Which word lists does the diff compare?

The official HSK 2.0 word lists (the 6-level system used since 2010) against the HSK 3.0 word lists from the 2025 final standard (9 levels, 10,896 unique words). Levels are compared like-for-like: old HSK 4 against new HSK 4, and so on.

What does the coverage percentage mean?

It's the share of the new HSK 3.0 level's words that already appear in the old HSK 2.0 level you selected. For example, old HSK 4 holders already know 55% of new HSK 4 — but 883 words are new.

Does it show words that were removed in HSK 3.0?

Yes — the diff shows both directions: words new in HSK 3.0 at your level, and old HSK 2.0 words that no longer appear at that level in the new standard.

What's new in HSK 3.0?

HSK 3.0 nearly doubled the vocabulary at every level. Here is how much of each new list carries over from the old one. Pick a level to see its new words.

Level	Old list	New list	Already known	New to learn
HSK 1	Old list150	New list300	Already known48%	New to learn157
HSK 2	Old list297	New list496	Already known55%	New to learn225
HSK 3	Old list595	New list988	Already known56%	New to learn438
HSK 4	Old list1,193	New list1,978	Already known55%	New to learn883
HSK 5	Old list2,493	New list3,557	Already known58%	New to learn1,507
HSK 6	Old list4,993	New list5,334	Already known59%	New to learn2,178

Read real Chinese, at your level

Every one has word-level pinyin, narrated audio and tap-to-define.

HSK 1
After Class
Three classmates want different things after class: singing, a movie, or sleep.
3 chapters · audio + pinyin
HSK 2
Too Spicy
A foreign guest struggles to fit in when her hosts’ meals are too spicy for her.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
HSK 3
Train Home for New Year
A city worker heads home for New Year, but a delay stalls her train and stirs memories.
6 chapters · audio + pinyin
HSK 4
The Light Across the River
Reopening her grandmother’s shop, a young woman tracks a mysterious lamp across the river.
7 chapters · audio + pinyin
HSK 5
The Borrowed Phone
After losing his bag, a stranded son can't claim his late father's wages and must seek help.
6 chapters · audio + pinyin
HSK 6
The Smell of Oil at the Night Market
A food inspector traces a night-market illness to tainted oil—and pressure to hide it.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin

Browse every level →

What changed in HSK 3.0?

HSK 3.0 expanded the test from 6 levels to 9 and nearly doubled the vocabulary — from about 5,000 words to 10,896 unique words — with three new advanced levels (HSK 7-9). The word lists were rebuilt from scratch in the 2025 final standard, so words moved between levels, were added, and were removed. CTI has announced the worldwide HSK 3.0 exam launch for 13 December 2026. Confirm your chosen center and exam arrangements at chinesetest.cn. The free HSKStory HSK 3.0 Word Diff above shows, level by level, which words are new and which carried over from the old standard.

For the full breakdown — level mappings, certificate validity, exam format changes, and study advice — read HSK 3.0 vs HSK 2.0: every change explained.

How to use the Word Diff

For existing learners, the biggest question is coverage: how much of the new standard do you already know? The answer varies by level. Old HSK 3 holders know 56% of new HSK 3, while old HSK 5 holders know 58% of new HSK 5. Across levels 1-6, between 48% and 59% of each new list is carried over from the old standard, so most learners keep more than they lose. The gaps are real but manageable.

Pick your old HSK level above to see exactly which words are new, which you already know, and your coverage percentage — then close the gap by reading graded stories at every HSK level.

Frequently asked questions

Which word lists does the diff compare?: The official HSK 2.0 word lists (the 6-level system used since 2010) against the HSK 3.0 word lists from the 2025 final standard (9 levels, 10,896 unique words). Levels are compared like-for-like: old HSK 4 against new HSK 4, and so on.
What does the coverage percentage mean?: It's the share of the new HSK 3.0 level's words that already appear in the old HSK 2.0 level you selected. For example, old HSK 4 holders already know 55% of new HSK 4 — but 883 words are new.
Does it show words that were removed in HSK 3.0?: Yes — the diff shows both directions: words new in HSK 3.0 at your level, and old HSK 2.0 words that no longer appear at that level in the new standard.