524 Mandarin words, HSK 1 to 4

Every word you learn in 你好,上海, with pinyin and meaning, grouped by the HSK level the game teaches it at. You meet each one in a real conversation, hear it spoken, and practise it until it sticks.

HSK 1162 words

HanziPinyinMeaning
你nǐyou
好hǎogood; OK
你好nǐ hǎohello
我wǒI; me
他tāhe; him
她tāshe; her
我们wǒmenwe; us
是shìto be
不bùnot; no
要yàoto want; would like
不要bú yàodon’t want; no thanks
去qùto go
来láito come
在zàito be at; in
有yǒuto have; there is
买mǎito buy
吃chīto eat
喝hēto drink
看kànto look; to see
坐zuòto sit; to take (a train, bus)
说shuōto say; to speak
给gěito give; for
谢谢xièxiethank you
不客气bú kèqiyou’re welcome
再见zàijiàngoodbye
对不起duìbuqǐsorry
听不懂tīng bu dǒngcan’t understand (what you hear)
没关系méi guānxiit doesn’t matter; no problem
请qǐngplease
欢迎huānyíngwelcome
什么shénmewhat
哪儿nǎrwhere
几jǐhow many (small numbers)
多少duōshaohow much; how many
钱qiánmoney
多少钱duōshao qiánhow much (does it cost)?
块kuàiyuan (spoken unit of money)
吗ma(yes/no question particle)
呢ne(particle: “and…?”, “what about…?”)
的de(possessive / descriptive particle)
了le(particle: completed action / change)
吧ba(particle: suggestion “let’s…”)
这zhèthis
那nàthat
一yīone
二èrtwo (counting)
两liǎngtwo (of something)
三sānthree
四sìfour
五wǔfive
六liùsix
七qīseven
八bāeight
九jiǔnine
十shíten
个gè(general measure word)
张zhāng(measure word for tickets, paper)
一张yì zhāngone (ticket / sheet)
两张liǎng zhāngtwo (tickets / sheets)
三张sān zhāngthree (tickets / sheets)
一个yí geone (of something)
两个liǎng getwo (of something)
三个sān gethree (of something)
票piàoticket
站zhànstation; stop
地铁dìtiěsubway; metro
号hàonumber (in a series)
线xiànline
二号线èr hào xiànLine 2
下一站xià yí zhànnext stop
到dàoto arrive; to reach
水shuǐwater
茶chátea
牛奶niúnǎimilk
面包miànbāobread
苹果píngguǒapple
水果shuǐguǒfruit
面miànnoodles
朋友péngyoufriend
人rénperson; people
大dàbig
小xiǎosmall; little
很hěnvery
也yěalso; too
多duōmany; much
对duìcorrect; right
猫māocat
喜欢xǐhuanto like
漂亮piàoliangpretty; beautiful
今天jīntiāntoday
明天míngtiāntomorrow
中国ZhōngguóChina
会huìcan; to know how to
想xiǎngto want to; to think
见jiànto see; to meet
没méinot (have); didn’t
热rèhot
菜càidish; vegetables
饭fànmeal; cooked rice
那儿nàrthere
这儿zhèrhere
电话diànhuàtelephone; phone call
打电话dǎ diànhuàto make a phone call
晚上wǎnshangevening; night
怎么zěnmehow
分钟fēnzhōngminute
飞机fēijīairplane
十号线shí hào xiànLine 10
都dōuall; both
怎么样zěnmeyànghow is it?; what do you think?
早上zǎoshangmorning
一点yìdiǎna little
年niányear
和héand; with
家jiāhome; family
回家huí jiāto go home
住zhùto live (somewhere)
妈妈māmamum
爸爸bàbadad
儿子érzison
奶奶nǎinaigrandma
叫jiàoto be called
名字míngziname
谁shéiwho
认识rènshito know (someone); to meet
高兴gāoxìnghappy; glad
岁suìyears (of age)
时候shíhoutime; when
小时候xiǎo shíhouas a child
中文ZhōngwénChinese (language)
楼lóubuilding; floor
酒店jiǔdiànhotel
月yuèmonth
爷爷yéyegrandpa
饺子jiǎozidumplings
累lèitired
衣服yīfuclothes
一点儿yìdiǎnra little; a bit
今年jīnniánthis year
工作gōngzuòto work; job
写xiěto write
字zìcharacter; written word
下午xiàwǔafternoon
开kāito drive; to open
左zuǒleft
右yòuright
做zuòto do; to make; to cook
能néngcan; to be able to
天气tiānqìweather
明年míngniánnext year
你们nǐmenyou (plural)
车chēvehicle; car; train
天tiānday; sky
回huíto return; to go back
现在xiànzàinow
点diǎno’clock
分fēnminute (of the hour)
少shǎofew; little; less
看见kànjiànto see
学生xuéshengstudent
东西dōngxithing; stuff
那边nàbianover there

