Intermediate · six-level HSK

HSK 4 complete guide

HSK 4 tests independent listening, reading and writing across common social, academic and workplace topics.

1,200 cumulative words100 test questions105 minutes
Quick answer

What is HSK 4?

A prepared learner can follow longer conversations, read connected passages and produce short, accurate written sentences from prompts.

Quick check: do you know these HSK 4 words?

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HSK 4 requirements at a glance

Vocabulary1,200 cumulative unique headwords
New at this level600 headwords
SectionsListening, Reading, Writing
Questions100
Total timeAbout 105 minutes, including candidate-information time
Score300 total; 180 or above

What to study

1,200-word cumulative list

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Paragraph reading

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Sentence construction

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Faster listening

Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.

Common HSK 4 difficulties

  • Managing time across three sections
  • Distinguishing near-synonyms
  • Maintaining word order in writing

Study plan

Weeks 1–3

Audit vocabulary and group new words by topic and collocation.

Weeks 4–6

Read short articles and summarize the main point.

Weeks 7–9

Train listening speed and written sentence production.

Week 10

Complete full timed papers and review error patterns.

Vocabulary

The vocabulary database includes the verified HSK 1–6 level assignment, simplified Chinese, pinyin, English dictionary glosses and cross-version membership.

Open all 1,200 words

20 HSK 4 example sentences

These original examples connect level vocabulary with the sentence patterns used in the grammar, reading and practice sections.

Sentence 1

这次活动不仅吸引了学生,而且吸引了很多家长。

zhè cì huó dòng bù jǐn xī yǐn le xué sheng, ér qiě xī yǐn le hěn duō jiā zhǎng。

The event attracted not only students but also many parents.

Focus: 活动, 吸引, 家长 · Grammar: 不仅…而且…

Sentence 2

只要提前做好准备,变化就不会让人太紧张。

zhǐ yào tí qián zuò hǎo zhǔn bèi, biàn huà jiù bù huì ràng rén tài jǐn zhāng。

As long as we prepare early, change will not make us too nervous.

Focus: 提前, 准备, 变化 · Grammar: 只要…就…

Sentence 3

即使遇到困难,她也会继续完成计划。

jí shǐ yù dào kùn nan, tā yě huì jì xù wán chéng jì huà。

Even if she meets difficulties, she will continue with the plan.

Focus: 困难, 继续, 计划 · Grammar: 即使…也…

Sentence 4

听到这个消息以后,大家都高兴起来了。

tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi yǐ hòu, dà jiā dōu gāo xìng qǐ lái le。

Everyone cheered up after hearing the news.

Focus: 消息, 高兴 · Grammar: 起来 change

Sentence 5

这项决定对未来的发展有很大影响。

zhè xiàng jué dìng duì wèi lái de fā zhǎn yǒu hěn dà yǐng xiǎng。

This decision has a major influence on future development.

Focus: 决定, 发展, 影响 · Grammar: 对…有影响

Sentence 6

与去年相比,今年的报名人数增加了。

yǔ qù nián xiāng bǐ, jīn nián de bào míng rén shù zēng jiā le。

Compared with last year, registrations increased this year.

Focus: 相比, 报名, 增加 · Grammar: 与…相比

Sentence 7

他之所以成功,是因为愿意听取不同意见。

tā zhī suǒ yǐ chéng gōng, shì yīn wèi yuàn yì tīng qǔ bù tóng yì jiàn。

He succeeded because he was willing to hear different opinions.

Focus: 成功, 意见 · Grammar: 之所以…是因为…

Sentence 8

不管结果怎么样,我们都应该总结经验。

bù guǎn jié guǒ zěn me yàng, wǒ men dōu yīng gāi zǒng jié jīng yàn。

Whatever the result, we should summarize the experience.

Focus: 结果, 总结, 经验 · Grammar: 不管…都…

Sentence 9

这篇文章既介绍了问题,也提出了解决办法。

zhè piān wén zhāng jì jiè shào le wèn tí, yě tí chū liǎo jiě 决 bàn fǎ。

The article both introduces the problem and proposes solutions.

Focus: 文章, 提出, 解决 · Grammar: 既…也…

Sentence 10

经过讨论,我们终于达成了共同意见。

jīng guò tǎo lùn, wǒ men zhōng yú dá chéng le gòng tóng yì jiàn。

After discussion, we finally reached a shared view.

