150 words about culture & traditions, taken from the key-word lists of the graded readings on this site and sorted by HSK level. Each word links to the reading where it is used, so you can see it in a real sentence.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 菜 | cài | dish; food | HSK 1 | 妈妈的生日 |
| 蛋糕 | dàngāo | cake | HSK 1 | 妈妈的生日 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy; glad | HSK 1 | 妈妈的生日 |
| 快乐 | kuàilè | happy | HSK 1 | 妈妈的生日 |
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday | HSK 1 | 妈妈的生日 |
| 晚上 | wǎnshang | evening | HSK 1 | 妈妈的生日 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 2 | 送礼物 |
| 礼物 | lǐwù | gift; present | HSK 2 | 送礼物 |
| 水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit | HSK 2 | 新年快乐 |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | health; body | HSK 2 | 新年快乐 |
| 岁 | suì | years old | HSK 2 | 过生日 |
| 送 | sòng | to give (as a gift) | HSK 2 | 送礼物 |
| 新年 | xīnnián | New Year | HSK 2 | 新年快乐 |
| 希望 | xīwàng | to hope | HSK 2 | 过生日 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | HSK 2 | 送礼物 |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | a little bit (+ adjective) | HSK 2 | 送礼物 |
| 祝 | zhù | to wish (someone something) | HSK 2 | 过生日 |
| 春节 | Chūnjié | Spring Festival; Chinese New Year | HSK 3 | 春节回家 |
| 中秋节 | Zhōngqiūjié | Mid-Autumn Festival | HSK 3 | 送月饼 |
| 宾馆 | bīnguǎn | hotel | HSK 3 | 难忘的生日 |
| 茶馆 | cháguǎn | teahouse | HSK 3 | 茶文化 |
| 才 | cái | only then (later than expected) | HSK 3 | 春节回家 |
| 倒 | dào | to pour | HSK 3 | 茶文化 |
| 火车票 | huǒchēpiào | train ticket | HSK 3 | 春节回家 |
| 盒 | hé | box (measure word) | HSK 3 | 送月饼 |
| 红包 | hóngbāo | red envelope (gift money) | HSK 3 | 参加婚礼 |
| 婚礼 | hūnlǐ | wedding | HSK 3 | 参加婚礼 |
| 健康 | jiànkāng | healthy | HSK 3 | 生日快乐 |
| 夹 | jiā | to pick up (with chopsticks) | HSK 3 | 筷子的故事 |
| 讲 | jiǎng | to tell (a story) | HSK 3 | 中秋节的月亮 |
| 饺子 | jiǎozi | dumplings | HSK 3 | 春节回家 |
| 筷子 | kuàizi | chopsticks | HSK 3 | 筷子的故事 |
| 客人 | kèrén | guest | HSK 3 | 茶文化 |
| 练习 | liànxí | to practice | HSK 3 | 筷子的故事 |
| 邻居 | línjū | neighbor | HSK 3 | 送月饼 |
| 满 | mǎn | full | HSK 3 | 茶文化 |
| 难忘 | nánwàng | unforgettable | HSK 3 | 难忘的生日 |
| 盘子 | pánzi | plate | HSK 3 | 筷子的故事 |
| 热闹 | rènao | lively; bustling | HSK 3 | 参加婚礼 |
| 瘦 | shòu | thin | HSK 3 | 春节回家 |
| 顺利 | shùnlì | smoothly; successfully | HSK 3 | 生日快乐 |
| 树枝 | shùzhī | tree branch; twig | HSK 3 | 筷子的故事 |
| 团圆 | tuányuán | family reunion | HSK 3 | 中秋节的月亮 |
| 忘记 | wàngjì | to forget | HSK 3 | 难忘的生日 |
| 文化 | wénhuà | culture | HSK 3 | 送月饼 |
| 像 | xiàng | to be like; to resemble | HSK 3 | 送月饼 |
| 想家 | xiǎng jiā | to be homesick | HSK 3 | 难忘的生日 |
| 习惯 | xíguàn | habit; custom | HSK 3 | 筷子的故事 |
