HSK 4 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

HSK 4 listening item count

The listening section contains 45 items across three parts, played once without replay, and takes roughly 25 minutes of audio plus transfer time.

但是 as answer signal

A contrast marker like 但是 or 不过 usually introduces the speaker's real opinion, so the correct option restates the clause after it, not the clause before.

差一点儿 meaning

It means 'almost' or 'nearly', often describing something that did not happen or was narrowly avoided, and appears as a distractor in time and number questions.

幸亏 tone cue

幸亏 signals relief about a fortunate circumstance, so a question asking the speaker's attitude is answered by options meaning 庆幸 or 幸运 rather than 后悔.

竟然 and 居然

Both express surprise at something unexpected. In tone questions they point to answers like 惊讶 or 没想到, distinguishing them from neutral statements of fact.

主要意思 question type

Questions asking 主要意思 require a summary of the whole passage; reject options that repeat one detail verbatim but misrepresent the overall point.

不见不散

A fixed expression meaning 'be there without fail', used when making an appointment. Recognizing it as a chunk prevents misparsing it as a literal negative statement.

越…越… pattern

This correlative pattern means 'the more… the more…', as in 越学越有意思. In listening it often carries the main point of a short passage.

HSK 4 reading structure

Reading has three parts: word-choice cloze, sentence-to-passage matching, and short-passage multiple choice, totaling 40 items in 40 minutes.

提高 versus 增加

提高 applies to levels, quality, or ability, while 增加 applies to quantity or numbers. Choosing between them depends on the noun that follows.

举行 versus 举办

举行 is used for ceremonies, meetings, and tests; 举办 is used for events such as competitions, exhibitions, and festivals. Both take an event as object.

因此 placement rule

A sentence beginning with 因此 must follow a clause stating a cause. In matching tasks this constrains which passage slot the sentence can occupy.

另外 as connector

另外 introduces an additional, parallel point rather than a contrast or a conclusion, so it fits after a complete idea that it supplements.

的 地 得 distinction

的 precedes nouns, 地 precedes verbs to show manner, and 得 follows verbs to introduce a degree or result complement, as in 慢慢地走 and 跑得快.

只有…才 pattern

This pattern means 'only if… then…', marking a necessary condition. The clause after 才 states the result that becomes possible under that condition.

无论…都 pattern

Meaning 'no matter…, always…', this pattern requires an interrogative or alternative phrase after 无论, and the main clause takes 都 or 也.

Notice passage scanning

For 通知 passages, scan for time, place, participants, and required action; the tested answer is usually one of these four concrete details.

HSK 4 writing parts

Writing has two parts: arranging given words into sentences, and composing about 80 characters on a picture-based topic, within roughly 25 minutes.

把 construction order

The 把 phrase places the object before the verb to show disposal: subject + 把 + object + verb + result or location, as in 我把书放在桌子上.

被 sentence order

In a 被 sentence the agent follows 被 and precedes the verb: 书被他拿走了. The verb normally carries a result or aspect particle after it.

比 comparison rule

The 比 phrase comes before the adjective, never after it: 他比我高. Degree adverbs like 很 cannot appear in the predicate of a plain 比 sentence.

Time word placement

Time expressions such as 昨天 or 下个月 go before the verb or at the start of the sentence, never at the end after the verb.

Adverb position rule

Adverbs like 也, 都, 才, 就, and 已经 follow the subject and precede the verb, so they never open the sentence before the subject.

Composition length target

The Part 2 composition should reach about 80 characters; falling far short loses points, while grammatical accuracy and relevance to the picture matter more than length alone.

得 complement placement

The particle 得 follows a verb to introduce a degree or result complement, as in 说得很好 or 跑得很快; placing it before the verb is an error.

HSK 4 translation task

Translation requires rendering about ten English sentences into Chinese during the writing section, testing grammar patterns and core vocabulary rather than literary style.

了 versus 过

了 marks a completed action in a specific situation, while 过 marks past experience at some indefinite time, as in 我吃了饭 versus 我去过北京.

正在 for ongoing action

正在 or 呢 marks an action in progress at a reference time, corresponding to English present continuous; it does not combine with 了 in the same predicate.

Measure word requirement

Chinese requires a classifier between a number and a noun, such as 一个, 一件, or 一场; English articles do not translate directly, so the classifier must be chosen.

因为…所以 retention

Chinese keeps both connectors in cause-result sentences, unlike English, which usually uses only one. Dropping 所以 or 但是 is a common translation error.

Date order in Chinese

Dates run from largest to smallest unit: year, then month, then day, as in 2024年5月3日. English month-day-year order must be reordered.

三个多小时 meaning

Placing 多 after a measure word means 'more than' that amount, so 三个多小时 means more than three hours, not exactly three.