HSK levels explained

HSK 5 characters to read

The 431 new characters the 2025 HSK syllabus asks you to recognize when reading at HSK 5 (认读字), in its order. Tap one to watch it written stroke by stroke.

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

  1. 哎āi(interjection) hey8 strokes
  2. 唉āi(interjection) sigh10 strokes
  3. 暗àndark13 strokes
  4. 熬áoto endure14 strokes
  5. 版bǎnedition8 strokes
  6. 扮bànto dress up as7 strokes
  7. 伴bàncompanion7 strokes
  8. 膀bǎngshoulder14 strokes
  9. 傍bàngnear12 strokes
  10. 薄báothin16 strokes
  11. 宝bǎotreasure8 strokes
  12. 暴bàosudden and violent15 strokes
  13. 贝bèishellfish4 strokes
  14. 彼bǐthat8 strokes
  15. 币bìmoney4 strokes
  16. 闭bìto close6 strokes
  17. 避bìto avoid16 strokes
  18. 拨bōto dial (a phone number)8 strokes
  19. 玻bōglass9 strokes
  20. 补bǔto fill7 strokes
  21. 布bùcloth5 strokes
  22. 裁cáito cut (paper or cloth)12 strokes
  23. 采cǎito collect8 strokes
  24. 藏cángto hide17 strokes
  25. 册cèbook5 strokes
  26. 测cèto measure9 strokes
  27. 曾céngonce12 strokes
  28. 叉chāfork3 strokes
  29. 插chāto insert12 strokes
  30. 拆chāito tear down8 strokes
  31. 倡chàngto advocate10 strokes
  32. 朝zhāomorning (as in 朝阳, 朝气)12 strokes
  33. 吵chǎoto quarrel7 strokes
  34. 炒chǎoto stir-fry8 strokes
  35. 彻chèthorough7 strokes
  36. 沉chénheavy7 strokes
  37. 称chēngto state10 strokes
  38. 承chéngto bear8 strokes
  39. 橙chéngorange (fruit)16 strokes
  40. 池chípool6 strokes
  41. 尺chǐchi (unit of length, about 33 cm)4 strokes
  42. 齿chǐtooth8 strokes
  43. 翅chìwing10 strokes
  44. 冲chōngto rush6 strokes
  45. 充chōngto charge6 strokes
  46. 虫chónginsect6 strokes
  47. 宠chǒngpet (as in 宠物)8 strokes
  48. 抽chōuto draw (lots)8 strokes
  49. 丑chǒuugly4 strokes
  50. 臭chòusmelly10 strokes
  51. 触chùto touch13 strokes
  52. 传chuánto pass on6 strokes
  53. 创chuàngoriginal6 strokes
  54. 辞cíto resign13 strokes
  55. 刺cìthorn8 strokes
  56. 促cùto urge9 strokes
  57. 催cuīto urge13 strokes
  58. 措cuòto arrange11 strokes
  59. 代dàion behalf of5 strokes
  60. 胆dǎngallbladder9 strokes
  61. 旦dàndawn5 strokes
  62. 淡dànweak11 strokes
  63. 挡dǎnggear (of a car)9 strokes
  64. 档dàngfile10 strokes
  65. 蹈dǎoto step on17 strokes
  66. 敌díenemy10 strokes
  67. 蝶diébutterfly15 strokes
  68. 冻dòngto freeze7 strokes
  69. 洞dònghole9 strokes
  70. 斗dòuto fight4 strokes
  71. 豆dòubean7 strokes
  72. 独dúonly9 strokes
  73. 堆duīto pile up11 strokes
  74. 吨dūnton7 strokes
  75. 盾dùnshield9 strokes
  76. 躲duǒto hide13 strokes
  77. 乏fátired4 strokes
  78. 罚fáto punish9 strokes
  79. 番fānanime series (as in 新番, 追番)12 strokes
  80. 繁fánnumerous17 strokes
  81. 返fǎnto return7 strokes
  82. 泛fàngeneral7 strokes
  83. 范fànmodel8 strokes
