HSK levels explained

HSK 4 characters to read

The 441 new characters the 2025 HSK syllabus asks you to recognize when reading at HSK 4 (认读字), in its order. Tap one to watch it written stroke by stroke.

Test yourself

Test yourself hides the pinyin and meaning until you point at a character.

  1. 按ànto press9 strokes
  2. 案àncase10 strokes
  3. 傲àoproud12 strokes
  4. 巴bā(suffix) used in some nouns4 strokes
  5. 败bàito fail8 strokes
  6. 棒bànggreat12 strokes
  7. 保bǎoto protect9 strokes
  8. 抱bàoto hold in one's arms8 strokes
  9. 背bèiback (of the body)9 strokes
  10. 倍bèitimes10 strokes
  11. 笨bènstupid11 strokes
  12. 鼻bínose14 strokes
  13. 毕bìto finish6 strokes
  14. 标biāoto label9 strokes
  15. 饼bǐngflatbread9 strokes
  16. 并bìngand6 strokes
  17. 播bōto stream15 strokes
  18. 博bóextensive12 strokes
  19. 膊bóarm14 strokes
  20. 部bùdepartment10 strokes
  21. 擦cāto wipe17 strokes
  22. 猜cāito guess11 strokes
  23. 材cáimaterial7 strokes
  24. 彩cǎicolor11 strokes
  25. 餐cānmeal16 strokes
  26. 操cāoto hold16 strokes
  27. 厕cètoilet8 strokes
  28. 察cháto examine14 strokes
  29. 产chǎnto produce6 strokes
  30. 厂chǎngfactory2 strokes
  31. 晨chénmorning11 strokes
  32. 诚chéngsincere8 strokes
  33. 乘chéngto ride10 strokes
  34. 程chéngjourney12 strokes
  35. 厨chúkitchen12 strokes
  36. 础chǔplinth10 strokes
  37. 窗chuāngwindow12 strokes
  38. 吹chuīto blow7 strokes
  39. 此cǐthis6 strokes
  40. 粗cūthick11 strokes
  41. 村cūnvillage7 strokes
  42. 存cúnto store6 strokes
  43. 达dáto reach6 strokes
  44. 待dàiwhen9 strokes
  45. 袋dàibag11 strokes
  46. 戴dàito wear (a hat, glasses, jewelry, etc.)17 strokes
  47. 弹tánto flick11 strokes
  48. 刀dāoknife2 strokes
  49. 导dǎoto lead6 strokes
  50. 倒dàoupside down10 strokes
  51. 登dēngto publish12 strokes
  52. 低dīlow7 strokes
  53. 底dǐbottom8 strokes
  54. 递dìto hand over10 strokes
  55. 掉diàoto fall11 strokes
  56. 订dìngto book4 strokes
  57. 堵dǔto block11 strokes
  58. 肚dùbelly7 strokes
  59. 度dùextent9 strokes
  60. 断duànto break11 strokes
  61. 队duìteam4 strokes
  62. 顿dùnsuddenly10 strokes
  63. 尔ěryou5 strokes
  64. 翻fānto turn over18 strokes
  65. 烦fánannoyed10 strokes
  66. 反fǎnto oppose4 strokes
  67. 费fèifee9 strokes
  68. 份fènportion6 strokes
  69. 奋fènto exert oneself8 strokes
  70. 丰fēngabundant4 strokes
  71. 否fǒuno7 strokes
  72. 肤fūskin8 strokes
  73. 符fúmark11 strokes
  74. 幅fúwidth (of cloth)12 strokes
  75. 福fúgood fortune13 strokes
  76. 父fùfather4 strokes
  77. 付fùto pay5 strokes
  78. 负fùnegative6 strokes
  79. 傅fùteacher12 strokes
  80. 富fùrich12 strokes
  81. 改gǎito change7 strokes
  82. 赶gǎnto hurry10 strokes
  83. 敢gǎnto dare (to)11 strokes
  84. 钢gāngsteel9 strokes
  85. 膏gāopaste14 strokes
  86. 胳gēarm10 strokes
  87. 格gésquare10 strokes
