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.
7 word entries · Batch 1 of 1
给
Reveal help
给 · gěi
give; to or for someone
Study these uses in context
Your goal: Distinguish giving an object from doing an action for or to someone.
Before you start: Recognise 我, 你 and common object or action phrases; use the supplied meanings for new words.
give someone something
In person + 给 + recipient + object, 给 is the action of giving. Identify both who receives something and what they receive.
我给林安一支笔。
Wǒ gěi Lín Ān yì zhī bǐ.
I give Lin An a pen.
introduce who another action is for or directed to
In 给 + person + action, a different verb names the action. 给 connects that action with its recipient or beneficiary.
我给林安写信。
Wǒ gěi Lín Ān xiě xìn.
I write a letter to Lin An.
Compare: 我给林安一支笔 describes giving a pen. 我给林安写信 describes writing, with Lin An as the recipient. Do not invent an object being handed over whenever you see 给. These are two useful frames; other positions and uses of 给 need their own context.
Try with a clue: 她给我买书。买书 means buy books. What action does she perform, and who is it for? Look for the verb after 我.
Check your reasoning
She buys books for me. 买 names the buying action; 给我 identifies the beneficiary. The sentence does not specify a number of books or say the handover has already happened.
Try a fresh context: 王力给老师一本书。老师 means teacher and 一本书 means a book. What is being given, and to whom? Is there another verb naming a different action?
Check your reasoning
Wang Li gives the teacher a book. 给 itself names the giving action; 老师 is the recipient and 一本书 the object.
Use it in a new situation: Compare 妈妈给我做饭 and 妈妈给我一碗饭. 做饭 means cook and 一碗饭 means a bowl of rice. Explain the difference, then write your own 给 + person + action sentence.
Check your reasoning
The first says Mum cooks for me; 做 names the action. The second says Mum gives me a bowl of rice. A possible new sentence is 我给老师写信 — I write a letter to the teacher. Check which word names the action and who benefits or receives it.
Recall later: Tomorrow, recall a giving sentence and a sentence with 给 before another action. Identify the action, recipient and object in each. A few days later, use different people and objects without copying the examples.
These are selected reading and usage activities. Compare your reasoning before rating recall below; no automatic usage or pronunciation score is awarded.
to ask请to / for / give给I / me我一杯water水。
qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ。
Show English meaning
Please give me a glass of water.
Here, 给: give; to or for someone.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
I / me我to / for / give给(informal) grandma…奶奶to make a telephone call打电话。
Here, 给: to. Learn this use in its lesson.
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才someone有人to / for / give给you你to make a telephone call打电话。
Here, 给: to. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- give; to or for someone
- to
- for
- for the benefit of
- to give
- to allow
- to do sth (for sb)
- (grammatical equivalent of 被)
- (grammatical equivalent of 把)
- (sentence intensifier)
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 61, syllabus PDF page 81. 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.
让
Reveal help
让 · ràng
let; allow; ask someone to do something
mama妈妈to let / make让I / me我early先to write写school assignment作业。
mā ma ràng wǒ xiān xiě zuò yè。
Show English meaning
Mum asked me to do my homework first.
Here, 让: let; allow; ask someone to do something.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
teacher老师to let / make让we / us我们to read a book读书。
Here, 让: ask. Learn this use in its lesson.
he / him他不让I / me我to go去。
Here, 让: let. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- let; allow; ask someone to do something
- to yield
- to permit
- to let sb do sth
- to have sb do sth
- to make sb (feel sad etc)
- by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被[bei4])
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 422, 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.
被
Reveal help
被 · bèi
bèi; introduces the agent in a passive sentence
I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的cell phone手机(passive: by)被younger brother弟弟to take away拿走(completed / change)了。
wǒ de shǒu jī bèi dì di ná zǒu le。
Show English meaning
My phone was taken away by my younger brother.
Here, 被: bèi; introduces the agent in a passive sentence.
More course examples (may introduce later-level language)
I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的bicycle自行车(passive: by)被to steal偷(completed / change)了。
Here, 被: (was). Learn this use in its lesson.
cake蛋糕(passive: by)被younger brother弟弟variant of 吃吃to finish完(completed / change)了。
Here, 被: by. Learn this use in its lesson.
Dictionary senses and source
- bèi; introduces the agent in a passive sentence
- quilt
- to cover (with)
- (literary) to suffer (a misfortune)
- used to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb)
- (since c. 2009) (sarcastic or jocular) used to indicate that the following word should be regarded as being in air quotes (as in 被旅遊|被旅游[bei4 lu:3 you2] to "go on a trip", for example)
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 519, syllabus PDF page 92. 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.
被子
Reveal help
被子 · bèizi
quilt; bed covering
weather天气cold冷(completed / change)了，我换(completed / change)了一床thick厚quilt被子。
tiān qì lěng le， wǒ huàn le yī chuáng hòu bèi zi。
Show English meaning
The weather has turned cold, so I switched to a thick quilt.
Here, 被子: quilt; bed covering.
Dictionary senses and source
- quilt; bed covering
- quilt
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 2039, syllabus PDF page 130. 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.
主动
Reveal help
主动 · zhǔdòng
take the initiative; act without being asked
she / her她to take the initiative主动assistance帮助new新to study at the same school同学to be familiar with熟悉school学校。
tā zhǔ dòng bāng zhù xīn tóng xué shú xi xué xiào。
Show English meaning
She took the initiative to help the new student get to know the school.
Here, 主动: take the initiative; act without being asked.
Dictionary senses and source
- take the initiative; act without being asked
- to take the initiative
- to do sth of one's own accord
- spontaneous
- active
- opposite: passive 被動|被动[bei4 dong4]
- drive (of gears and shafts etc)
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 3542, syllabus PDF page 168. 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.
被动
Reveal help
被动 · bèidòng
passive; responding rather than taking the initiative
被动 describes responding or receiving rather than taking the initiative. 主动 means acting of your own accord. The words can describe learning or behavior, not just grammatical voice.
to learn学习cannot不能only只passive被动(adverb -ly)地to listen to听，also也want / will / need要to take the initiative主动to practice练习。
xué xí bù néng zhǐ bèi dòng de tīng， yě yào zhǔ dòng liàn xí。
Show English meaning
Learning requires more than listening passively. You also need to practice actively.
Here, 被动: passive; responding rather than taking the initiative.
Dictionary senses and source
- passive; responding rather than taking the initiative
- passive
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 3639, syllabus PDF page 170. 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.
被迫
Reveal help
被迫 · bèipò
be forced; have no real choice but to act
because因为heavy rain大雨，we / us我们to be compelled被迫to cancel取消(completed / change)了picnic野餐。
yīn wèi dà yǔ， wǒ men bèi pò qǔ xiāo le yě cān。
Show English meaning
The heavy rain forced us to cancel the picnic.
Here, 被迫: be forced; have no real choice but to act.
Dictionary senses and source
- be forced; have no real choice but to act
- to be compelled
- to be forced
Original teaching usage; additional dictionary senses from CC-CEDICT; official sense numbers are not assigned automatically. Official entry 3640, syllabus PDF page 170. 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.