150 words about school & language, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 | 再见，老师 |
| 汉字 | Hànzì | Chinese characters | HSK 1 | 我的老师 |
| 中国 | Zhōngguó | China | HSK 1 | 新同学 |
| 多少 | duōshao | how many | HSK 1 | 读书 |
| 读 | dú | to read | HSK 1 | 读书 |
| 东西 | dōngxi | thing | HSK 1 | 读书 |
| 饭店 | fàndiàn | restaurant | HSK 1 | 我会说汉语 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy | HSK 1 | 再见，老师 |
| 给 | gěi | to give | HSK 1 | 我的中国名字 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 | 我会说汉语 |
| 叫 | jiào | to be called; to call | HSK 1 | 我的中国名字 |
| 教 | jiāo | to teach | HSK 1 | 我的老师 |
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year | HSK 1 | 新同学 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 | 再见，老师 |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it doesn't matter; no problem | HSK 1 | 在学校学习 |
| 名字 | míngzi | name | HSK 1 | 我听不懂 |
| 米饭 | mǐfàn | (cooked) rice | HSK 1 | 我会说汉语 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | HSK 1 | 写汉字 |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | pretty; beautiful | HSK 1 | 我的老师 |
| 前面 | qiánmiàn | in front | HSK 1 | 我的学校 |
| 请 | qǐng | please | HSK 1 | 我听不懂 |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know; to meet | HSK 1 | 再见，老师 |
| 商店 | shāngdiàn | shop; store | HSK 1 | 我的学校 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 | 读书 |
| 岁 | suì | years old | HSK 1 | 新同学 |
| 同学 | tóngxué | classmate | HSK 1 | 我的学校 |
| 听不懂 | tīng bu dǒng | can't understand (by listening) | HSK 1 | 我听不懂 |
| 写 | xiě | to write | HSK 1 | 我的老师 |
| 学生 | xuésheng | student | HSK 1 | 我听不懂 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | HSK 1 | 再见，老师 |
| 学习 | xuéxí | to study; to learn | HSK 1 | 我听不懂 |
| 星期天 | xīngqītiān | Sunday | HSK 1 | 读书 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little | HSK 1 | 我会说汉语 |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | together | HSK 1 | 新同学 |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table | HSK 1 | 读书 |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye | HSK 1 | 再见，老师 |
| 字 | zì | character; word | HSK 1 | 写汉字 |
| 英语 | Yīngyǔ | English (language) | HSK 2 | 你会说英语吗 |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | HSK 2 | 你会说英语吗 |
| 班 | bān | class | HSK 2 | 教室里 |
| 杯 | bēi | (measure word for cups) | HSK 2 | 一个还是两个 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 2 | 一个还是两个 |
| 懂 | dǒng | to understand | HSK 2 | 准备考试 |
| 放学 | fàngxué | school lets out | HSK 2 | 孩子上学 |
| 告诉 | gàosu | to tell | HSK 2 | 你会说英语吗 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 2 | 一个还是两个 |
| 干净 | gānjìng | clean | HSK 2 | 教室里 |
| 黑板 | hēibǎn | blackboard | HSK 2 | 教室里 |