HSK 2197 words

HanziPinyinMeaning
左边zuǒbianleft side
右边yòubianright side
前面qiánmianin front
后面hòumianbehind
旁边pángbiānnext to; beside
走zǒuto walk; to leave
远yuǎnfar
近jìnnear
打篮球dǎ lánqiúto play basketball
篮球lánqiúbasketball
运动yùndòngsport; exercise
米饭mǐfàncooked rice
面条miàntiáonoodles
好吃hǎochītasty; delicious
很好吃hěn hǎochīvery tasty
服务员fúwùyuánwaiter; attendant
菜单càidānmenu
一起yìqǐtogether
因为yīnwèibecause
所以suǒyǐso; therefore
可以kěyǐcan; may
知道zhīdàoto know
觉得juédeto think; to feel
已经yǐjīngalready
快kuàifast; quick
慢mànslow
便宜piányicheap
贵guìexpensive
咖啡kāfēicoffee
公园gōngyuánpark
路lùroad
出租车chūzūchētaxi
便利店biànlìdiànconvenience store
找zhǎoto look for; to give change
等děngto wait
开门kāiménto open (for business)
最zuìmost
太tàitoo; so (very)
时间shíjiāntime
饭馆fànguǎnrestaurant
请问qǐngwènexcuse me, may I ask…
问wènto ask
往wǎngtowards (a direction)
拐guǎito turn (a corner)
路口lùkǒuintersection; crossing
对面duìmiànopposite; across from
南边nánbiansouth side; to the south
这边zhèbiānthis side; over here
先xiānfirst; before
您nínyou (polite)
年轻人niánqīng rényoung person
事shìmatter; thing (to do)
就jiùjust; exactly (emphasis)
可能kěnéngmaybe; possibly
为什么wèishénmewhy
慢走màn zǒutake care (lit. “walk slowly”)
位wèi(polite measure word for people)
碗wǎnbowl (measure word)
杯bēicup; glass (measure word)
一碗yì wǎnone bowl (of)
一杯yì bēione cup (of)
两杯liǎng bēitwo cups (of)
一共yígòngin total; altogether
点菜diǎn càito order food
包子bāozisteamed bun
还háistill; also; (any)more
别的biédeother; something else
饿èhungry
饱bǎofull (after eating)
咖啡店kāfēidiàncafé
还是háishior (in questions)
冰bīngice; iced
投篮tóulánto shoot (basketball)
好球hǎo qiúnice shot!
差一点chà yìdiǎnalmost; just short
哪里nǎliwhere; “not at all” (modest reply)
得de(particle linking a verb to how well it’s done)
跟gēnwith; and
小猫xiǎomāokitten
只zhīmeasure word for animals
可爱kě’àicute; lovely
帽子màozihat; cap
黄色huángsèyellow
开心kāixīnhappy; having fun
手机shǒujīmobile phone
用yòngto use
从cóngfrom
别biédon’t
东边dōngbianeast side; to the east
走路zǒulùto walk; on foot
非常fēichángvery; extremely
帮助bāngzhùto help; help
玩wánto play; to have fun
红色hóngsèred
蓝色lánsèblue
