HSK 3 Characters

Q: How many characters are in HSK 3?

HSK 3 includes 301 characters. These characters form the core vocabulary for intermediate-level Chinese communication, covering approximately 600 words of cumulative vocabulary.

Q: How long does it take to learn HSK 3 characters?

Most learners need 1-3 months of consistent daily practice to master HSK 3 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 3 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 3 characters in order?

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

Complete list of 301 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 3 Characters

Hanzi Writer shows animated stroke order for every HSK 3 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 3?

HSK 3 introduces characters for expressing opinions, describing experiences, and handling common social situations.

The 301 characters on this page are officially defined by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters) as the required vocabulary for HSK 3. Mastering their stroke order is essential for both the written exam and real-world handwriting.

Quick facts: 301 characters · 600 words cumulative vocabulary · intermediate level · Standard stroke order follows the "top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside" rule.

All HSK 3 Characters (301)

专 zhuān special 世 shì world 丰 fēng Abundant 丽 lì Beautiful or magnificent. 义 yì Meaning 乡 xiāng countryside 乱 luàn messy or chaotic 争 zhēng to fight 互 hù Mutual or each other. 产 chǎn to produce 亲 qīn/qìng parent 仅 jǐn Only or merely 仍 réng Still 付 fù To pay 代 dài to replace 价 jià price / value 任 rén/rèn to appoint / duty / no matter 众 zhòng Crowd 优 yōu Excellent 伟 wěi Great 传 chuán/zhuàn To pass on 伤 shāng Injury 似 shì/sì to seem 何 hé what 保 bǎo to protect 修 xiū to repair 值 zhí value 充 chōng to fill 光 guāng light 具 jù Tool 内 nèi inside 冒 mào To emit / to risk / to pretend 农 nóng Agriculture 决 jué to decide 况 kuàng situation 刀 dāo Knife 切 qiē/qiè to cut 创 chuāng/chuàng create / wound / trauma 初 chū beginning / initial / first 判 pàn judge / sentence / distinguish 制 zhì To make / To control / To restrict. 剧 jù drama 功 gōng achievement / merit 势 shì Power 化 huà to change 区 ōu/qū area 升 shēng to rise 华 huá/huà magnificent 卫 wèi to guard 危 wēi danger 厂 chǎng factory or yard 历 lì history or to experience 压 yā/yà to press or weigh down 及 jí And 双 shuāng Double 反 fǎn Opposite 古 gǔ ancient 另 lìng Another 台 tái platform 各 gè each 否 fǒu/pǐ no / not / to deny 吵 chǎo noisy 员 yuán member / personnel 命 mìng life 咖 gā/kā coffee 品 pǐn quality 哈 hā ha 啡 fēi Coffee (morpheme) 啤 pí Beer (morpheme) 善 shàn good 器 qì device or vessel 团 tuán Group / Team / Round / Ball 困 kùn Sleepy / Trapped 围 wéi To surround / Enclose 土 tǔ Soil 坚 jiān firm / solid / strong 城 chéng city 基 jī base / foundation / basic 境 jìng border 增 zēng To increase or add. 夫 fu/fū Husband / Man 失 shī to lose / to fail 奇 jī/qí strange / unusual / wonderful 始 shǐ begin 姑 gū paternal aunt 娘 niáng mother 婚 hūn Marriage 媒 méi Medium 存 cún to exist 宣 xuān To declare 害 hài Harm / To hurt 容 róng To hold / To tolerate / Appearance 富 fù rich 察 chá To observe 导 dǎo To lead 将 jiāng/jiàng Will 尽 jǐn/jìn to the greatest extent 屋 wū house 展 zhǎn To unfold 属 shǔ to belong to 巧 qiǎo skillful 币 bì currency / money 布 bù cloth 希 xī rare 并 bìng And / Also 幸 xìng Good fortune 庆 qìng to celebrate 底 dǐ bottom 建 jiàn To build / To establish 式 shì style 张 zhāng Zhang (a common surname) 强 jiàng/qiáng/qiǎng Strong 录 lù To record 形 xíng shape / form 彩 cǎi color / prize 待 dāi/dài to wait 志 zhì Will / ambition 念 niàn to read aloud 性 xìng