| 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes) | HSK 2 | 一个还是两个 |
| 教室 | jiàoshì | classroom | HSK 2 | 教室里 |
| 借 | jiè | to borrow (HSK 3) | HSK 2 | 图书馆 |
| 介绍 | jièshào | to introduce | HSK 2 | 图书馆 |
| 近 | jìn | near; close | HSK 2 | 图书馆 |
| 块 | kuài | (measure word for chunks/pieces) | HSK 2 | 一个还是两个 |
| 考试 | kǎoshì | exam; test | HSK 2 | 准备考试 |
| 离 | lí | (distance) from | HSK 2 | 图书馆 |
| 旅游 | lǚyóu | to travel | HSK 2 | 为什么学中文 |
| 上学 | shàngxué | to go to school | HSK 2 | 孩子上学 |
| 书包 | shūbāo | schoolbag | HSK 2 | 孩子上学 |
| 送 | sòng | to take someone somewhere | HSK 2 | 孩子上学 |
| 题 | tí | exam question; problem | HSK 2 | 准备考试 |
| 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | library | HSK 2 | 图书馆 |
| 为什么 | wèishénme | why | HSK 2 | 为什么学中文 |
| 新 | xīn | new | HSK 2 | 怎么说 |
| 希望 | xīwàng | to hope | HSK 2 | 准备考试 |
| 眼睛 | yǎnjing | eyes | HSK 2 | 教室里 |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already | HSK 2 | 准备考试 |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; ago | HSK 2 | 为什么学中文 |
| 有意思 | yǒuyìsi | interesting | HSK 2 | 孩子上学 |
| 这个 | zhège | this | HSK 2 | 怎么说 |
| 只 | zhǐ | only | HSK 2 | 你会说英语吗 |
| 准备 | zhǔnbèi | to prepare | HSK 2 | 准备考试 |
| 作业 | zuòyè | homework | HSK 2 | 孩子上学 |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how; what | HSK 2 | 怎么说 |
| 成绩 | chéngjì | grade; result | HSK 3 | 成绩出来了 |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu | HSK 3 | 这个字怎么读 |
| 担心 | dānxīn | to worry | HSK 3 | 担心考试 |
| 复习 | fùxí | to review | HSK 3 | 担心考试 |
| 分数 | fēnshù | score | HSK 3 | 成绩出来了 |
| 工作人员 | gōngzuò rényuán | staff member | HSK 3 | 借书 |
| 还 | huán | to return (sth) | HSK 3 | 借书 |
| 害怕 | hàipà | afraid | HSK 3 | 担心考试 |
| 借书卡 | jièshūkǎ | library card | HSK 3 | 借书 |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide | HSK 3 | 担心考试 |
| 继续 | jìxù | to continue | HSK 3 | 成绩出来了 |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | nervous | HSK 3 | 担心考试 |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happy | HSK 3 | 成绩出来了 |
| 念 | niàn | to read aloud | HSK 3 | 这个字怎么读 |
| 努力 | nǔlì | to work hard | HSK 3 | 成绩出来了 |
| 认真 | rènzhēn | serious; earnest | HSK 3 | 成绩出来了 |
| 虾 | xiā | shrimp | HSK 3 | 这个字怎么读 |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous | HSK 3 | 借书 |
| 出路 | chūlù | way out | HSK 4 | 考研热 |
| 当地 | dāngdì | local | HSK 4 | 普通话与方言 |
| 方言 | fāngyán | dialect | HSK 4 | 普通话与方言 |
| 发音 | fāyīn | pronunciation | HSK 4 | 地方口音 |
| 分不清 | fēn bu qīng | cannot tell apart | HSK 4 | 地方口音 |
| 古老 | gǔlǎo | ancient | HSK 4 | 汉字的美 |
| 交流 | jiāoliú | to communicate | HSK 4 | 普通话与方言 |
| 家乡 | jiāxiāng | hometown | HSK 4 | 地方口音 |
| 竞争力 | jìngzhēnglì | competitiveness | HSK 4 | 考研热 |
