New HSK 2 Word List (HSK 3.0): 200 New Words, 500 in Total

The numbers

Some guides quote 1,260 words for HSK 2. That figure comes from the 2021 proficiency standards, not from the exam syllabus. For the exam, plan on 500.

A few familiar words moved: 前面 qiánmiàn and 后面 hòumiàn are now Level 2, while everyday words such as 便宜 piányi and 休息 xiūxi are now already Level 1. Not sure about Level 1? Start with the New HSK 1 word list.

The first sitting of the new paper is widely reported for 13 December 2026; earlier 2026 sittings use the classic exam. Confirm with your test centre, and see HSK 2.0 vs HSK 3.0 in 2026.

25 useful New HSK 2 words, by theme

Every word below is in the Level 2 section of the official syllabus. The modern-life vocabulary stands out: 地铁 and 打车 used to be Level 3 or missing altogether.

A 4-week plan for the 200 new words

1. Week 1: review Level 1 fast. 300 words, 15 minutes a day with spaced-repetition cards.
2. Week 2: 100 new words. About 15 a day, always with audio, always inside a short sentence.
3. Week 3: the other 100, plus handwriting. Write 5 characters a day from the Levels 1–2 writing list (see HSK 3.0 handwriting: the 100 characters). Free printable: practice sheets for all 100 characters (PDF).
4. Week 4: use them. Listening drills and a timed mock: HSK 2 practice exam.

Our HSK 2 lessons are built around real scenes, such as transportation, health and daily life and shopping, with native audio for every word.

Build the 300-word base first

Level 2 assumes all 300 Level 1 words. If those are not solid yet, start there:

Launch codes OPEN50 and KITOPEN are valid until October 31, 2026. ACA Store