  88. 各gèeach6 strokes
  89. 功gōngmerit5 strokes
  90. 供gōngto supply8 strokes
  91. 购gòuto buy8 strokes
  92. 够gòuenough11 strokes
  93. 估gūto estimate7 strokes
  94. 姑gūfather's sister8 strokes
  95. 鼓gǔdrum13 strokes
  96. 挂guàto hang9 strokes
  97. 观guānto look at6 strokes
  98. 管guǎnto manage14 strokes
  99. 光guānglight6 strokes
  100. 广guǎngGuangdong or Guangzhou (short for 广东, 广州)3 strokes
  101. 逛guàngto stroll10 strokes
  102. 规guīrule8 strokes
  103. 咳hāi(interj.) expressing regret or surprise: oh9 strokes
  104. 寒háncold12 strokes
  105. 喊hǎnto shout12 strokes
  106. 汗hànspeechless6 strokes
  107. 航hángto sail10 strokes
  108. 何hésurname He7 strokes
  109. 盒hébox11 strokes
  110. 贺hèto congratulate9 strokes
  111. 厚hòuthick9 strokes
  112. 呼hūto call8 strokes
  113. 忽hūsuddenly8 strokes
  114. 虎hǔtiger8 strokes
  115. 互hùmutual4 strokes
  116. 户hùhousehold4 strokes
  117. 划huáto scratch6 strokes
  118. 怀huáimind7 strokes
  119. 悔huǐto regret10 strokes
  120. 伙huǒpartner6 strokes
  121. 货huògoods8 strokes
  122. 获huòto get10 strokes
  123. 圾jīgarbage6 strokes
  124. 积jīto accumulate10 strokes
  125. 基jībase11 strokes
  126. 及jíand3 strokes
  127. 即jínamely7 strokes
  128. 籍jíbook20 strokes
  129. 计jìplan4 strokes
  130. 纪jìdiscipline6 strokes
  131. 技jìskill7 strokes
  132. 际jìborder7 strokes
  133. 济jìto help9 strokes
  134. 既jìalready (as in 既往)9 strokes
  135. 继jìto continue10 strokes
  136. 寄jìto send11 strokes
  137. 价jiàprice6 strokes
  138. 减jiǎnto reduce11 strokes
  139. 建jiànto build8 strokes
  140. 键jiànkey (of a keyboard, piano)13 strokes
  141. 江jiāngsurname Jiang6 strokes
  142. 将jiāngwill9 strokes
  143. 奖jiǎngprize9 strokes
  144. 降jiàngto fall8 strokes
  145. 郊jiāosuburbs8 strokes
  146. 骄jiāoproud9 strokes
  147. 巾jīntowel3 strokes
  148. 金jīngold8 strokes
  149. 仅jǐnonly4 strokes
  150. 尽jìnto the utmost6 strokes
  151. 紧jǐntight10 strokes
  152. 禁jìnto prohibit13 strokes
  153. 京jīngcapital city8 strokes
  154. 惊jīngto startle11 strokes
  155. 精jīngskilled14 strokes
  156. 景jǐngview12 strokes
  157. 警jǐngpolice19 strokes
  158. 竞jìngto compete10 strokes
  159. 竟jìngunexpectedly11 strokes
  160. 镜jìngmirror16 strokes
  161. 究jiūto study7 strokes
  162. 举jǔto hold (an event) (as in 举办)9 strokes
  163. 拒jùto refuse7 strokes
  164. 具jùtool8 strokes
  165. 剧jùdrama10 strokes
  166. 距jùto be apart from11 strokes
  167. 聚jùto gather14 strokes
  168. 绝juéunique9 strokes
  169. 烤kǎoto roast10 strokes
  170. 科kēbranch of study9 strokes
  171. 棵kēclassifier for trees, plants and vegetables12 strokes
  172. 克kèused in transliteration7 strokes
  173. 肯kěnto be willing (to)8 strokes
  174. 恐kǒngto fear10 strokes
  175. 苦kǔbitter8 strokes
  176. 况kuàngsituation7 strokes
  177. 困kùnsleepy7 strokes
