s father] | |
| 一般 | yī bān | ordinary | |
| 一边 | yī biān | on the one hand … | |
| 一定 | yī dìng | definitely | |
| 一共 | yī gòng | altogether | |
| 一会儿 | yī huì er | a short while | |
| 一样 | yī yàng | same; identical | |
| 一直 | yī zhí | straight on; always | |
| 以前 | yǐ qián | before | |
| 音乐 | yīn yuè | music | |
| 银行 | yín háng | bank | |
| 饮料 | yǐn liào | drink | |
| 应该 | yīng gāi | should | |
| 影响 | yǐng xiǎng | influence; to affect | |
| 用 | yòng | to use | |
| 游戏 | yóu xì | game | |
| 有名 | yǒu míng | famous | The Menu (菜单) |
| 又 | yòu | again | |
| 遇到 | yù dào | to meet | |
| 元 | yuán | yuan [unit of Chinese currency]; dollar | |
| 愿意 | yuàn yì | willing | |
| 月亮 | yuè liang | moon | |
| 站 | zhàn | stand | |
| 张 | zhāng | to open up; to spread; [measure word for table, picture, paper etc] | |
| 长 | zhǎng | to grow | |
| 着急 | zháo jí | anxious | |
| 照顾 | zhào gu | to look after | |
| 照片 | zhào piàn | photograph | |
| 照相机 | zhào xiàng jī | camera | |
| 只 | zhǐ | only | |
| 只有……才…… | zhǐ yǒu ……cái | only if…then… | |
| 中间 | zhōng jiān | middle | |
| 中文 | zhōng wén | Chinese [written language] | |
| 终于 | zhōng yú | at last | |
| 种 | zhǒng | kind | |
| 重要 | zhòng yào | important | |
| 周末 | zhōu mò | weekend | |
| 主要 | zhǔ yào | mainly | |
| 注意 | zhù yì | take note of | |
| 自己 | zì jǐ | self; oneself | |
| 自行车 | zì xíng chē | bicycle | |
| 总是 | zǒng shì | always | 小心! (Careful!) |
| 嘴 | zuǐ | mouth | |
| 最后 | zuì hòu | lastly | Fresh Fruit (新鲜 的 水果) |
| 最近 | zuì jìn | recently | |
| 作业 | zuò yè | homework |