The HSK (汉语水平考试) is the standardized test of Chinese proficiency. Two standards are in active use: HSK 2.0 has 6 levels and is what most textbooks, study apps, and testing centers still use. HSK 3.0 (introduced in 2021) expands to 9 levels with substantially higher vocabulary requirements at every level. The level descriptions below use HSK 2.0 numbers, which match almost all study materials you will encounter.
150 words, 75 characters. You can understand and use basic phrases: greetings, numbers, family, time, simple questions. This is the "survival Chinese" level — enough to introduce yourself and handle the most basic interactions.
Study time: approximately 80-100 hours (2-3 months at 1 hour/day).
300 words, 150 characters. Simple daily conversations about familiar topics: shopping, weather, transportation, food. You can read short messages and write simple sentences.
Study time: approximately 200 hours total. HSK 2 Study Guide →
600 words, 300 characters. The breakthrough level. You can handle most daily situations: doctor visits, phone calls, directions, work discussions. Reading short articles becomes possible. Many learners call this the "I can actually communicate" level.
Study time: approximately 400 hours total. HSK 3 Study Guide →
1,200 words, 600 characters. Fluent discussion on a wide range of topics. You can read longer articles, watch Chinese TV with reasonable comprehension, write multi-paragraph texts, and hold sustained conversations. Often required for university study in China.
Study time: approximately 600 hours total. HSK 4 Study Guide →
2,500 words, 1,200 characters. You can read Chinese newspapers, write structured essays, and communicate fluently on abstract topics. Formal speech and writing become accessible. This level corresponds roughly to CEFR B2-C1 (the exact mapping is debated).
Study time: approximately 1,000 hours total. HSK 5 Study Guide →
5,000 words, 2,500 characters. Near-native comprehension. You can understand Chinese media, academic texts, and professional documents. Express yourself precisely on complex topics. Many careers requiring Chinese proficiency target this level.
Study time: approximately 1,500-2,000 hours total. HSK 6 Study Guide →
11,000+ words, 6,000+ characters. Defined by the HSK 3.0 standard (introduced in 2021), these three levels are tested in a single combined exam. Your score determines which level you achieve. This is the domain of professional interpreters, researchers, and native-equivalent users.
Hanlexon provides structured curriculum, vocabulary lists, reading materials, grammar exercises, mock exams, and AI conversation practice for HSK 1 through 9. Take the diagnostic test to find your current level, and your personalized study plan will guide you from there.