Level 4
Intermediate band: follow lectures and discuss familiar topics with structure.
- words
- 3,2451,000 new at this level
- characters
- 1,200
2021 three-band, nine-level proficiency standardFigures not yet verified
Second band: levels Level 4 to Level 6
The middle stretch. The vocabulary and character inventories grow sharply, and the work shifts from surviving a conversation to structuring one.
Learners heading for university study, professional work, or anything where being understood is no longer enough.
Levels
What band 2 contains
Each level below is a separate record in HSK Guide’s curriculum data, with its own word and character target and its own source.
Level 5
Intermediate band: read longer texts and argue a position clearly.
- words
- 4,3161,071 new at this level
- characters
- 1,500
Level 6
Completes the intermediate band: comfortable in academic and professional settings.
- words
- 5,4561,140 new at this level
- characters
- 1,800
Running totals from the standard — each level includes every level below it.
Source and verification
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)Ministry of Education of the PRC / Chinese Language Standards Committee
Not yet verified. The word and character figures on this page were transcribed from the published standard; no editor has confirmed them against the primary document. They are a study guide, not a rule.
Band numbers are not the classic HSK numbers
Level 4 in this standard and HSK 4 in the classic six-level ladder are different word lists published by different bodies. HSK Guide stores them as separate inventories and labels every entry with the standard it came from, so the two never blur together.
How the inventories are kept apartVocabulary explorer
Vocabulary where band 2 begins
A sample from the Level 4 list — 972 published words carry this label in HSK Guide today.
- 阿姨āyí (first tone, high and level)
aunt (mother’s sister)
- 矮ǎi (third tone, dipping)
short (in height), low
- 矮小ǎi (third tone, dipping) xiǎo (third tone, dipping)
short and small
- 爱国愛國ài (fourth tone, falling) guó (second tone, rising)
to love one's country
- 爱护愛護àihù (fourth tone, falling)
to take good care of, to cherish and protect
- 安ān (first tone, high and level)
(bound form) calm; peaceful
- 安置ān (first tone, high and level) zhì (fourth tone, falling)
to find a place for
- 按时按時ànshí (fourth tone, falling)
on time, on schedule
- 暗晻àn (fourth tone, falling)
to close (a door)
- 暗示àn (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling)
to hint
- 巴士bā (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling)
bus (loanword)
- 百货百貨bǎi (third tone, dipping) huò (fourth tone, falling)
general merchandise
- 摆擺bǎi (third tone, dipping)
to arrange
- 摆动擺動bǎi (third tone, dipping) dòng (fourth tone, falling)
to sway
- 摆脱擺脫bǎi (third tone, dipping) tuō (first tone, high and level)
to break away from
- 败敗bài (fourth tone, falling)
to defeat
- 办事辦事bàn (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling)
to handle (affairs)
- 包裹bāo (first tone, high and level) guǒ (third tone, dipping)
wrap up
Mock examinations
Practice material for band 2
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.
No practice examination is published for this band yet. See the full catalogue
This is unofficial practice material written for HSK Guide. It is not a past paper and is not endorsed by any examination authority.
Which level of band 2 are you on?
The placement test measures vocabulary, listening, reading, grammar and tones, then builds your first seven days.