Focus: 经过, 讨论, 共同 · Grammar: 经过

Sentence 11

产品质量越稳定,顾客就越信任这个品牌。

chǎn pǐn zhì liàng yuè wěn dìng, gù kè jiù yuè xìn rèn zhè ge pǐn pái。

The more stable the quality, the more customers trust the brand.

Focus: 质量, 顾客, 信任 · Grammar: 越…越…

Sentence 12

他宁可多花时间检查,也不愿意交出错误的报告。

tā nìng kě duō huā shí jiān jiǎn chá, yě bù yuàn yì jiāo chū cuò wù de bào gào。

He would rather spend time checking than submit a wrong report.

Focus: 检查, 错误, 报告 · Grammar: 宁可…也不…

Sentence 13

我们必须及时处理用户提出的问题。

wǒ men bì xū jí shí chǔ lǐ yòng hù tí chū de wèn tí。

We must promptly handle the problems users raise.

Focus: 及时, 处理, 用户 · Grammar: relative clause

Sentence 14

老师鼓励学生用自己的话表达观点。

lǎo shī gǔ lì xué sheng yòng zì jǐ de huà biǎo dá guān diǎn。

The teacher encourages students to express views in their own words.

Focus: 鼓励, 表达, 观点 · Grammar: 用…表达

Sentence 15

随着经验增加,她处理复杂任务更有信心了。

suí zhe jīng yàn zēng jiā, tā chǔ lǐ fù zá rèn wu gèng yǒu xìn xīn le。

As her experience grows, she handles complex tasks more confidently.

Focus: 随着, 经验, 复杂 · Grammar: 随着

Sentence 16

会议原来安排在上午,后来改到了下午。

huì yì yuán lái ān pái zài shàng wǔ, hòu lái gǎi dào le xià wǔ。

The meeting was originally in the morning but later moved to the afternoon.

Focus: 原来, 安排, 后来 · Grammar: time contrast

Sentence 17

从长远来看,这项投资值得考虑。

cóng cháng yuǎn lái kàn, zhè xiàng tóu zī zhí de kǎo lǜ。

In the long run, this investment is worth considering.

Focus: 长远, 投资, 值得 · Grammar: 从…来看

Sentence 18

无论选择哪种方法,都要先了解实际情况。

wú lùn xuǎn zé nǎ zhǒng fāng fǎ, dōu yào xiān liǎo jiě shí jì qíng kuàng。

Whichever method you choose, first understand the real situation.

Focus: 选择, 了解, 实际 · Grammar: 无论…都…

Sentence 19

这座城市给我留下了深刻的印象。

zhè zuò chéng shì gěi wǒ liú xià le shēn kè de yìn xiàng。

This city left a deep impression on me.

Focus: 留下, 深刻, 印象 · Grammar: 给…留下印象

Sentence 20

调查结果表明,大多数人支持新的方案。

diào chá jié guǒ biǎo míng, dà duō shǔ rén zhī chí xīn de fāng àn。

The survey shows that most people support the new plan.

Focus: 调查, 表明, 支持 · Grammar: result clause

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in HSK 4?

The six-level HSK dataset used by HSK Atlas contains 1,200 unique headwords cumulative through Level 4, including 600 first assigned at this level.

What sections are in the HSK 4 test?

The official test page lists listening, reading, writing. It contains 100 questions and takes about 105 minutes including candidate-information time.

Where should I start studying for HSK 4?

Audit the corrected cumulative vocabulary list, follow the study plan on this page, then use the grammar guide, graded reading, vocabulary quiz and mock test to find specific gaps.

Does HSK Atlas provide an HSK 4 mock test?

Yes. The HSK Atlas mock follows the official HSK 4 section and question-count structure while using original questions and explanations.

Is the HSK 4 test paper-based or online?

Both formats exist. Test centers offer paper-based and internet-based versions of HSK 4. The question structure, timing and scoring are the same regardless of format. Check available formats when booking.

Is HSK 4 free to study online?

Yes. HSK Atlas provides free vocabulary lists, quizzes, grammar guides, graded reading and a mock test for HSK 4. No account or payment is required to use any study material on this site.