Level 1 lessons — start learning
16 real-life scenarios with dialogues, comprehension questions, output practice and self-checks. Each lesson takes 15–20 minutes.
View course path (16 lessons in order) →Meet someone and introduce yourself
You arrive at a language-exchange welcome table and meet another participant.
Learn to: Understand basic name, identity, preference and ability information, then write your own short introduction.
王明：你好！我叫王明。你叫什么名字？
李安：我叫李安。我是学生。你呢？
王明：我是老师。我喜欢看书。你喜欢什么？
Meeting a new friend at orientation
It is the first day of a Chinese-language program. Two new students meet in the hallway before class starts and introduce themselves.
Learn to: Exchange names, nationalities, ages, and abilities with a new acquaintance, then write a short self-introduction.
大卫：你好！我叫大卫。你叫什么名字？
小雪：我叫小雪。你是哪国人？
大卫：我是美国人。你是中国人吗？
Making plans for the weekend
Two classmates chat after Friday's lesson. One wants to know what the other is doing now and what they plan for tomorrow.
Learn to: Ask and answer questions about current activities and upcoming plans using time words and 正在.
小林：你现在做什么呢？
阿美：我正在看书。你呢？
小林：我在等朋友。今天星期几？
What's on the desk?
A student arrives at a shared study room and asks a classmate about the items on the table — whose phone, how many books, and whether there is a computer.
Learn to: Identify and describe objects using demonstratives, classifiers, and 有/没有, then write a short description of items in a room.
小明：这是你的书吗？
小红：不是，那是小王的。我有两本书，一本在桌子上。
小明：桌子上有什么东西？
Planning around the weather
Two friends discuss the weather before deciding whether to go out this afternoon. One checks the forecast and shares what they see.
Learn to: Describe weather conditions using degree adverbs and time-of-day words, then write a short weather report.
小华：今天天气怎么样？
小李：非常冷！早上有点儿下雨，现在不下了。
小华：下午会下雪吗？
Finding the bookstore near school
A new student asks a local friend where the nearest bookstore is and how to get there from the school gate.
Learn to: Ask for and give simple directions using location words (里/外/前/后/旁边) and 在, then write a short description of where places are.
安娜：请问，学校旁边有商店吗？
小王：有！学校外边有一个书店。
安娜：在哪儿？学校前边还是后边？
Greet, apologize and say goodbye
You bump into a neighbour in the morning, accidentally step on their foot, then part ways politely.
Learn to: Use greetings, apologies, responses and farewells in a short natural exchange.
小李：早！你好吗？
小王：我很好，谢谢！你呢？
小李：我也很好。对不起！踩了你的脚了。
Ask and answer about food preferences
Two friends discuss what to eat for lunch at a small restaurant.
Learn to: Ask what someone likes to eat and drink, express preferences with 喜欢, and comment on food with 好吃.
安娜：中午了，我们吃什么饭？
小明：你喜欢吃什么？面条儿还是米饭？
安娜：我喜欢吃面条儿。你呢？
Ask about transport and travel time
A traveller asks a friend how to get to the train station and how much a taxi costs.
Learn to: Ask and answer about transport options, travel time and cost using 坐, 多少钱 and time expressions.
旅客：请问，去火车站怎么走？
朋友：你可以坐出租车，也可以坐火车去。
旅客：坐出租车多少钱？
Ask about products and prices
A customer browses a clothing shop, asks about prices and decides what to buy.
Learn to: Ask how much items cost, describe products with adjectives, and complete a simple purchase exchange.
顾客：你好！这件衣服多少钱？
店员：一百五十块。这件是新衣服，很漂亮。
顾客：太贵了！有没有便宜的？
Tell a friend you are ill and visit the sick
A friend calls to say they are sick; you visit them and give advice.
Learn to: Describe illness with 生病 and 不舒服, give advice with 不要 and 可以, and express concern.
小王：喂，小李，我今天不舒服，不能去上课了。
小李：怎么了？你生病了吗？
小王：是，我病了。我觉得头疼得很。
Make weekend plans with a friend
Two friends chat on Friday evening about what to do this weekend.
Learn to: Understand preferences and plans for leisure time, then write a short weekend invitation.