  178. 垃lāgarbage8 strokes
  179. 拉lāto empty one's bowels8 strokes
  180. 辣làhot14 strokes
  181. 懒lǎnlazy16 strokes
  182. 浪làngwave10 strokes
  183. 厉lìsevere5 strokes
  184. 丽lìbeautiful7 strokes
  185. 励lìto encourage7 strokes
  186. 利lìadvantage7 strokes
  187. 例lìexample8 strokes
  188. 俩liǎtwo9 strokes
  189. 连liánto link7 strokes
  190. 联liánto unite12 strokes
  191. 谅liàngto forgive10 strokes
  192. 量liàngamount12 strokes
  193. 列liècolumn (of a table)6 strokes
  194. 林línforest8 strokes
  195. 龄língage13 strokes
  196. 另lìngother5 strokes
  197. 流liúto flow10 strokes
  198. 乱luàndisorderly7 strokes
  199. 论lùnto discuss6 strokes
  200. 落luòto fall12 strokes
  201. 律lǜlaw9 strokes
  202. 虑lǜto consider10 strokes
  203. 麻máhemp11 strokes
  204. 馒mánsteamed bun14 strokes
  205. 漫màncomics14 strokes
  206. 帽màohat12 strokes
  207. 貌màoappearance14 strokes
  208. 美měibeautiful9 strokes
  209. 梦mèngdream11 strokes
  210. 迷míto be lost9 strokes
  211. 密mìdense11 strokes
  212. 免miǎnto exempt7 strokes
  213. 秒miǎosecond (unit of time or angle)9 strokes
  214. 民mínthe people5 strokes
  215. 命mìnglife (as in 生命)8 strokes
  216. 默mòsilent16 strokes
  217. 母mǔmother5 strokes
  218. 慕mùto admire14 strokes
  219. 耐nàito endure9 strokes
  220. 恼nǎoangry9 strokes
  221. 闹nàoto make a fuss8 strokes
  222. 内nèiinside4 strokes
  223. 嗯ng(interjection) hmm13 strokes
  224. 娘niángyoung woman (as in 姑娘)10 strokes
  225. 农nóngagriculture6 strokes
  226. 弄nòngto do7 strokes
  227. 暖nuǎnwarm13 strokes
  228. 偶ǒuimage11 strokes
  229. 排páito arrange11 strokes
  230. 牌páisign12 strokes
  231. 判pànto judge7 strokes
  232. 乓pāng(onomatopoeia) bang6 strokes
  233. 陪péito accompany10 strokes
  234. 批pīto approve (as in 批准)7 strokes
  235. 皮pískin5 strokes
  236. 脾píspleen12 strokes
  237. 篇piānpiece of writing15 strokes
  238. 频pínfrequently13 strokes
  239. 品pǐnarticle9 strokes
  240. 聘pìnto engage13 strokes
  241. 乒pīng(onom.) ping6 strokes
  242. 评píngto comment7 strokes
  243. 泼pōto splash8 strokes
  244. 破pòto break10 strokes
  245. 葡púgrape12 strokes
  246. 普pǔgeneral12 strokes
  247. 戚qīrelative11 strokes
  248. 弃qìto abandon7 strokes
  249. 签qiānto sign (one's name)13 strokes
  250. 歉qiànapology14 strokes
  251. 强qiángstrong12 strokes
  252. 敲qiāoto knock14 strokes
  253. 桥qiáobridge10 strokes
  254. 巧qiǎocoincidental5 strokes
  255. 切qiēto cut4 strokes
  256. 亲qīn(internet) dear (form of address)9 strokes
  257. 琴qíngeneral term for stringed or keyboard instruments (as in 钢琴, 小提琴)12 strokes
  258. 青qīngyoung (as in 青年)8 strokes
  259. 庆qìngto celebrate6 strokes
  260. 取qǔto take8 strokes
  261. 缺quēto lack10 strokes
  262. 却quèbut7 strokes
  263. 确quèreally12 strokes
  264. 染rǎnto dye9 strokes