| 习俗 | xísú | custom | HSK 3 | 参加婚礼 |
| 新郎 | xīnláng | groom | HSK 3 | 参加婚礼 |
| 新娘 | xīnniáng | bride | HSK 3 | 参加婚礼 |
| 圆 | yuán | round | HSK 3 | 中秋节的月亮 |
| 月饼 | yuèbing | mooncake | HSK 3 | 送月饼 |
| 月亮 | yuèliang | moon | HSK 3 | 中秋节的月亮 |
| 一直 | yìzhí | continuously; the whole time | HSK 3 | 春节回家 |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous | HSK 3 | 茶文化 |
| 安静 | ānjìng | quiet | HSK 3 | 难忘的生日 |
| 表达 | biǎodá | to express | HSK 4 | 流行音乐 |
| 传统 | chuántǒng | traditional | HSK 4 | 汉服复兴 |
| 吃惊 | chījīng | surprised | HSK 4 | 送礼的学问 |
| 到处 | dàochù | everywhere | HSK 4 | 十二生肖 |
| 动作 | dòngzuò | movement; action | HSK 4 | 太极拳 |
| 烦恼 | fánnǎo | worry; trouble | HSK 4 | 流行音乐 |
| 歌词 | gēcí | lyrics | HSK 4 | 流行音乐 |
| 功夫 | gōngfu | kung fu | HSK 4 | 功夫电影 |
| 鼓励 | gǔlì | to encourage | HSK 4 | 汉服复兴 |
| 汉服 | hànfú | hanfu; traditional Han clothing | HSK 4 | 汉服复兴 |
| 好像 | hǎoxiàng | to seem; as if | HSK 4 | 太极拳 |
| 节奏 | jiézòu | rhythm | HSK 4 | 流行音乐 |
| 坚持 | jiānchí | to persist | HSK 4 | 功夫电影 |
| 讲究 | jiǎngjiu | attention to detail | HSK 4 | 汉服复兴 |
| 流行 | liúxíng | popular; trendy | HSK 4 | 流行音乐 |
| 礼貌 | lǐmào | polite; manners | HSK 4 | 十二生肖 |
| 轻松 | qīngsōng | relaxed; easy | HSK 4 | 太极拳 |
| 双数 | shuāngshù | even number | HSK 4 | 送礼的学问 |
| 受欢迎 | shòu huānyíng | popular | HSK 4 | 功夫电影 |
| 生肖 | shēngxiào | Chinese zodiac animal | HSK 4 | 十二生肖 |
| 属 | shǔ | to be born in the year of | HSK 4 | 十二生肖 |
| 送礼 | sònglǐ | to give gifts | HSK 4 | 送礼的学问 |
| 太极拳 | tàijíquán | tai chi | HSK 4 | 太极拳 |
| 学问 | xuéwen | art; branch of knowledge | HSK 4 | 送礼的学问 |
| 性格 | xìnggé | personality; character | HSK 4 | 十二生肖 |
| 心意 | xīnyì | thoughtfulness; kind intention | HSK 4 | 送礼的学问 |
| 演员 | yǎnyuán | actor | HSK 4 | 功夫电影 |
| 着急 | zháojí | to be anxious; to rush | HSK 4 | 太极拳 |
| 正好 | zhènghǎo | exactly; just right | HSK 4 | 十二生肖 |
| 质疑 | zhìyí | to question; doubt | HSK 4 | 汉服复兴 |
| 主人公 | zhǔréngōng | protagonist | HSK 4 | 功夫电影 |
| 责任 | zérèn | responsibility | HSK 4 | 功夫电影 |
| 爱好者 | àihàozhě | enthusiast | HSK 4 | 汉服复兴 |
| 爱情 | àiqíng | romantic love | HSK 4 | 流行音乐 |
| 包公 | Bāo Gōng | Lord Bao (just official, black face) | HSK 5 | 京剧脸谱 |
| 曹操 | Cáo Cāo | Cao Cao (Three Kingdoms figure, white face) | HSK 5 | 京剧脸谱 |
| 关羽 | Guān Yǔ | Guan Yu (ancient hero, red face) | HSK 5 | 京剧脸谱 |
| 昆曲 | Kūnqǔ | Kunqu opera | HSK 5 | 非物质文化遗产 |
| 王羲之 | Wáng Xīzhī | Wang Xizhi (the most famous calligrapher) | HSK 5 | 写字的艺术 |
| 池 | chí | pool; pond | HSK 5 | 写字的艺术 |
| 春运 | chūnyùn | the Spring Festival travel rush | HSK 5 | 春运 |
| 裁缝 | cáiféng | tailor | HSK 5 | 传统手艺的消失 |
| 钉子 | dīngzi | nail | HSK 5 | 传统手艺的消失 |
| 公正 | gōngzhèng | just; fair | HSK 5 | 京剧脸谱 |
| 节气 | jiéqì | solar term | HSK 5 | 二十四节气 |
