HSK 2 Characters

Q: How many characters are in HSK 2?

HSK 2 includes 298 characters. These characters form the core vocabulary for elementary-level Chinese communication, covering approximately 300 words of cumulative vocabulary.

Q: How long does it take to learn HSK 2 characters?

Most learners need 2-4 weeks of consistent daily practice to master HSK 2 characters. Writing each character 10-20 times with correct stroke order is more effective than passive recognition.

Q: What is the best way to practice HSK 2 writing?

Start with stroke order animations to learn the correct writing sequence, then practice with real-time feedback. The Hanzi Writer app provides animated stroke-by-stroke guidance and instantly detects incorrect strokes.

Q: Should I learn HSK 2 characters in order?

Group characters by radical or theme rather than alphabetical order. Characters sharing the same radical (like 万, 且, 业) often have related meanings, making them easier to remember together.

Complete list of 298 characters with stroke order, meanings, and writing practice.

HSK 1 HSK 2 HSK 3 HSK 4 HSK 5 HSK 6 HSK 7-9

Practice Writing HSK 2 Characters

Hanzi Writer shows animated stroke order for every HSK 2 character and gives instant feedback when you write incorrectly.

✨ Animated stroke order · Real-time feedback · HSK-graded courses · Free to start

App Store ▶ Google Play

What is HSK 2?

HSK 2 builds on the foundation with characters for shopping, directions, weather, and simple daily conversations.

The 298 characters on this page are officially defined by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters) as the required vocabulary for HSK 2. Mastering their stroke order is essential for both the written exam and real-world handwriting.

Quick facts: 298 characters · 300 words cumulative vocabulary · elementary level · Standard stroke order follows the "top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside" rule.

All HSK 2 Characters (298)