  265. 扰rǎoto disturb7 strokes
  266. 任rénsurname Ren6 strokes
  267. 扔rēngto throw5 strokes
  268. 仍réngstill4 strokes
  269. 入rùto enter2 strokes
  270. 散sànto break up12 strokes
  271. 森sēnforest12 strokes
  272. 伤shāngwound6 strokes
  273. 稍shāoslightly12 strokes
  274. 社shèclub7 strokes
  275. 摄shèto take (a photo)13 strokes
  276. 申shēnto state5 strokes
  277. 深shēndeep11 strokes
  278. 甚shènvery9 strokes
  279. 省shěngprovince9 strokes
  280. 剩shèngto remain12 strokes
  281. 失shīto lose5 strokes
  282. 拾shíto pick up9 strokes
  283. 食shíto eat9 strokes
  284. 使shǐto use8 strokes
  285. 氏shìclan4 strokes
  286. 示shìto show5 strokes
  287. 式shìstyle6 strokes
  288. 柿shìpersimmon9 strokes
  289. 释shìto explain12 strokes
  290. 匙chíspoon11 strokes
  291. 首shǒufirst (as in 首次)9 strokes
  292. 授shòuto award11 strokes
  293. 售shòuto sell11 strokes
  294. 输shūto enter13 strokes
  295. 熟shúcooked15 strokes
  296. 暑shǔheat12 strokes
  297. 术shùskill5 strokes
  298. 帅shuàihandsome5 strokes
  299. 顺shùnsmooth9 strokes
  300. 硕shuòlarge11 strokes
  301. 死sǐto die6 strokes
  302. 松sōngpine8 strokes
  303. 嗽sòuto cough14 strokes
  304. 速sùspeed10 strokes
  305. 塑sùto model13 strokes
  306. 酸suānsour14 strokes
  307. 随suíto follow11 strokes
  308. 孙sūngrandchild6 strokes
  309. 台táistation (radio, TV)5 strokes
  310. 抬táito lift8 strokes
  311. 态tàicondition8 strokes
  312. 谈tánto talk10 strokes
  313. 汤tāngsoup6 strokes
  314. 躺tǎngto lie (down)15 strokes
  315. 趟tàngclassifier for trips or runs15 strokes
  316. 萄táogrape11 strokes
  317. 讨tǎoto ask for5 strokes
  318. 套tàocover10 strokes
  319. 堂táng(archaic) court of law11 strokes
  320. 填tiánto fill in13 strokes
  321. 厅tīnghall4 strokes
  322. 庭tíngcourtyard9 strokes
  323. 停tíngto stop11 strokes
  324. 通tōng'Connect'10 strokes
  325. 童tóngchild12 strokes
  326. 桶tǒngbucket11 strokes
  327. 痛tòngpain12 strokes
  328. 土tǔsoil3 strokes
  329. 推tuīto recommend (as in 推荐)11 strokes
  330. 脱tuōto take off (clothes)11 strokes
  331. 袜wàsock10 strokes
  332. 危wēidanger6 strokes
  333. 微wēitiny13 strokes
  334. 围wéito surround7 strokes
  335. 味wèitaste8 strokes
  336. 温wēnwarm12 strokes
  337. 污wūdirty6 strokes
  338. 无wúnot have4 strokes
  339. 误wùby mistake9 strokes
  340. 吸xīto suck6 strokes
  341. 悉xīto know11 strokes
  342. 惜xīto cherish11 strokes
  343. 细xìthin8 strokes
  344. 咸xiánsalty9 strokes
  345. 险xiǎndanger9 strokes
  346. 线xiànline8 strokes
  347. 羡xiànto envy12 strokes
  348. 乡xiāngtownship (administrative unit)3 strokes
  349. 详xiángdetailed8 strokes
  350. 项xiàngsurname Xiang9 strokes
  351. 象xiàngelephant11 strokes
  352. 消xiāoto remove10 strokes
  353. 效xiàoeffect10 strokes
  354. 辛xīneighth of the ten Heavenly Stems7 strokes
  355. 醒xǐngto wake up16 strokes