小明：明天休息，你想做什么？
小红：我想去看电影。你喜欢看电影吗？
小明：喜欢！我也能看电影。那个电影好看吗？
Talk about your Chinese class
A student tells a friend about today's Chinese class after school.
Learn to: Understand descriptions of classroom activities and difficulties, then write a short study update.
安娜：你今天上课了吗？
马克：上了。今天学汉字。
安娜：汉字难不难？
Describe your school day
A new student tells a classmate about their school and what they do after class.
Learn to: Understand descriptions of school life and after-school activities, then write a short paragraph about a school day.
李老师：你是新同学吗？你在哪个学校上学？
大卫：是。我在大学上学。我的学校很大。
李老师：你的同学好吗？
Talk about your job
Two people meet at a coffee shop and ask each other about work.
Learn to: Understand basic job descriptions, schedules, and feelings about work, then write a short introduction of someone's job.
王女士：你好！你是做什么工作的？
李先生：我是老师。我在公司上班。
王女士：你做什么事？
Order Chinese food at a restaurant
A foreign visitor orders traditional Chinese food at a restaurant for the first time.
Learn to: Understand a food-ordering conversation and basic Chinese food vocabulary, then write a short restaurant order.
服务员：你好！你想吃什么？
安娜：我想吃饺子。中国菜有什么好吃的？
服务员：饺子非常好吃！你要什么馅儿的？
Practice modules
Each module is interconnected — vocabulary, grammar, quiz, reading, listening and writing all support the same lessons.
Vocabulary
300 cumulative word list with pinyin, meanings and word pages.
Open vocabulary →Grammar
Grammar points mapped to official tasks, connected to vocabulary and reading modules.
Open grammar →Quiz
Immediate answers, explanations and missed-item retry.
Start quiz →Reading
Graded text with optional pinyin, translation and checked comprehension.
Start reading →Listening
Synthetic device speech, replay, script reveal and comprehension.
Start listening →Writing
Required points, examples and a completion self-check.
Start writing →What is HSK 3.0 Level 1?
Use basic Chinese for personal information and immediate needs.
Quick check: do you know these HSK 3.0 1 words?
Answer 5 questions right here — no page jump needed.
HSK 3.0 Level 1 requirements at a glance
| Vocabulary | 300 cumulative words |
|---|---|
| Characters | 300 cumulative characters |
| Stage | Beginner |
| Sections | Listening, Reading |
| Questions | 40 |
| Total time | About 40 minutes |
| Score | 200 total; 120 or above |
What to study
Pinyin and tone recognition
Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.
300-word cumulative vocabulary
Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.
Basic word order with 是, 有, 在
Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.
Short listening for personal information
Include this in your weekly review and test it through active recall, listening or written production.
Common HSK 3.0 Level 1 difficulties
- Recognizing four tones at natural speed
- Keeping question words in the correct position
- Distinguishing similar-looking characters
Study plan
Learn pinyin, tones and the first 80 words from the Level 1 list.
Build short sentences with 是, 有, 在 and 的; add 40 more words.
Finish the vocabulary list and start timed listening practice.
Review mistakes, complete quizzes and an official sample paper.
Frequently asked questions
How many words are in HSK 3.0 Level 1?
The HSK 3.0 syllabus specifies 300 cumulative words through Level 1. These are cumulative: higher levels include all lower-level vocabulary.
What should I study for HSK 3.0 Level 1?
Study the cumulative vocabulary list, follow the study plan on this page, and use the published quiz, reading, listening and writing modules to identify specific gaps.
Is the HSK 3.0 Level 1 material free on HSK Atlas?
Yes. HSK Atlas provides free vocabulary lists, quizzes, grammar guides, reading, listening and writing practice for HSK 3.0 Level 1. No account or payment is required.
What is the difference between HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0 Level 1?
HSK 3.0 uses three stages and nine levels instead of six. The vocabulary lists are larger, and the advanced stage combines Levels 7–9 into one shared range. Confirm which version your test date uses.
Does HSK Atlas have practice modules for HSK 3.0 Level 1?
Yes. Published practice modules include quiz, reading, listening, writing. New modules are added as they are completed.