  84. 防fángto guard against6 strokes
  85. 仿fǎngto imitate6 strokes
  86. 访fǎngto visit6 strokes
  87. 肥féifertilizer8 strokes
  88. 纷fēnnumerous7 strokes
  89. 疯fēngmad9 strokes
  90. 扶fúto support with the hand7 strokes
  91. 佛fóBuddha7 strokes
  92. 府fǔgovernment office8 strokes
  93. 腐fǔrotten14 strokes
  94. 妇fùwoman6 strokes
  95. 副fùdeputy11 strokes
  96. 盖gàilid11 strokes
  97. 搞gǎoto do13 strokes
  98. 革géleather9 strokes
  99. 隔géto separate12 strokes
  100. 恭gōngrespectful10 strokes
  101. 贡gòngtribute7 strokes
  102. 沟gōugroove7 strokes
  103. 构gòuto construct8 strokes
  104. 古gǔancient5 strokes
  105. 固gùsolid8 strokes
  106. 冠guānhat9 strokes
  107. 瑰guīrose13 strokes
  108. 柜guìcabinet8 strokes
  109. 滚gǔnget lost13 strokes
  110. 锅guōpot12 strokes
  111. 裹guǒto wrap14 strokes
  112. 哈ha(particle) softens a sentence9 strokes
  113. 含hánto contain7 strokes
  114. 憾hànregret16 strokes
  115. 衡héngto weigh16 strokes
  116. 猴hóumonkey12 strokes
  117. 胡húforeign9 strokes
  118. 湖húlake12 strokes
  119. 蝴húbutterfly15 strokes
  120. 糊húburnt (of food)15 strokes
  121. 华huáChina6 strokes
  122. 滑huáslippery12 strokes
  123. 缓huǎnslow12 strokes
  124. 灰huīdust6 strokes
  125. 挥huīto wave9 strokes
  126. 恢huīto restore9 strokes
  127. 汇huìto remit (money)5 strokes
  128. 惠huìfavor12 strokes
  129. 慧huìintelligent15 strokes
  130. 祸huòdisaster11 strokes
  131. 肌jīmuscle6 strokes
  132. 疾jídisease10 strokes
  133. 集jíepisode12 strokes
  134. 辑jíto compile13 strokes
  135. 挤jǐcrowded9 strokes
  136. 迹jìtrace9 strokes
  137. 佳jiāgood8 strokes
  138. 嘉jiāgood14 strokes
  139. 甲jiǎfirst (in a series)5 strokes
  140. 驾jiàto drive8 strokes
  141. 架jiàframe9 strokes
  142. 艰jiāndifficult8 strokes
  143. 捡jiǎnto pick up10 strokes
  144. 剪jiǎnto cut (with scissors)11 strokes
  145. 荐jiànto recommend9 strokes
  146. 渐jiàngradually11 strokes
  147. 践jiànto tread on12 strokes
  148. 浆jiāngthick liquid10 strokes
  149. 浇jiāoto pour on9 strokes
  150. 阶jiēsteps6 strokes
  151. 届jièclassifier for sessions, terms and graduating classes (as in 第十届)8 strokes
  152. 谨jǐncareful13 strokes
  153. 敬jìngto respect12 strokes
  154. 救jiùto save11 strokes
  155. 局júbureau7 strokes
  156. 橘jútangerine16 strokes
  157. 巨jùhuge4 strokes
  158. 捐juānto donate10 strokes
  159. 卷juǎnto roll up8 strokes
  160. 军jūnarmy6 strokes
  161. 均jūnall7 strokes
  162. 靠kàodamn15 strokes
  163. 颗kēclassifier for small round things (grains, pearls, teeth, hearts, stars)14 strokes
  164. 控kòngto control11 strokes
  165. 扣kòubutton6 strokes
  166. 库kù(computing) database7 strokes
  167. 宽kuānwide10 strokes
  168. 款kuǎnstyle (as in 款式)12 strokes
  169. 狂kuángmad7 strokes