  356. 幸xìngfortunate8 strokes
  357. 性xìngsex8 strokes
  358. 兄xiōngelder brother5 strokes
  359. 修xiūto repair9 strokes
  360. 羞xiūshy10 strokes
  361. 秀xiùelegant7 strokes
  362. 许xǔto promise (as in 许诺)6 strokes
  363. 序xùorder7 strokes
  364. 续xùto continue (as in 继续)11 strokes
  365. 血xuèblood6 strokes
  366. 压yāto press6 strokes
  367. 亚yàAsia (short for 亚洲)6 strokes
  368. 烟yānsmoke10 strokes
  369. 严yánsurname Yan7 strokes
  370. 研yánto research9 strokes
  371. 盐yánsalt10 strokes
  372. 厌yànto be fed up with6 strokes
  373. 验yànto examine10 strokes
  374. 扬yángto raise6 strokes
  375. 洋yángocean9 strokes
  376. 邀yāoto invite16 strokes
  377. 钥yàokey9 strokes
  378. 叶yèleaf5 strokes
  379. 夜yènight8 strokes
  380. 疑yíto doubt14 strokes
  381. 艺yìskill4 strokes
  382. 忆yìto recall4 strokes
  383. 译yìto translate7 strokes
  384. 谊yìfriendship10 strokes
  385. 引yǐnto cause4 strokes
  386. 印yìnto print5 strokes
  387. 赢yíngto win17 strokes
  388. 永yǒngforever5 strokes
  389. 勇yǒngbrave9 strokes
  390. 优yōuexcellent6 strokes
  391. 幽yōudark9 strokes
  392. 尤yóuespecially4 strokes
  393. 由yóuby (marks who does something)5 strokes
  394. 油yóuoil8 strokes
  395. 愉yúpleased12 strokes
  396. 与yǔand3 strokes
  397. 预yùin advance10 strokes
  398. 原yuánoriginal10 strokes
  399. 约yuēabout6 strokes
  400. 阅yuèto read10 strokes
  401. 云yúnto say4 strokes
  402. 允yǔnto allow4 strokes
  403. 杂zámixed6 strokes
  404. 仔zǎi(dialect) son5 strokes
  405. 暂zàntemporary12 strokes
  406. 则zéthen6 strokes
  407. 责zéresponsibility8 strokes
  408. 增zēngto increase15 strokes
  409. 章zhāngchapter11 strokes
  410. 账zhàngaccount8 strokes
  411. 招zhāotrick8 strokes
  412. 折zhéto bend7 strokes
  413. 针zhēnneedle7 strokes
  414. 争zhēngto strive for6 strokes
  415. 整zhěngexactly16 strokes
  416. 证zhèngcertificate7 strokes
  417. 之zhīof (formal/written 的)3 strokes
  418. 支zhībranch4 strokes
  419. 汁zhījuice5 strokes
  420. 值zhíto be worth10 strokes
  421. 职zhíjob11 strokes
  422. 植zhíto plant12 strokes
  423. 止zhǐto stop4 strokes
  424. 址zhǐsite7 strokes
  425. 指zhǐto mean9 strokes
  426. 至zhìto6 strokes
  427. 志zhìwill7 strokes
  428. 质zhìnature8 strokes
  429. 众zhòngmany6 strokes
  430. 洲zhōucontinent9 strokes
  431. 祝zhùto wish9 strokes
  432. 著zhùto write11 strokes
  433. 专zhuānspecial4 strokes
  434. 转zhuǎnto transfer8 strokes
  435. 赚zhuànto earn14 strokes
  436. 装zhuāngto pack12 strokes
  437. 资zīmoney10 strokes
  438. 族zúethnic group11 strokes
  439. 组zǔgroup8 strokes
  440. 尊zūnsenior12 strokes
  441. 座zuòconstellation10 strokes

Characters and levels from the HSK 考试大纲 (Center for Language Education and Cooperation, November 2025). Strokes from Make Me a Hanzi (Arphic Public License). Meanings from our own dictionary.