What each level means in practical terms
PRODUCT PAGE
What is HSK? A level scale, not a format
HSK is the standard proficiency test for Chinese as a foreign language. The levels run 1 to 6 in the classic system, with a 3.0 scale that adds more bands at the top.
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HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is a standardised Chinese proficiency test. HSK 1–2 cover basic survival Chinese; 3–4 cover everyday conversation and simple texts; 5–6 cover news, opinion and abstract discussion. The vocabulary lists behind each level are what most learners actually use day to day.
WHAT YOU GET
A focused path from speech to subtitle file.
HSK 2.0 vs 3.0, and which list to study
How to use a level to pick video material you can survive
HOW IT WORKS
Reading the levels
- 01
HSK 1–2: greetings, numbers, shopping — a few hundred words.
- 02
HSK 3–4: everyday conversation, simple narrative — around 600 to 1,200 words.
- 03
HSK 5–6: news, opinion, abstract topics — 2,500 words and up.
- 04
HSK 3.0: adds bands (7–9) at the top and re-balances the lower levels.
What HSK measures, and what it does not
HSK measures vocabulary and grammar in a test setting. It does not measure how well you follow fast, colloquial speech — which is what a Chinese video usually contains.
That gap is why learners at HSK 4 can still lose a vlog completely: the vocabulary is known, the speed and the elisions are not.
The two lists, and which one people cite
If a resource says "HSK 4 vocabulary" without naming a version, it almost always means the 2.0 list for level 4 — around 1,200 words.
| System | Levels | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HSK 2.0 | 1–6 | The long-standing system most textbooks and word lists still follow |
| HSK 3.0 | 1–9 | Introduced later; three advanced bands added at the top |
| HSK vocabulary lists | per level | The practical artefact: what most apps and study plans use |
How to use HSK when choosing material
A practical rule: material one level above yours is study; two levels above is noise. If a video is HSK 6 and you are at HSK 3, subtitles will not save it — the sentence structures are the barrier, not the words.
For subtitling work the level matters less, because the transcript is generated for you; it matters most when you are deciding what to watch on purpose.
USE YOUR OWN VIDEO
Sign in to uploadStart from a file, not an existing subtitle track.
Sign in first, then upload a local video, review the generated transcript, keep English optional, and download a subtitle file.
QUESTIONS
HSK questions
Is HSK required to study or work in China?
For university admission it is commonly required at a stated level; for work it depends on the employer. It is a credential, not a legal requirement in general.
Does the tool filter by HSK level?
Not yet. The dictionary pages show which HSK list a word belongs to, but the tool itself transcribes whatever you upload.
How many words is HSK 6?
The 2.0 list for level 6 is about 5,000 words accumulated across levels 1–6. The 3.0 system redistributes and extends that.