HSK6: learn ten words at a time
When a word is new, open its help and listen to the example. On later visits, try recalling before opening help. Start with five to ten words and revisit tomorrow.
From the new HSK 3.0 word list. Every word here has an original Chinese example, English translation and pinyin. Try reading the example after recalling the word.
20 word entries · Batch 1 of 2
是
是 · shì
be; identify or classify
Use 是 to identify a person or classify something. Ordinary adjective statements use a different frame, such as 今天很热. 是 can appear with adjectives in other constructions; this is not a universal ban.
我是学生。
wǒ shì xué shēng。
Show English meaning
I am a student.
Here, 是: be; identify or classify.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
在我看来，他是对的。
Here, 是: is. Learn this use in its lesson.
我又不是小孩。
Here, 是: am. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- be; identify or classify
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 188, syllabus PDF page 84. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
要
要 · yào
want; need; will, depending on context
我要两个包子。
wǒ yào liǎng gè bāo zi。
Show English meaning
I would like two steamed buns.
Here, 要: want; need; will, depending on context.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
即使下雨，我也要去。
Here, 要: will. Learn this use in its lesson.
不管多难，我都要试。
Here, 要: will. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- want; need; will, depending on context
- to want
- to need
- to ask for
- will
- shall
- about to
- need to
- should
- if (same as 要是[yao4 shi5])
- (bound form) important
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 252, syllabus PDF page 86. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
但是
但是 · dànshì
but; introduces a contrast
我想出去玩，但是今天有考试。
wǒ xiǎng chū qù wán， dàn shì jīn tiān yǒu kǎo shì。
Show English meaning
I want to go out and have fun, but I have an exam today.
Here, 但是: but; introduces a contrast.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
便宜，但是太小。
Here, 但是: but. Learn this use in its lesson.
我想去，但是没时间。
Here, 但是: but. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- but; introduces a contrast
- but
- however
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 331, syllabus PDF page 88. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
还是
还是 · háishi
or; presents alternatives in a choice question
你想喝红茶还是绿茶？
nǐ xiǎng hē hóng chá hái shi lǜ chá？
Show English meaning
Would you like black tea or green tea?
Here, 还是: or; presents alternatives in a choice question.
Dictionary senses and source
- or; presents alternatives in a choice question
- still (as before)
- had better
- unexpectedly
- or
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 352, syllabus PDF page 88. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
就
就 · jiù
then; in this sentence, connects a sequence with little delay
我吃完饭就去学校。
wǒ chī wán fàn jiù qù xué xiào。
Show English meaning
I will go to school as soon as I finish eating.
Here, 就: then; in this sentence, connects a sequence with little delay.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
你想吃什么就吃什么。
Here, 就: then. Learn this use in its lesson.
只要努力，就能成功。
Here, 就: then. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- then; in this sentence, connects a sequence with little delay
- (after a suppositional clause) in that case
- then
- (after a clause of action) as soon as
- immediately after
- (same as 就是[jiu4 shi4]) merely
- nothing else but
- simply
- just
- precisely
- exactly
- only
- as little as
- as much as
- as many as
- to approach
- to move towards
- to undertake
- to engage in
- (often followed by 著|着[zhe5]) taking advantage of
- (of food) to go with
- with regard to
- concerning
- (pattern: 就[jiu4] ... 也[ye3] ...) even if ... still ...
- (pattern: 不[bu4] ... 就[jiu4] ...) if not ... then must be ...
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 376, syllabus PDF page 89. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
虽然
虽然 · suīrán
although; commonly paired with 但是 in a contrasting statement
虽然今天下雨，但是我还想出去。
suī rán jīn tiān xià yǔ， dàn shì wǒ hái xiǎng chū qù。
Show English meaning
Although it is raining today, I still want to go out.
Here, 虽然: although; commonly paired with 但是 in a contrasting statement.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
虽然很累，但是我想去。
Here, 虽然: although. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- although; commonly paired with 但是 in a contrasting statement
- although
- even though (often used correlatively with 可是[ke3 shi4] or 但是[dan4 shi4] etc)
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 438, syllabus PDF page 90. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
可是
可是 · kěshì
but; however
我想出去玩，可是今天下雨。
wǒ xiǎng chū qù wán， kě shì jīn tiān xià yǔ。
Show English meaning
I want to go out and have fun, but it is raining today.
Here, 可是: but; however.
Dictionary senses and source
- but; however
- but
- however
- (used for emphasis) indeed
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 734, syllabus PDF page 98. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
特别
特别 · tèbié
particularly; very; also special, depending on context
这本书特别有意思。
zhè běn shū tè bié yǒu yì si。
Show English meaning
This book is particularly interesting.
Here, 特别: particularly; very; also special, depending on context.
Dictionary senses and source
- particularly; very; also special, depending on context
- unusual
- special
- very
- especially
- particularly
- expressly
- for a specific purpose
- (often followed by 是[shi4]) in particular
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 851, syllabus PDF page 101. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
只是
只是 · zhǐshì
only; merely; just that
我想去，只是今天没有时间。
wǒ xiǎng qù， zhǐ shì jīn tiān méi yǒu shí jiān。
Show English meaning
I would like to go; it is just that I have no time today.
Here, 只是: only; merely; just that.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
我只是开玩笑而已。
Here, 只是: only. Learn this use in its lesson.
所谓的成功，不只是钱。
Here, 只是: only. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- only; merely; just that
- merely
- only
- just
- nothing but
- simply
- but
- however
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 978, syllabus PDF page 104. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
总是
总是 · zǒngshì
always; consistently does something
她总是准时到学校。
tā zǒng shì zhǔn shí dào xué xiào。
Show English meaning
She always arrives at school on time.
Here, 总是: always; consistently does something.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
他总是迟到。
Here, 总是: always. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- always; consistently does something
- always
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 994, syllabus PDF page 104. Dictionary reading comparison: exact. Numbered senses in the official inventory are not assigned from the dictionary automatically.
Try saying or writing a short sentence with this word. Check the intended meaning, its position and the surrounding words; recall alone does not establish correct usage.
Rate the attempt you made before opening help. For a new word, choose “Review again” and try recalling it later.
About this word list
The index includes all 5,400 official HSK 3.0 entries across six levels. Different readings and official entries remain separate. Original teaching examples illustrate particular uses; additional dictionary senses are reference support. This does not establish complete syllabus teaching or exam readiness.
Use example pinyin with the audio. 一 and 不 can change tone in ordinary speech; revisit tone changes if these sound different. 儿 can join the preceding syllable, as in huìr.
Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, CC BY-SA 4.0. Original teaching examples retain their course-reference attribution. Self-review is saved on this device; writing is not uploaded.