万 wàn ten thousand 且 qiě and 业 yè Industry / Occupation / Business 为 wéi/wèi for 主 zhǔ Master 举 jǔ To lift 久 jiǔ A long time. 乐 lè/yuè music / happy 于 yú In 云 yún Cloud. 交 jiāo to hand over 亮 liàng bright 亿 yì Hundred million 以 yǐ with 件 jiàn item / piece (measure word) 份 fèn portion / part / (measure word) 但 dàn but 位 wèi position 低 dī low 使 shǐ to use 例 lì example 便 biàn/pián Convenient / Informal / Then 信 xìn letter 倒 dǎo/dào To fall 借 jiè borrow / lend 停 tíng to stop 健 jiàn Healthy / Robust 像 xiàng to resemble 克 kè gram 入 rù to enter / to join 全 quán all 公 gōng Public 共 gòng Together / Total 其 qí Its 典 diǎn Standard 养 yǎng To raise 冬 dōng Winter 凉 liáng/liàng cool 划 huá/huà to row 刚 gāng just / firm / strong 利 lì Benefit or profit. 刻 kè to carve 力 lì power / strength 办 bàn to handle / to do 加 jiā to add / plus 务 wù affair 助 zhù help 努 nǔ exert 千 qiān thousand 单 chán/dān/shàn single 卖 mài to sell 占 zhān/zhàn to occupy / to account for / to divine 卡 kǎ/qiǎ card / to get stuck 印 yìn to print 原 yuán original 参 cān/cēn/shēn To participate 又 yòu Again 发 fā/fà To send out 取 qǔ to take 受 shòu to receive 变 biàn to change or transform 句 gōu/jù Sentence 只 zhī/zhǐ Only 可 kě/kè can 司 sī to manage 合 hé To close / To join / To suit. 向 xiàng towards 吹 chuī to blow 周 zhōu week / circle / cycle 味 wèi taste / flavor / smell 咱 zá/zán we 响 xiǎng loud 哭 kū To cry 啊 a/ā/á/ǎ/à Ah 喂 wèi to feed 喊 hǎn to shout / to call out 嘴 zuǐ mouth 因 yīn Cause / Reason / Because 园 yuán Garden / Park 堂 táng hall 墙 qiáng wall 声 shēng Sound 处 chǔ/chù Place / To deal with / To handle 复 fù repeat / duplicate 夏 xià summer 夜 yè Night. 够 gòu Enough 头 tou/tóu head 套 tào set 如 rú as 姓 xìng surname 它 tā It. 安 ān Safe 完 wán Finish / Complete 定 dìng To decide / Fixed 宜 yi/yí Suitable / Appropriate 实 shí Real 室 shì Room. 封 fēng To seal 层 céng layer 己 jǐ self 已 yǐ already 市 shì market / city 带 dài To bring 平 píng flat / level / equal 广 guǎng wide 应 yīng/yìng should 度 dù/duó Degree 座 zuò Seat 庭 tíng Court 康 kāng health or peace 弄 lòng/nòng to do 当 dāng/dàng To be 往 wǎng to go 心 xīn heart 必 bì must 忽 hū suddenly 态 tài attitude 怕 pà to fear 思 si/sī to think 急 jí urgent 情 qíng feeling 惯 guàn used to 意 yì meaning / intention / idea 感 gǎn to feel / sense / emotion 愿 yuàn Wish 懂 dǒng to understand 成 chéng to become 或 huò Or 所 suǒ Place 才 cái Talent 护 hù to protect 报 bào to report 拉 lā to pull 挺 tǐng very 换 huàn Change / Exchange 掉 diào to fall 排 pái row or to arrange 接 jiē to receive / to meet / to connect 推 tuī to push 提 dī/tí To carry 收 shōu to receive 改 gǎi to change 故 gù Reason 数 shǔ/shù/shuò number / to count 斤 jīn Jin (unit of weight 旅 lǚ travel 春 chūn Spring 晨 chén Morning 普 pǔ General or universal 晴 qíng Sunny / Clear weather 更 gēng/gèng more / even more / to change 末 mò End / Tip / Powder 板 bǎn board 查 chá/zhā to check or investigate 检 jiǎn to check or examine 椅 yǐ Chair 楚 chǔ clear / neat 段 duàn paragraph 永 yǒng Forever 求 qiú To seek 河 hé river 油 yóu Oil 法 fǎ Law 活 huó live / alive / work 流 liú flow / stream / spread 海 hǎi sea / ocean 清 qīng clear 温 wēn Warm or temperature 游 yóu To swim 湖 hú Lake 满 mǎn full 漂 piāo/piǎo/piào To float 澡 zǎo Bath / To bathe 灯 dēng Lamp / Light 然 rán so 照 zhào to shine 熟 shú Cooked / Ripe / Familiar 爬 pá To climb / To crawl 片 piān/piàn Piece / Slice / Sheet 物 wù Object / Thing / Matter 特 tè Special / Unique 狗 gǒu Dog 猫 māo cat 理 lǐ Reason 瓶 píng bottle 由 yóu by / from / due to 画 huà Painting 留 liú To stay 疼 téng pain 目 mù eye 直 zhí straight / direct 相 xiāng/xiàng each other / appearance / phase 省 shěng/xǐng province / save / omit 眼 yǎn eye 睛 jīng Eye 短 duǎn Short (in length or duration). 确 què certain / sure 碗 wǎn Bowl 碰 pèng To touch / To bump into 礼 lǐ Gift / Etiquette / Rite 离 lí to leave 秋 qiū Autumn 科 kē Department 租 zū rent 称 chèn/chēng/chèng to weigh / to call 空 kōng/kòng Empty / air / sky 笔 bǐ Pen 筷 kuài chopstick 算 suàn to calculate / to count 篇 piān a piece of writing 篮 lán basket 红 hóng red 级 jí Level / Grade 纸 zhǐ paper 练 liàn to practice 组 zǔ group 经 jīng To pass through 结 jiē/jié A knot 绩 jì Achievement 绿 lǜ green 者 zhě Person who... / -er / -ist 而 ér And / But / Yet 育 yù to raise 背 bēi/bèi Back (of the body) 脏 zāng/zàng dirty 脚 jiǎo foot 脸 liǎn face 腿 tuǐ leg 自 zì self 舒 shū Comfortable 般 bān sort / kind / manner 船 chuán Boat 色 sè/shǎi color 节 jiē/jié Festival / Section 英 yīng English 草 cǎo grass 药 yào medicine 蓝 lán blue 虽 suī Although 街 jiē Street 表 biǎo Watch / Form / To express 装 zhuāng To pack 观 guān To view 角 jiǎo/jué angle 言 yán speech 计 jì to count 讨 tǎo To demand or discuss 让 ràng To let 讲 jiǎng To speak / To tell / To explain 许 xǔ To allow / To promise / Maybe 论 lùn To discuss / Theory / To talk about 词 cí Word / Term / Phrase 该 gāi should 超 chāo to exceed 越 yuè To cross 轻 qīng Light 辆 liàng Measure word for vehicles 迎 yíng to welcome 运 yùn to transport 近 jìn near 适 shì suitable 选 xuǎn to choose 通 tōng/tòng To pass through 遍 biàn Times (measure word for actions) 部 bù part / section / department 酒 jiǔ Alcohol / Wine / Liquor 量 liáng/liàng To measure 钟 zhōng Clock/Bell 铁 tiě iron 银 yín Silver 长 cháng/zhǎng long 闻 wén To smell 队 duì team 阳 yáng Sun 阴 yīn cloudy 际 jì border / edge / between 随 suí To follow / Along with 雪 xuě snow 青 qīng blue 静 jìng Quiet 靠 kào Lean against 鞋 xié Shoes 音 yīn sound 顺 shùn along 须 xū must 顾 gù To look at / To attend to 题 tí topic / problem / title 颜 yán Face 食 shí to eat / food 餐 cān meal 饱 bǎo full (after eating) 饺 jiǎo Jiao (related to dumplings) 骑 jì/qí To ride 鱼 yú Fish 鸟 niǎo bird 黄 huáng yellow 黑 hēi Black

FAQ about HSK 2

How many characters are in HSK 2?

How long does it take to learn HSK 2 characters?

What is the best way to practice HSK 2 writing?

Should I learn HSK 2 characters in order?

Practice Writing HSK 2 Characters

Hanzi Writer shows animated stroke order for every HSK 2 character and gives instant feedback when you write incorrectly.

✨ Animated stroke order · Real-time feedback · HSK-graded courses · Free to start

App Store ▶ Google Play