| 考研 | kǎoyán | to take the grad school entrance exam | HSK 4 | 考研热 |
| 口音 | kǒuyīn | accent | HSK 4 | 地方口音 |
| 秘密 | mìmì | secret | HSK 4 | 汉字的美 |
| 普通话 | pǔtōnghuà | Mandarin (standard Chinese) | HSK 4 | 地方口音 |
| 缺点 | quēdiǎn | shortcoming; flaw | HSK 4 | 地方口音 |
| 亲切 | qīnqiè | warm and familiar | HSK 4 | 普通话与方言 |
| 区别 | qūbié | difference | HSK 4 | 普通话与方言 |
| 书法 | shūfǎ | calligraphy | HSK 4 | 汉字的美 |
| 图画 | túhuà | picture; drawing | HSK 4 | 汉字的美 |
| 消失 | xiāoshī | to disappear | HSK 4 | 普通话与方言 |
| 学历 | xuélì | educational qualification | HSK 4 | 考研热 |
| 兴趣 | xìngqù | interest | HSK 4 | 考研热 |
| 艺术 | yìshù | art | HSK 4 | 汉字的美 |
| 压力 | yālì | pressure | HSK 4 | 考研热 |
| 独特 | dútè | unique | HSK 5 | 方言与身份认同 |
| 负担 | fùdān | burden | HSK 5 | 教育竞争 |
| 共存 | gòngcún | to coexist | HSK 5 | 方言与身份认同 |
| 焦虑 | jiāolǜ | anxious | HSK 5 | 教育竞争 |
| 竞争 | jìngzhēng | competition | HSK 5 | 教育竞争 |
| 激烈 | jīliè | intense, fierce | HSK 5 | 教育竞争 |
| 辽阔 | liáokuò | vast | HSK 5 | 方言与身份认同 |
| 命运 | mìngyùn | fate, destiny | HSK 5 | 教育竞争 |
| 内卷 | nèijuǎn | involution (rat-race competition) | HSK 5 | 教育竞争 |
| 融合 | rónghé | integration; fusion | HSK 5 | 方言与身份认同 |
| 身份 | shēnfèn | identity | HSK 5 | 方言与身份认同 |
| 背叛 | bèipàn | betrayal; to betray | HSK 6 | 翻译的艺术 |
| 称谓 | chēngwèi | form of address; appellation | HSK 6 | 语言与思维 |
| 荡然无存 | dàng rán wú cún | to vanish without a trace | HSK 6 | 翻译的艺术 |
| 得体 | détǐ | tactful; appropriate to the occasion | HSK 6 | 委婉语 |
| 打量 | dǎliang | to look someone/something over; to size up | HSK 6 | 语言与思维 |
| 拐弯抹角 | guǎi wān mò jiǎo | to beat around the bush | HSK 6 | 委婉语 |
| 甘苦 | gānkǔ | joys and hardships | HSK 6 | 翻译的艺术 |
| 含糊 | hánhu | vague; ambiguous | HSK 6 | 汉语的模糊之美 |
| 见长 | jiàncháng | to excel in; be known for | HSK 6 | 汉语的模糊之美 |
| 留白 | liúbái | deliberate empty space (in art) | HSK 6 | 汉语的模糊之美 |
| 默契 | mòqì | tacit understanding | HSK 6 | 汉语的模糊之美 |
| 潜移默化 | qián yí mò huà | to influence imperceptibly | HSK 6 | 语言与思维 |
| 缺陷 | quēxiàn | defect; flaw | HSK 6 | 汉语的模糊之美 |
| 取舍 | qǔshě | trade-off; choosing what to keep and what to drop | HSK 6 | 翻译的艺术 |
| 神韵 | shényùn | spirit; charm (of a work) | HSK 6 | 翻译的艺术 |
| 塑造 | sùzào | to shape; to mold | HSK 6 | 语言与思维 |
| 微妙 | wēimiào | subtle; delicate | HSK 6 | 语言与思维 |
| 委婉 | wěiwǎn | tactful; euphemistic | HSK 6 | 委婉语 |
| 下不来台 | xià bu lái tái | to be left with no way to save face | HSK 6 | 委婉语 |
| 现成 | xiànchéng | ready-made; off the shelf | HSK 6 | 翻译的艺术 |
| 心领神会 | xīn lǐng shén huì | to understand tacitly; read between the lines | HSK 6 | 委婉语 |
| 余地 | yúdì | leeway; room to maneuver | HSK 6 | 汉语的模糊之美 |
| 直截了当 | zhíjié liǎodàng | blunt; point-blank | HSK 6 | 委婉语 |
| 载体 | zàitǐ | vehicle; carrier (of ideas) | HSK 6 | 语言与思维 |