nature 怪 guài strange 总 zǒng always 恐 kǒng Fear 戏 xì play 批 pī to criticize 技 jì skill 把 bǎ/bà to hold 抓 zhuā Grab / Scratch 拍 pāi To pat / To clap / To take (a photo) 持 chí to hold 挂 guà to hang 指 zhǐ to point 按 àn to press 据 jū/jù according to 握 wò to hold 搬 bān to move (heavy objects) 播 bō to sow 支 zhī to support 效 xiào Effect 救 jiù to save 敢 gǎn to dare 散 sǎn/sàn to scatter / to disperse / loose 整 zhěng whole 断 duàn to break 族 zú Ethnic group 旧 jiù old 易 yì Easy / To change 显 xiǎn Apparent / To show 景 jǐng Scenery / View 暖 nuǎn warm 曾 céng/zēng Once / formerly / great- (as in great-grandchild) 望 wàng To look 朝 cháo/zhāo Morning 木 mù Wood 术 shù Skill / Technique / Method 杂 zá miscellaneous 李 lǐ Plum 材 cái Material 村 cūn Village 束 shù bundle 极 jí extremely 架 jià shelf 某 mǒu Certain 标 biāo mark 根 gēn Root 格 gé Grid 桥 qiáo Bridge 概 gài general 止 zhǐ Stop 此 cǐ This 步 bù Step / Pace 武 wǔ Martial / Military 死 sǐ To die 母 mǔ Mother 每 měi Every / Each 民 mín people / citizens 汁 zhī Juice 汤 tāng Soup / Broth 沙 shā Sand 注 zhù To pour / To note 泳 yǒng to swim 派 pài send / dispatch / faction 济 jǐ/jì to cross a river 浪 làng wave / billow 消 xiāo to disappear 深 shēn deep 演 yǎn To perform / To act 烈 liè intense 烟 yān smoke 烦 fán Annoyed 父 fù Father 牌 pái Brand / Card / Plate 状 zhuàng state 猪 zhū pig 环 huán Ring 甜 tián sweet 界 jiè Boundary / Circle / World 痛 tòng pain 皮 pí Skin 石 shí Stone 破 pò broken / to break 础 chǔ Foundation 示 shì to show 社 shè Society / Agency / Altar 祝 zhù To wish 神 shén God 福 fú Blessing 种 zhǒng/zhòng Seed 积 jī accumulate 程 chéng journey 突 tū Sudden 立 lì To stand 章 zhāng Chapter 简 jiǎn simple / brief 管 guǎn pipe / tube / to manage 箱 xiāng box/chest 类 lèi Category 精 jīng Refined 糖 táng Sugar 紧 jǐn tight 约 yāo/yuē Appointment / About 纪 jì Discipline / Record / Era 线 xiàn line 终 zhōng End 绝 jué Absolute 继 jì To continue 续 xù To continue 缺 quē lack / missing 羊 yáng Sheep 美 měi beautiful 群 qún group 职 zhí duty 联 lián to join 胖 pán/pàng Fat / Plump 胜 shèng Victory 至 zhì To 舞 wǔ To dance 艺 yì art 苦 kǔ Bitter / hardship 苹 píng Apple 范 fàn Model / Pattern / Scope 营 yíng camp 落 là/lào/luò to fall 蕉 jiāo banana / plantain 血 xiě/xuè Blood 补 bǔ To mend / To supplement 衫 shān shirt 衬 chèn to line 被 bèi Quilt 裙 qún Skirt 裤 kù Trousers 规 guī Rule 解 jiě/jiè/xiè to explain 警 jǐng to warn 订 dìng to book 训 xùn To train 议 yì To discuss or deliberate 设 shè To set up / To establish / To design 访 fǎng To visit / To seek 证 zhèng Proof / Certificate / Evidence 评 píng To comment / To judge / To review 误 wù mistake 调 diào/tiáo To adjust 谈 tán to talk or discuss 象 xiàng Elephant 负 fù to carry 责 zé responsibility 费 fèi Fee 资 zī resources 赛 sài to compete 赢 yíng To win 赶 gǎn to hurry 足 zú foot 跳 tiào To jump 转 zhuǎn/zhuàn To turn 较 jiào Relatively 输 shū To lose 达 dá to reach 连 lián to connect / even 迷 mí To be lost 追 zhuī To chase 退 tuì to retreat 速 sù speed 造 zào to make 邮 yóu post 配 pèi To match / To pair / To fit 采 cǎi to pick 金 jīn Gold 防 fáng To prevent 除 chú To remove 险 xiǎn danger or steep 集 jí to gather 需 xū Need / Require 顿 dùn To pause / Suddenly / (Measure word for meals) 预 yù In advance / Pre- 领 lǐng To lead / Neck / Collar 首 shǒu head or first 香 xiāng fragrant or delicious 验 yàn To verify 麻 má hemp / numb 齐 qí Neat 龙 lóng dragon (simplified)

FAQ about HSK 3

How many characters are in HSK 3?

How long does it take to learn HSK 3 characters?

What is the best way to practice HSK 3 writing?

Should I learn HSK 3 characters in order?

Practice Writing HSK 3 Characters

Hanzi Writer shows animated stroke order for every HSK 3 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