HSK 4: what the level covers and what it asks of you
Discuss a wide range of topics fluently enough for university life and everyday work.
This page describes HSK 4as it is recorded in HSK Guide’s curriculum data, part of the HSK 1–4 (classic) ladder. Vocabulary, grammar and reading below are the material HSK Guide actually holds for this level — not a copy of any examination paper.
Vocabulary explorer
Vocabulary on the HSK 4 list
HSK Guide currently holds 150 published words labelled HSK 4. Every entry links to its full dictionary page with audio, examples and character breakdown.
- 对于對於duìyú (fourth tone, falling)
regarding, with respect to, as for
- 情况情況qíngkuàng (second tone, rising)
situation, circumstances, how things stand
- 社会社會shèhuì (fourth tone, falling)
society
- 发生發生fāshēng (first tone, high and level)
to happen, to occur
- 计划計劃jìhuà (fourth tone, falling)
plan; to plan
- 发展發展fāzhǎn (first tone, high and level)
to develop; development
- 交通jiāotōng (first tone, high and level)
traffic, transportation
- 成为成為chéngwéi (second tone, rising)
to become
- 支持zhīchí (first tone, high and level)
to support, to back, to endorse
- 完全wánquán (second tone, rising)
completely, entirely, fully
- 活动活動huódòng (second tone, rising)
activity, event
- 不过不過búguò (second tone, rising)
but, however (a lighter contrast than 但是)
- 建议建議jiànyì (fourth tone, falling)
to suggest, to propose; a suggestion, a piece of advice
- 网络網絡wǎngluò (third tone, dipping)
network, internet
- 能力nénglì (second tone, rising)
ability, capability
- 目的mùdì (fourth tone, falling)
purpose, goal, aim
- 任何rènhé (fourth tone, falling)
any, whatever, no matter which
- 合适合適héshì (second tone, rising)
suitable, appropriate, the right fit
- 安全ānquán (first tone, high and level)
safe, secure; safety
- 方法fāngfǎ (first tone, high and level)
method, way (of doing something)
- 由于由於yóuyú (second tone, rising)
due to, owing to, because of
- 结果結果jiéguǒ (second tone, rising)
result, outcome
- 联系聯繫liánxì (second tone, rising)
to contact, to get in touch with; contact, connection
- 进行進行jìnxíng (fourth tone, falling)
to carry out, to conduct, to be underway
Showing 24 of 150.
How level labels work. A word belongs to a level through a separate membership record, one per standard, each carrying its own source. HSK Guide never merges the lists of two standards or renumbers one into the other — see how the inventories are kept apart.
Grammar library
Grammar patterns at HSK 4
Each pattern carries its structure formula, a plain-language explanation, sentences that are wrong and why, and a contrast with what it is usually confused with.
- Talking about the future: 会, 要 and 将表示将来的“会／要／将”
主语 + 会 + 动词（+ 的）→ 预测 ｜ 主语 + 要 + 动词（+ 了）→ 打算、即将 ｜ 主语 + 将（要）+ 动词 → 书面语
Chinese has no future tense. 会 predicts what is likely, 要 announces a plan or something imminent, and 将 is the written-register marker.
modality - 把 with 在, 到, 给 and 成: putting things somewhere“把”字句的结果补语：把 + 宾语 + 动词 + 在／到／给／成
主语 + 把 + 宾语 + 动词 + 在／到 + 处所 ｜ + 给 + 接受者 ｜ + 成 + 结果
Four complements make 把 obligatory rather than optional: 在 and 到 for where a thing ends up, 给 for who receives it, 成 for what it becomes.
disposal - Choosing between 把 and 被“把”字句与“被”字句的对比
施事 + 把 + 受事 + 动词 + 其他 ⇄ 受事 + 被 + （施事）+ 动词 + 其他
Two camera angles on one event. The noun after 把 is the thing affected; the noun after 被 is the doer.
voice - The 被 passive“被”字句
受事主语 + 被 + （施事）+ 动词 + 其他成分（了／补语）
被 puts the affected thing first and says what happened to it. The doer may be named after 被 or left out, but the verb can never stand bare.
voice - How long and how many times: 了 + duration, V 了三次时量补语和动量补语
动词 + 了 + 时段（+ 了） ｜ 动词 + 了 + 数词 + 次／遍／下 ｜ 动词 + 了 + 时段／次数 + （的）+ 宾语
A length of time or a number of times goes *after* the verb, not before it. With an object, either slot the measure in front of the object or repeat the verb.
complements - Even: 连…都／也…“连……都／也……”
（主语）+ 连 + 名词／动词 + 都／也 + 谓语 ｜ 连 + 一 + 量词 + 名词 + 都／也 + 不／没 + 动词
连 picks out the most surprising case and says that even that one is included. 都 or 也 must follow it — the pattern is never used with 连 alone.
emphasis - Whatever the case: 无论／不管…都…“无论／不管……都……”
无论／不管 + 疑问词／A还是B／多 + 形容词，（主语）+ 都／也 + …
The first clause must stay open — a question word, an A-or-B choice, or 多 + adjective — and the second must carry 都 or 也. The outcome does not change either way.
concession - Enough versus indispensable: 只要…就… and 只有…才…“只要……就……”和“只有……才……”
只要 + 条件，（主语）+ 就 + 结果（充分条件） ｜ 只有 + 条件，（主语）+ 才 + 结果（必要条件）
只要…就… says the condition is all it takes. 只有…才… says nothing else will do. The pairings are fixed: 只要 with 就, 只有 with 才.
condition
Graded stories
Reading written for HSK 4
Texts chosen so that you already know most of the words before you start.