  170. 亏kuīto lose (money)3 strokes
  171. 昆kūnelder brother8 strokes
  172. 扩kuòto expand6 strokes
  173. 括kuòto include9 strokes
  174. 览lǎnto look at9 strokes
  175. 郎lángyoung man8 strokes
  176. 劳láolabor7 strokes
  177. 姥lǎomaternal grandparent9 strokes
  178. 泪lèitear8 strokes
  179. 类lèikind9 strokes
  180. 厘lícenti- (one hundredth of a unit)9 strokes
  181. 梨lípear11 strokes
  182. 璃líglass14 strokes
  183. 立lìto stand5 strokes
  184. 恋liànto love10 strokes
  185. 良liánggood7 strokes
  186. 粮liánggrain13 strokes
  187. 疗liáoto treat7 strokes
  188. 烈lièstrong10 strokes
  189. 临línjust before9 strokes
  190. 灵língspirit7 strokes
  191. 铃língbell10 strokes
  192. 领lǐngto receive11 strokes
  193. 令lìngorder5 strokes
  194. 浏liúclear (of water)9 strokes
  195. 龙lóngdragon5 strokes
  196. 漏lòuto leak14 strokes
  197. 陆lùland7 strokes
  198. 录lùto record8 strokes
  199. 碌lùbusy13 strokes
  200. 逻luóto patrol11 strokes
  201. 络luònet9 strokes
  202. 率lǜrate11 strokes
  203. 骂màto scold9 strokes
  204. 矛máospear5 strokes
  205. 玫méirose8 strokes
  206. 媒méimatchmaker12 strokes
  207. 魅mèidemon14 strokes
  208. 秘mìsecret10 strokes
  209. 眠miánto sleep10 strokes
  210. 描miáoto trace11 strokes
  211. 敏mǐnquick11 strokes
  212. 摸mōto touch13 strokes
  213. 模móimitation14 strokes
  214. 陌mòstrange8 strokes
  215. 漠mòdesert13 strokes
  216. 某mǒusome9 strokes
  217. 木mùtree4 strokes
  218. 幕mùcurtain13 strokes
  219. 奈nàihow8 strokes
  220. 念niànto read aloud8 strokes
  221. 浓nóngstrong (of tea, coffee, smell)9 strokes
  222. 哦ofriendly reminder at the end: "…, OK?", "mind you"10 strokes
  223. 欧ōuEurope (short for 欧洲)8 strokes
  224. 派pàito send9 strokes
  225. 培péito bank up with earth11 strokes
  226. 赔péito compensate12 strokes
  227. 配pèito match10 strokes
  228. 盆pénbasin9 strokes
  229. 碰pèngto touch13 strokes
  230. 匹pǐclassifier for horses, mules and bolts of cloth4 strokes
  231. 骗piànto deceive12 strokes
  232. 拼pīnto go all out9 strokes
  233. 凭píngevidence8 strokes
  234. 屏píngscreen9 strokes
  235. 婆póold woman11 strokes
  236. 齐qísurname Qi6 strokes
  237. 企qǐenterprise6 strokes
  238. 器qìdevice16 strokes
  239. 浅qiǎnshallow8 strokes
  240. 欠qiànto owe4 strokes
  241. 墙qiángwall14 strokes
  242. 抢qiǎngto snatch7 strokes
  243. 悄qiǎoquiet10 strokes
  244. 茄qiéeggplant8 strokes
  245. 勤qíndiligent13 strokes
  246. 穷qióngpoor7 strokes
  247. 曲qǔsong6 strokes
  248. 趋qūto tend toward12 strokes
  249. 权quánright (as in 权利)6 strokes
  250. 劝quànto advise4 strokes
  251. 群qúngroup13 strokes
  252. 燃ránto burn16 strokes
  253. 绕ràoto go around9 strokes
  254. 忍rěnto bear7 strokes
  255. 荣rónghonor9 strokes
  256. 软ruǎnsoft8 strokes
  257. 润rùnmoist10 strokes