以后yǐhòulater; in future
真的zhēn dereally; truly
颜色yánsècolour
拿náto take; to fetch
地方dìfangplace
每天měitiānevery day
外面wàimianoutside
老lǎoold
树shùtree
跳舞tiàowǔto dance
可是kěshìbut; however
忙mángbusy
脚jiǎofoot
疼téngto hurt; sore
药yàomedicine
药店yàodiànpharmacy
生病shēngbìngto be ill
身体shēntǐbody; health
感冒gǎnmàoa cold; to catch a cold
头疼tóuténgheadache
发烧fāshāoto have a fever
次cìtime(s), occurrence
片piàntablet; slice (measure word)
休息xiūxito rest
舒服shūfucomfortable; well
医生yīshēngdoctor
迷路mílùto get lost
离líaway from (distance)
保安bǎo’ānsecurity guard
小区xiǎoqūresidential compound
穿chuānto wear; to put on
试shìto try (on)
一下yíxià(do) a little; once (softens a verb)
好看hǎokàngood-looking; nice
白色báisèwhite
黑色hēisèblack
大号dàhàolarge (size)
小号xiǎohàosmall (size)
百bǎihundred
包bāoto wrap
送sòngto give (as a present); to take someone
生日shēngrìbirthday
快乐kuàilèhappy
生日快乐shēngrì kuàilèhappy birthday
新年xīnniánNew Year
蛋糕dàngāocake
西瓜xīguāwatermelon
牛肉niúròubeef
鸡肉jīròuchicken (meat)
汤tāngsoup
果汁guǒzhīfruit juice
香蕉xiāngjiāobanana
筷子kuàizichopsticks
辣làspicy, hot
渴kěthirsty
马上mǎshàngright away
桌子zhuōzitable
面包店miànbāodiànbakery
师傅shīfudriver; master (polite address)
打车dǎ chēto take a taxi
停tíngto stop
门口ménkǒudoorway; entrance
菜场càichǎngwet market
西红柿xīhóngshìtomato
鸡蛋jīdànegg
鱼yúfish
条tiáo(measure word for fish, roads, trousers)
洗xǐto wash
炒chǎoto stir-fry
教jiāoto teach
打开dǎkāito open; to switch on
发fāto send
自行车zìxíngchēbicycle
骑qíto ride (a bike)
旅游lǚyóuto travel; a trip
希望xīwàngto hope; a wish
过guo(particle: have done before, ever)
好玩hǎowánfun
听说tīngshuōto hear (that); people say
下车xià chēto get off (a vehicle)
上车shàng chēto get on (a vehicle)
门méndoor; gate
出口chūkǒuexit
进站jìn zhànto enter the station
出站chū zhànto leave the station
半bànhalf; half past
高gāotall; high
西边xībianwest side
北边běibiannorth side
机票jīpiàoplane ticket
机场jīchǎngairport
小时xiǎoshíhour
开始kāishǐto begin
件jiànmeasure word (luggage, clothes, matters)
下次xià cìnext time
再zàiagain
奶茶nǎichámilk tea; bubble tea
手表shǒubiǎowristwatch
火车huǒchētrain
出来chūlaito come out; (take) out
中杯zhōng bēimedium cup
大杯dà bēilarge cup

