HSK 2 Vocabulary
197 new words with pinyin, meanings and an example sentence for every word. Search by character, pinyin without tones, or English.
See these words in a story
Every one has word-level pinyin, narrated audio and tap-to-define.
- HSK 2
The Book We Both Wanted
Two customers claim one childhood book; a shopkeeper gives them until six to explain why.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Two Months Behind
He's two months behind, so he copies homework. The same mistakes give him away.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Two Days of Rain
Heavy rain cancels a family's mountain trip, and a boy loses his new umbrella at the mall.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
HSK 2 adds 197 new words to your foundation, bringing your total to nearly 500. At this level you can handle basic conversations and follow stories with slightly more complex plots. Grammar introduces comparisons, duration, and simple cause-and-effect.
Stories with richer plots — minor conflicts, simple travel situations, and conversations between friends. You’ll see more connectors (因为、所以、但是) that let stories flow more naturally. Characters start having opinions, not just routines.
Study the 197 new Level 2 words offline with the Free HSK 2 Anki deck, including word and sentence audio.
Common Questions
What’s the difference between HSK 1 and HSK 2 stories?
HSK 2 stories have longer chapters, more dialogue, and introduce basic plot complications. Where HSK 1 stories describe simple situations, HSK 2 stories have characters making decisions and dealing with small problems.
I passed HSK 1 but still struggle with reading. Should I jump to HSK 2?
Read a few more HSK 1 stories first. Passing the test means you recognize words in isolation — reading stories builds fluency, the ability to process words at natural speed in context. Once HSK 1 stories feel comfortable, move up.
How many characters do I need to know for HSK 2?
HSK 2 uses about 350 unique characters (some words share characters). If you’re comfortable with HSK 1, you already know roughly 250 of them. The 100 new characters appear repeatedly across our stories, so they’ll stick.
Read HSK 2 stories
Every one has word-level pinyin, narrated audio and tap-to-define.
- HSK 2
The Book We Both Wanted
Two customers claim one childhood book; a shopkeeper gives them until six to explain why.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Two Months Behind
He's two months behind, so he copies homework. The same mistakes give him away.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Two Days of Rain
Heavy rain cancels a family's mountain trip, and a boy loses his new umbrella at the mall.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Snow on the Day We Left
A blizzard grounds their flight north, and the hotel booking runs out before they arrive.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Her First Month at the Shop
After twelve years at home, a mother joins a flower shop. The flower names won't stick.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin
- HSK 2
Going Home for the New Year
After work cancels her only train home, a worker faces an icy 18-hour bus her mother fears.
4 chapters · audio + pinyin