  258. 弱ruòweak10 strokes
  259. 洒sǎto sprinkle9 strokes
  260. 傻shǎfoolish13 strokes
  261. 厦shàtall building12 strokes
  262. 晒shàito dry in the sun10 strokes
  263. 删shānto delete7 strokes
  264. 扇shànfan10 strokes
  265. 善shàngood12 strokes
  266. 擅shànto be good at16 strokes
  267. 赏shǎngto enjoy12 strokes
  268. 蛇shésnake11 strokes
  269. 舍shěto give up8 strokes
  270. 设shèto set up6 strokes
  271. 伸shēnto stretch7 strokes
  272. 神shéngod9 strokes
  273. 慎shèncareful13 strokes
  274. 升shēngto rise4 strokes
  275. 胜shèngvictory (as in 胜利)9 strokes
  276. 诗shīpoem8 strokes
  277. 施shīto carry out9 strokes
  278. 湿shīwet12 strokes
  279. 石shístone5 strokes
  280. 驶shǐto drive8 strokes
  281. 似sìto resemble6 strokes
  282. 势shìpower8 strokes
  283. 饰shìto decorate8 strokes
  284. 守shǒuto guard6 strokes
  285. 殊shūdifferent10 strokes
  286. 蔬shūvegetables15 strokes
  287. 属shǔto belong to12 strokes
  288. 鼠shǔmouse13 strokes
  289. 述shùto state8 strokes
  290. 摔shuāito fall14 strokes
  291. 税shuìtax12 strokes
  292. 私sīprivate7 strokes
  293. 搜sōuto search12 strokes
  294. 俗súvulgar9 strokes
  295. 肃sùsolemn8 strokes
  296. 素sùvegetarian10 strokes
  297. 宿sùto stay overnight11 strokes
  298. 碎suìto break into pieces13 strokes
  299. 损sǔnto damage10 strokes
  300. 缩suōto shrink14 strokes
  301. 索suǒlarge rope10 strokes
  302. 锁suǒlock12 strokes
  303. 桃táopeach10 strokes
  304. 替tìto take the place of12 strokes
  305. 挑tiǎorising stroke (in Chinese characters)9 strokes
  306. 贴tiēto stick9 strokes
  307. 统tǒngto unite9 strokes
  308. 投tóuto put in7 strokes
  309. 途túway10 strokes
  310. 兔tùrabbit8 strokes
  311. 团tuángroup6 strokes
  312. 退tuìto return9 strokes
  313. 拖tuōto mop (the floor)8 strokes
  314. 弯wānbent9 strokes
  315. 威wēipower9 strokes
  316. 违wéito disobey7 strokes
  317. 唯wéionly11 strokes
  318. 维wéito maintain11 strokes
  319. 伟wěigreat6 strokes
  320. 尾wěitail7 strokes
  321. 未wèinot yet5 strokes
  322. 胃wèistomach9 strokes
  323. 慰wèito comfort15 strokes
  324. 稳wěnsteady14 strokes
  325. 卧wòto lie down8 strokes
  326. 握wòto hold12 strokes
  327. 伍wǔarmy ranks6 strokes
  328. 武wǔmilitary8 strokes
  329. 雾wùfog13 strokes
  330. 夕xīdusk3 strokes
  331. 析xīto analyze8 strokes
  332. 席xíseat10 strokes
  333. 闲xiánidle7 strokes
  334. 显xiǎnto show9 strokes
  335. 县xiàncounty7 strokes
  336. 限xiànlimit8 strokes
  337. 献xiànto offer13 strokes
  338. 厢xiāngside room11 strokes
  339. 享xiǎngto enjoy (as in 享受)8 strokes
  340. 橡xiàngoak15 strokes
  341. 销xiāoto sell12 strokes
  342. 肖xiàoto resemble7 strokes
  343. 协xiéto assist6 strokes
  344. 胁xiéto coerce8 strokes
  345. 斜xiéslanting11 strokes
  346. 欣xīnhappy8 strokes
