HSK3 Vocabulary: From Words to Real Meaning
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HSK3 vocabulary is not just a list of HSK3 words. It is where Chinese stops being about naming things and starts being about expressing life.
At HSK1, words label objects.
At HSK2, words describe actions.
At HSK3, words describe situations, feelings, reasons, and change.
This is the level where HSK3 vocabulary meaning becomes powerful. It lets you explain, compare, react, and tell stories.
Knowing the right words is essential, but to connect them in sentences, study HSK3 Grammar, and then practice using them in HSK3 Speaking. For an overview, check the HSK3 Guide.
What Makes HSK3 Vocabulary Different
HSK3 does not just give you more words. It gives you better words.
You move from simple nouns and verbs to HSK3 vocabulary meaning that lets you:
- ● explain what happened
- ● describe how something feels
- ● give reasons
- ● talk about problems
- ● compare situations
- ● react to other people
You are no longer just saying what. You are now saying why, how, and what it means. This is what makes HSK3 the level where Chinese becomes real communication, as explained in our HSK3 Overview.
Core HSK3 Vocabulary List by Category
These are the main types of HSK3 words that define real communication.
1. Emotions and Feelings 情绪词
| HSK3 Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (Chinese) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 觉得 | juéde | to feel, to think | 我觉得今天很累。 | I feel very tired today. |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy | 我很高兴见到你。 | I’m happy to see you. |
| 担心 | dānxīn | worried | 我担心明天会下雨。 | I’m worried it will rain tomorrow. |
| 难过 | nánguò | sad | 他听到这个消息很难过。 | He was sad to hear this. |
| 放心 | fàngxīn | relieved | 你来了，我就放心了。 | Now I feel relieved. |
| 生气 | shēngqì | angry | 他很生气，因为我迟到了。 | He is angry because I was late. |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | nervous | 我有点紧张。 | I’m a little nervous. |
| 害怕 | hàipà | afraid | 我害怕一个人走。 | I’m afraid to walk alone. |
These HSK3 words let you speak emotionally, not mechanically. Combine them with HSK3 grammar patterns to express yourself more fully in real conversations.
2. Time and Frequency 时间与频率
| HSK3 Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (Chinese) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already | 我已经吃过了。 | I’ve already eaten. |
| 刚才 | gāngcái | just now | 刚才你打电话给我吗？ | Did you just call me? |
| 经常 | jīngcháng | often | 我经常去图书馆。 | I often go to the library. |
| 正在 | zhèngzài | in the middle of | 我正在学习。 | I am studying. |
| 马上 | mǎshàng | right away | 我马上来。 | I’ll come right away. |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before | 我以前住在北京。 | I lived in Beijing before. |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | later | 以后再说吧。 | Let’s talk later. |
These HSK3 words let you place events on a timeline. This is essential for telling stories and participating in conversations as described in our HSK3 speaking guide.
3. Comparison and Relationships 比较与关系
| HSK3 Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (Chinese) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 比 | bǐ | than | 我比他高。 | I am taller than him. |
| 更 | gèng | more | 今天更冷。 | Today is colder. |
| 像 | xiàng | like | 她像她妈妈。 | She looks like her mom. |
| 跟 | gēn | with | 我跟他一起去。 | I go with him. |
| 和 | hé | and | 我喝咖啡和茶。 | I drink coffee and tea. |
| 不一样 | bù yíyàng | different | 这个跟那个不一样。 | This one is different. |
This is how HSK3 vocabulary meaning becomes relational.
4. Actions and Events 动作与事件
| HSK3 Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (Chinese) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 发现 | fāxiàn | discover | 我发现我忘了钥匙。 | I realized I forgot my keys. |
| 发生 | fāshēng | happen | 发生了什么？ | What happened? |
| 影响 | yǐngxiǎng | affect | 天气影响了计划。 | The weather affected the plan. |
| 改变 | gǎibiàn | change | 他的想法改变了。 | His idea changed. |
| 解决 | jiějué | solve | 我们要解决这个问题。 | We need to solve this problem. |
| 继续 | jìxù | continue | 我们继续学习。 | Let’s continue studying. |
| 停止 | tíngzhǐ | stop | 雨停了。 | The rain stopped. |
These HSK3 words let you describe real life.
5. Cause and Result 原因与结果
| Pattern | Meaning | Example (Chinese) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 因为…所以… | because…so… | 因为下雨，所以我们没去。 | Because it rained, we didn’t go. |
| 所以 | so | 我很累，所以我要休息。 | I’m tired, so I need to rest. |
| 为了 | in order to | 为了学习中文，我每天练习。 | I practice every day to learn Chinese. |
This is how Chinese becomes logical.
How HSK3 Vocabulary Works in Sentences
At HSK3, words form patterns through real HSK3 vocabulary examples:
- ● 觉得 + adjective / clause
我觉得这个电影很有意思。
I think this movie is interesting. - ● 发现 + clause
我发现他不在家。
I discovered he is not home. - ● 需要 + noun / verb
我需要帮助。
I need help.
HSK3 Vocabulary in Real Life
You will hear these HSK3 words constantly:
- ● 对不起，我迟到了，因为我迷路了。
- ● 我觉得这个菜太咸了。
- ● 天气影响了我们的计划。
This is not exam Chinese. This is daily life Chinese.
HSK3 Vocabulary Is Where Expression Begins
HSK3 words allow you to:
- ● explain yourself
- ● share feelings
- ● describe problems
- ● give opinions
- ● react naturally
This is where Chinese starts to sound like you. Not a textbook. A voice.
FAQ
Q: What types of vocabulary does HSK3 cover?
A: HSK3 vocabulary covers emotions and feelings, time and frequency, comparisons and relationships, actions and events, and cause-and-effect expressions—core for daily communication.
Q: How is HSK3 vocabulary different from HSK2?
A: HSK2 focuses on basic words and simple expressions. HSK3 vocabulary lets you describe situations, explain reasons, express emotions, and compare things, making your language more flexible.
Q: How many words are in HSK3 vocabulary?
A: Around 600–700 words, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, connectors, and logical words that help you express complete thoughts.
Q: What can I do with HSK3 vocabulary?
A: You can explain situations, compare things, describe changes, express feelings and reasons—moving from naming objects to expressing real-life meaning.
Q: How should I study HSK3 vocabulary?
A: Learn by topic, use example sentences, practice daily sentence creation, and combine vocabulary with speaking and listening for real-life use.
Q: Can HSK3 vocabulary be used in real life?
A: Yes, you can express thoughts, describe events, react to situations, and communicate naturally in daily life using HSK3 words.