HSK 1 study guide
HSK 1 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
HSK 1 (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Level 1, 汉语水平考试一级) is the entry-level test of Mandarin Chinese proficiency for non-native speakers, administered by the Chinese testing authority. It certifies that a learner can handle the most basic everyday communication: greeting people, introducing oneself, asking and answering simple questions about daily life, and reading very short, simple texts with familiar characters and pinyin support where the level allows. It is typically taken by beginners who have studied a few months, by students who need a first documented milestone, and by professionals or applicants who need a low-stakes proof of initial Chinese ability. The exam divides evenly between listening comprehension and reading comprehension, so both skills deserve equal preparation time. A realistic study plan covers a small core vocabulary and basic grammar patterns, then drills them through short listening passages and simple sentence-reading tasks. Practising with audio at natural speed matters more than memorising isolated word lists. Topics on this exam: Listening comprehension and Reading comprehension. The HSK 1 study guide has 2 sections and about 776 words.
01HSK 1 Listening comprehension
HSK 1 Listening comprehension checks whether you can understand short, controlled Mandarin built from the syllabus's 150 words. The section has 20 items in four parts and is worth 100 of the 200 total points; 120 overall is a pass. The audio stays on familiar topics: people, family, school, food, time, weather, and daily actions. It is not a vocabulary quiz in isolation: each item asks you to connect sound, meaning, and a simple situation.
377 words, about 2 min02HSK 1 Reading comprehension
HSK 1 Reading comprehension checks character recognition and simple sentence meaning within the same limited beginner vocabulary. It has 20 items in four parts and is worth 100 points. Tasks move from matching words to pictures, through choosing the word that completes a sentence, to matching questions with answers and reading very short passages. You are not asked to write characters, but you must distinguish them accurately.
399 words, about 2 minMore study resources for HSK 1
- Practice questionsHSK 1 听力：女：你叫什么名字？男：我叫王明。问：男的叫什么名字？.
- Flashcards你好 (nǐ hǎo). Standard greeting meaning 'hello'.
- Cheat sheetHSK 1 listening has four parts, 20 items total, about 15 minutes of audio; each recording is played twice, and the answer choices are printed, not read aloud.
- Key terms你好. The most common greeting in Mandarin, used when meeting someone at any time of day.
- Study planPronounce all 21 initial consonants and 36 finals with a pinyin chart, recording yourself and comparing against a reference tone model.
- Common mistakesHSK 1 audio plays each item only once with short pauses; beginners try to translate every syllable into their first language, fall behind, and never catch up.
- Exam-day guidePrint or download the confirmation from the test provider (Hanban/Chinese Testing International or your local test centre).