| 剪纸 | jiǎnzhǐ | paper cutting | HSK 5 | 非物质文化遗产 |
| 记忆 | jìyì | memory | HSK 5 | 传统手艺的消失 |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | tight; scarce | HSK 5 | 春运 |
| 脸谱 | liǎnpǔ | painted opera mask | HSK 5 | 京剧脸谱 |
| 毛笔 | máobǐ | writing brush | HSK 5 | 写字的艺术 |
| 民间 | mínjiān | folk; among the people | HSK 5 | 非物质文化遗产 |
| 墨 | mò | ink; ink stick | HSK 5 | 写字的艺术 |
| 木匠 | mùjiàng | carpenter | HSK 5 | 传统手艺的消失 |
| 农谚 | nóngyàn | farmers' proverb | HSK 5 | 二十四节气 |
| 皮影戏 | píyǐngxì | shadow puppetry | HSK 5 | 非物质文化遗产 |
| 迁移 | qiānyí | migration | HSK 5 | 春运 |
| 气候 | qìhòu | climate | HSK 5 | 二十四节气 |
| 情感 | qínggǎn | feeling; sentiment | HSK 5 | 春运 |
| 书法 | shūfǎ | calligraphy | HSK 5 | 写字的艺术 |
| 手艺 | shǒuyì | craft; handicraft skill | HSK 5 | 传统手艺的消失 |
| 铁匠 | tiějiàng | blacksmith | HSK 5 | 传统手艺的消失 |
| 延续 | yánxù | to continue; carry on | HSK 5 | 二十四节气 |
| 遗产 | yíchǎn | heritage; legacy | HSK 5 | 非物质文化遗产 |
| 依靠 | yīkào | to rely on | HSK 5 | 二十四节气 |
| 依然 | yīrán | still; as before | HSK 5 | 二十四节气 |
| 折射 | zhéshè | to reflect | HSK 5 | 春运 |
| 针灸 | zhēnjiǔ | acupuncture | HSK 5 | 非物质文化遗产 |
| 忠诚 | zhōngchéng | loyal; loyalty | HSK 5 | 京剧脸谱 |
| 字如其人 | zì rú qí rén | the writing is like the person (idiom) | HSK 5 | 写字的艺术 |
| 雨果奖 | Yǔguǒ Jiǎng | Hugo Award | HSK 6 | 《三体》现象 |
| 辨识度 | biànshídù | recognizability | HSK 6 | 国潮兴起 |
| 博弈论 | bóyìlùn | game theory | HSK 6 | 《三体》现象 |
| 不失为 | bù shī wéi | may still be counted as; can pass for | HSK 6 | 博物馆热 |
| 粗制滥造 | cūzhì làn zào | shoddily made (idiom) | HSK 6 | 国潮兴起 |
| 风潮 | fēngcháo | craze; a passing current or trend | HSK 6 | 博物馆热 |
| 国潮 | guócháo | Guochao; China-chic | HSK 6 | 国潮兴起 |
| 姑且不论 | gūqiě búlùn | leaving aside for the moment | HSK 6 | 博物馆热 |
| 汇聚 | huìjù | to converge; gather together | HSK 6 | 网络文学出海 |
| 黑暗森林 | hēi'àn sēnlín | dark forest (concept) | HSK 6 | 《三体》现象 |
| 匠气 | jiàngqì | artisanal staleness; lack of originality | HSK 6 | 国潮兴起 |
| 抉择 | juézé | to make a difficult choice | HSK 6 | 《三体》现象 |
| 紧凑 | jǐncòu | compact; tightly-paced | HSK 6 | 网络文学出海 |
| 口耳相传 | kǒu ěr xiāng chuán | word of mouth (idiom) | HSK 6 | 网络文学出海 |
| 流媒体 | liú méitǐ | streaming media | HSK 6 | 《三体》现象 |
| 冷峻 | lěngjùn | grim; austere | HSK 6 | 《三体》现象 |
| 认同感 | rèntónggǎn | sense of identity | HSK 6 | 国潮兴起 |
| 热衷 | rèzhōng | to be keen on; to be enthusiastic about | HSK 6 | 博物馆热 |
| 生僻 | shēngpì | obscure; uncommon | HSK 6 | 网络文学出海 |
| 纹样 | wényàng | pattern; motif | HSK 6 | 国潮兴起 |
| 应运而生 | yìng yùn ér shēng | to emerge as circumstances require (idiom) | HSK 6 | 网络文学出海 |
| 异域 | yìyù | foreign; exotic (land) | HSK 6 | 网络文学出海 |
| 迎合 | yínghé | to cater to; to pander to | HSK 6 | 博物馆热 |
| 驻足 | zhùzú | to pause; to stop and look | HSK 6 | 博物馆热 |