HSK 3127 words

HanziPinyinMeaning
新鲜xīnxiānfresh
厉害lìhaiamazing; awesome
共享单车gòngxiǎng dānchēshared bike
扫sǎoto scan; to sweep
二维码èrwéimǎQR code
锁suǒto lock; a lock
开锁kāi suǒto unlock
靠kàoto keep to; to lean on
随便suíbiànas you like; any
热情rèqíngwarm; friendly (people)
虽然suīránalthough
但是dànshìbut
解决jiějuéto solve
换乘huànchéngto transfer (lines)
打算dǎsuànto plan to
比bǐcompared to; than
更gèngeven more
帮忙bāngmángto help
需要xūyàoto need
问题wèntíproblem; question
办法bànfǎway; method
应该yīnggāishould
担心dānxīnto worry
忘记wàngjìto forget
着急zháojíanxious; in a hurry
迟到chídàoto be late
地图dìtúmap
环境huánjìngenvironment
历史lìshǐhistory
会议huìyìmeeting
经理jīnglǐmanager
银行yínhángbank
护照hùzhàopassport
照片zhàopiànphoto
附近fùjìnnearby
方便fāngbiànconvenient
简单jiǎndānsimple
终于zhōngyúfinally; at last
突然tūránsuddenly
检查jiǎncháto check; to inspect
满意mǎnyìsatisfied
如果rúguǒif
为了wèilein order to
别人biérénother people
不见了bú jiàn legone; missing
最后zuìhòulast; finally
消息xiāoxinews; message
好消息hǎo xiāoxigood news
主意zhǔyiidea; plan
然后ránhòuthen; afterwards
祝zhùto wish (someone well)
小笼包xiǎolóngbāosoup dumplings
笼lóngsteamer basket (measure word)
虾仁xiārénshelled shrimp
猪肉zhūròupork
蟹粉xièfěncrab meat & roe
有名yǒumíngfamous
种zhǒngkind; type (measure word)
烫tàngscalding hot
有点yǒudiǎna little; somewhat
小心xiǎoxīncareful; watch out
夜景yèjǐngnight view
游客yóukètourist; visitor
服务台fúwùtáiservice desk
照相zhàoxiàngto take a photo
糟糕zāogāooh no!; terrible
一定yídìngdefinitely; must
拍pāito take (a photo); to pat
目的地mùdìdìdestination
见面jiànmiànto meet
数shǔto count
安静ānjìngquiet; peaceful
坐反了zuò fǎn letook the train the wrong way
终点站zhōngdiǎnzhànterminus; last stop
站台zhàntáiplatform
列车lièchētrain
交通卡jiāotōngkǎtransit card
刷卡shuā kǎto swipe/tap a card
步行街bùxíngjiēpedestrian street
栗子lìzichestnut
斤jīnjin (500 g)
甜tiánsweet
刻kèquarter (of an hour)
差chàto be short of; (time) to
珍珠zhēnzhūpearl; tapioca pearls
糖tángsugar; candy
半糖bàn tánghalf sugar
少冰shǎo bīngless ice
去冰qù bīngno ice
图书馆túshūguǎnlibrary
层céngfloor; storey
电梯diàntīelevator
米mǐmetre
世界shìjièworld
学生证xuéshēngzhèngstudent ID card
行李xíngliluggage
行李箱xínglixiāngsuitcase
公斤gōngjīnkilogram
起飞qǐfēito take off
背包bēibāobackpack
放fàngto put; to place
养yǎngto raise; to keep (a pet)
喂wèito feed
戴dàito wear (hats, glasses)
猫粮māoliángcat food
照顾zhàogùto look after
回国huí guóto return to one’s country
国家guójiācountry
离开líkāito leave
只zhǐonly
一直yìzhístraight on; all along
以前yǐqiánbefore; in the past
变化biànhuàchange
越来越yuè lái yuèmore and more
记得jìdeto remember
年轻niánqīngyoung
高楼gāolóutall building
弄堂lòngtángShanghai lane (alley)
房子fángzihouse; flat
租zūto rent
房租fángzūrent
厨房chúfángkitchen
洗手间xǐshǒujiānbathroom
空调kōngtiáoair conditioning
中介zhōngjièestate agent
礼物lǐwùgift
注意zhùyìto pay attention

HSK 438 words

HanziPinyinMeaning
方向fāngxiàngdirection
乘客chéngkèpassenger
余额yú’ébalance (of an account/card)
充值chōngzhíto top up
尝chángto taste
教堂jiàotángchurch; cathedral
观光厅guānguāngtīngobservation deck
成人chéngrénadult
打折dǎzhéto give a discount
磁悬浮cíxuánfúmaglev (train)
单程dānchéngone-way
往返wǎngfǎnround trip
当天dàngtiānthe same day
公里gōnglǐkilometre
速度sùdùspeed
托运tuōyùnto check in (luggage)
超重chāozhòngoverweight
靠窗kào chuāngby the window
过道guòdàoaisle
座位zuòwèiseat
登机牌dēngjīpáiboarding pass
登机口dēngjīkǒuboarding gate
登机dēngjīto board (a plane)
航班hángbānflight
改gǎito change
旅客lǚkètraveller
出示chūshìto show (a document)
经济舱jīngjìcāngeconomy class
一路平安yílù píng’ānhave a safe trip
联系liánxìto keep in touch; contact
导游dǎoyóutour guide
豆浆dòujiāngsoy milk
油条yóutiáofried dough stick
想念xiǎngniànto miss (someone)
健康jiànkānghealthy; health
感谢gǎnxièto thank
顺利shùnlìsmooth; without a hitch
保重bǎozhòngtake care (of yourself)

The levels follow the HSK syllabus the game is built around; the official exam lists differ in places. Place names, people and the 194 countries you can come from are in the game too, but not on this list.

开始吧!

Learn them where they’re spoken: on the streets of Shanghai.