  347. 形xíngshape7 strokes
  348. 型xíngmodel9 strokes
  349. 虚xūempty11 strokes
  350. 绪xùthread11 strokes
  351. 宣xuānto declare9 strokes
  352. 寻xúnto look for6 strokes
  353. 询xúnto ask8 strokes
  354. 训xùnto teach5 strokes
  355. 迅xùnfast6 strokes
  356. 押yāto detain8 strokes
  357. 鸭yāduck10 strokes
  358. 呀yā(interjection) oh7 strokes
  359. 延yánto postpone6 strokes
  360. 沿yánalong8 strokes
  361. 腰yāowaist13 strokes
  362. 摇yáoto shake13 strokes
  363. 咬yǎoto bite9 strokes
  364. 依yīaccording to (as in 依法)8 strokes
  365. 移yíto move11 strokes
  366. 遗yíto leave behind12 strokes
  367. 乙yǐsecond (of ten heavenly stems)1 strokes
  368. 亿yìhundred million3 strokes
  369. 义yìjustice3 strokes
  370. 益yìbenefit10 strokes
  371. 营yíngcamp11 strokes
  372. 映yìngto reflect9 strokes
  373. 硬yìnghard12 strokes
  374. 拥yōngto embrace8 strokes
  375. 悠yōulong11 strokes
  376. 犹yóuas if7 strokes
  377. 幼yòuyoung5 strokes
  378. 余yúsurname Yu7 strokes
  379. 娱yúto amuse10 strokes
  380. 玉yùjade5 strokes
  381. 域yùregion11 strokes
  382. 喻yùmetaphor12 strokes
  383. 寓yùresidence12 strokes
  384. 豫yùHenan (short for 河南)15 strokes
  385. 圆yuánround10 strokes
  386. 源yuánsource13 strokes
  387. 怨yuànto complain9 strokes
  388. 载zàito carry10 strokes
  389. 赞zànto praise16 strokes
  390. 糟zāoin a mess17 strokes
  391. 造zàoto make10 strokes
  392. 赠zèngto give as a present16 strokes
  393. 炸zhàto explode9 strokes
  394. 摘zhāito pick14 strokes
  395. 窄zhǎinarrow10 strokes
  396. 占zhànto occupy5 strokes
  397. 战zhànwar9 strokes
  398. 涨zhǎngto rise10 strokes
  399. 掌zhǎngpalm (of the hand)12 strokes
  400. 召zhàoto call together5 strokes
  401. 哲zhéwise10 strokes
  402. 珍zhēnprecious thing9 strokes
  403. 诊zhěnto examine (a patient)7 strokes
  404. 阵zhènbattle formation6 strokes
  405. 震zhènto shake15 strokes
  406. 征zhēngto recruit8 strokes
  407. 挣zhèngto earn9 strokes
  408. 政zhèngpolitics9 strokes
  409. 织zhīto weave8 strokes
  410. 执zhíto hold6 strokes
  411. 制zhìto make8 strokes
  412. 治zhìto control (as in 治水)8 strokes
  413. 致zhìto cause10 strokes
  414. 智zhìwisdom12 strokes
  415. 置zhìto place13 strokes
  416. 猪zhūpig11 strokes
  417. 竹zhúbamboo6 strokes
  418. 逐zhúone by one10 strokes
  419. 煮zhǔto boil12 strokes
  420. 筑zhùto build12 strokes
  421. 抓zhuāto pay close attention to7 strokes
  422. 状zhuàngshape7 strokes
  423. 撞zhuàngto hit15 strokes
  424. 追zhuīto follow (a TV series, a celebrity) (as in 追剧, 追星)9 strokes
  425. 咨zīto consult9 strokes
  426. 姿zīposture9 strokes
  427. 紫zǐpurple12 strokes
  428. 综zōngto sum up11 strokes
  429. 阻zǔto block7 strokes
  430. 醉zuìdrunk15 strokes
  431. 遵zūnto follow15 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.