- 为钱的事儿
An Argument About Money
Eight hundred yuan lent two months ago, a plane ticket that has to be paid for, and two friends who each remember the conversation differently. It gets tense — “why are you only telling me now?” — before David works out that buying lunch twice does not add up to eight hundred, and they agree on half now, half on payday, and writing it down next time. Twenty-four turns inside HSK 1–4.
4 min readmoney - 搬进宿舍
Moving Into the Dormitory
Amine arrives at room 305 with two suitcases and a list of questions. The dormitory supervisor hands him two keys and answers them one by one: air conditioning yes, laundry on the ground floor, wi-fi password behind the door, no cooking in the rooms, doors locked at half past eleven. The last piece of news is the best — his roommate is Chinese. Twenty turns within HSK 1–4.
4 min readuniversity - 去公司应聘
A Job Interview
A month after graduating, Amine sits down with a manager who has read his file. Four years of Chinese, four languages, two years of interpreting for a travel company; then the harder questions — his best quality, his worst, overtime, business trips — and finally the salary, the timetable for a decision and a word of reassurance. Twenty-four turns inside HSK 1–4.
5 min readwork - 城市新闻：地铁三号线昨天开始使用
City News: Metro Line 3 Opened Yesterday
A city-desk report on the metro line that opened at six yesterday morning: eighteen stations, twenty-six kilometres, an hour by bus cut to thirty minutes. A driver who has spent ten years stuck in traffic on that road, a teacher whose pupils used to take two buses, and a resident of thirty years who is not sure a busier neighbourhood is good news. Twenty-four sentences inside HSK 1–4.
6 min readcity life - 我为什么开始学汉语
Why I Started Learning Chinese
Amine answers the question he is asked most often. It began with a Chinese shopkeeper on an old street in Casablanca who made him repeat a few words at a time, went on through a film he understood not one line of, and survived the years when the characters would not stay in his head. The last scene returns to the shop. Twenty-five sentences inside HSK 1–4.
6 min readlanguage learning
Mock examinations
Practice examinations available at HSK 4
Timed practice written for HSK Guide. The length, the timing and the scoring are our own practice settings rather than an official paper — every attempt ends with a gap analysis.
This is unofficial practice material written for HSK Guide. It is not a past paper and is not endorsed by any examination authority.
hours
How long this level takes
The curriculum record for HSK 4 states a cumulative estimate of 440 study hours from a standing start. The table converts that into calendar time at three daily budgets.
| Daily study | Per week | Time to HSK 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 min | 2 hours | ~4 years |
| 45 min | 5 hours | ~84 weeks |
| 90 min | 11 hours | ~42 weeks |
An estimate, not a promise. It assumes you study on most days, that you are starting from no Chinese at all, and that review time is included. Learners with a background in another Chinese variety, or with characters already in place, routinely move faster. The placement test replaces this table with an estimate based on what you actually recall.
Frequently asked questions
How many words does HSK 4 cover?
HSK Guide's curriculum record for HSK 4 states a cumulative target of 1,200 words, taken from Official HSK examination information — every word up to and including this level, of which 600 are new at HSK 4. This figure has been transcribed but not yet verified by an editor against the primary document, and HSK Guide labels it as such wherever it appears. HSK Guide currently holds 150 published entries labelled HSK 4, which are the words tagged at this level, so the figure to read them against is 600 rather than 1,200.
Is HSK 4 part of the same ladder as the other HSK levels?
HSK 4 belongs to the HSK 1–4 (classic) track. HSK Guide keeps each standard's vocabulary, grammar and level labels in a separate inventory, so a level number in one ladder is never treated as equivalent to the same number in another.
Can I practise HSK 4 for free?
Yes. At HSK 4 that means the 150-word HSK 4 list published on HSK Guide, the 8 grammar points filed under this level and the 5 graded texts on this page, all readable without signing in. The dictionary, the character explorer and the radical library are open without an account, and a daily allowance of reviews, quizzes and tutor messages is included on the free plan; Pro removes the daily limits and unlocks the full mock examinations.
How long does it take to reach HSK 4?
The curriculum record states a cumulative estimate of 440 study hours from no Chinese at all — roughly 84 weeks at 45 minutes a day. It is an estimate rather than a promise, and the placement test replaces it with one based on what you actually recall.
Does HSK Guide have a HSK 4 practice test?
Yes — one practice examination is published at this level. Every item is original material written for HSK Guide. It is not a past paper and is not endorsed by any examination authority.
Is HSK Guide affiliated with the HSK 4 examination?
No. HSK Guide is an independent preparation platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chinese Testing International or the official HSK examination authorities. Registration, scoring and the current level requirements are decided by the examination authority — confirm them with your own test centre.
Are you actually at HSK 4?
The placement test measures vocabulary, listening, reading, grammar and tones, then builds your first seven days.