HSK 7 is part of the new HSK 3.0 standard introduced in 2025. HSK 7, 8, and 9 share a cumulative pool of nearly 11,000 words — the difference between levels is conceptual complexity, not vocabulary. HSK 7 stories feature professional and academic themes with sophisticated vocabulary.
Stories set in professional environments — courtrooms, hospitals, research labs, government offices. The language includes formal registers, technical terminology, and academic discourse. Think of these as the kind of text a Chinese professional reads daily.
Common Questions
What is HSK 7 and why is it new?▼
HSK 7 is part of the 2025 HSK 3.0 reform that added three advanced levels (7, 8, 9) to the original 1-6 scale. It targets professionals and graduate students who need Chinese beyond conversational fluency. HSKStory is one of the only platforms offering graded reading at this level.
HSK 7-9 share the same vocabulary. What makes HSK 7 different from 8 and 9?▼
The vocabulary pool is the same (~11,000 words), but the stories differ in complexity. HSK 7 stories use formal professional language but have straightforward narrative structures. HSK 8 and 9 increase in conceptual complexity, ambiguity, and literary sophistication.
Do I need to pass HSK 6 before attempting HSK 7 stories?▼
We recommend being comfortable with HSK 6 content first. HSK 7 adds 5,500+ new words — the largest single jump in the entire HSK system. But if you’re already reading native Chinese content, try an HSK 7 story and see how it feels.
一丝不苟yī sī bù gǒunot one thread loose (idiom); strictly according to the rules; meticulous; not one hair out of place
一举yī jǔa move; an action; in one move
一举一动yī jǔ yī dòng(idiom) every movement; each and every move
一举两得yī jǔ liǎng délit. one action, two gains (idiom); fig. two birds with one stone
一事无成yī shì wú chéng(idiom) to have achieved nothing; to be a total failure; to get nowhere
一体yī tǐan integral whole; all concerned; everybody
一动不动yī dòng bù dòngmotionless
一味yī wèipersistently; stubbornly; blindly
一塌糊涂yī tā hú tumuddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful condition; complete shambles; a total mess
一声不吭yī shēng bù kēngto not say a word
一头yī tóuone head; a head full of sth; one end (of a stick)
一如既往yī rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as always
一干二净yī gān èr jìngthoroughly (idiom); completely; one and all
一并yī bìngto lump together; to treat along with all the others
一应俱全yī yīng jù quánwith everything needed available
一度yī dùfor a time; at one time; one time
一心yī xīnwholeheartedly; heart and soul
一心一意yī xīn yī yìconcentrating one's thoughts and efforts; single-minded; bent on
一成不变yī chéng bù biàn(idiom) immutable; impervious to change; set in stone
一手yī shǒua skill; mastery of a trade; by oneself
一技之长yī jì zhī chángproficiency in a particular field (idiom); skill in a specialized area (idiom)
一揽子yī lǎn ziall-inclusive; undiscriminating
一旁yī pángaside; to the side of
一无所有yī wú suǒ yǒunot having anything at all (idiom); utterly lacking; without two sticks to rub together
一无所知yī wú suǒ zhī(idiom) not knowing anything at all; completely ignorant
一早yī zǎoearly in the morning; at dawn
一晃yī huǎng(of passing time) in an instant; (of a sight) in a flash
一概yī gàiall; without any exceptions; categorically
一概而论yī gài ér lùnto lump different matters together (idiom)
一毛不拔yī máo bù bálit. unwilling to spare a single hair (idiom); fig. extremely stingy
一目了然yī mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)
一筹莫展yī chóu mò zhǎnto be unable to find a solution; to be at wits' end
一线yī xiànfront line
一经yī jīngas soon as; once (an action has been completed)
一行yī xíngparty; delegation
一言一行yī yán yī xíngevery word and action (idiom)
一言不发yī yán bù fāto not say a word (idiom)
一连yī liánin a row; in succession; running
一连串yī lián chuàna succession of; a series of
一针见血yī zhēn jiàn xiělit. to draw blood on the first prick (idiom); fig. to hit the nail on the head
一面yī miànone side; one aspect; simultaneously... (and...)
一鼓作气yī gǔ zuò qìin a spurt of energy
一齐yī qíat the same time; simultaneously
丁dīngmale adult; the 4th of the 10 Heavenly Stems 天干[tian1 gan1]; fourth (used like "4" or "D")
七嘴八舌qī zuǐ bā shélively discussion with everybody talking at once
万万wàn wànhundred million; (fig.) enormous quantity; absolutely; certainly (usually followed by a negative expression)
万分wàn fēnvery much; extremely; one ten thousandth part
万无一失wàn wú yī shīsurefire; absolutely safe (idiom)
万能wàn néngomnipotent; all-purpose; universal
三番五次sān fān wǔ cìover and over again (idiom)
三维sān wéithree-dimensional; 3D
三角sān jiǎotriangle
上任shàng rènto take office; previous (incumbent); predecessor
上半场shàng bàn chǎngfirst half of a game or contest
上司shàng siboss; superior
上场shàng chǎngon stage; to go on stage; to take the field
上层shàng céngupper layer
上岗shàng gǎngto take up one's post; to go on duty; to take up a job
上报shàng bàoto report to one's superiors; to appear in the news; to reply to a letter
上映shàng yìngto screen; to show (a movie)
上游shàng yóuupper reaches (of a river); upper level; upper echelon
上演shàng yǎnto screen (a movie); to stage (a play); a screening
上火shàng huǒto get angry; to suffer from excessive internal heat (TCM)
上瘾shàng yǐnto get into a habit; to become addicted
上空shàng kōngthe skies above a certain place; (aviation) airspace; (Tw) topless
上行shàng xíng(of trains) up (i.e. towards the capital); (of river boats) to go against the current; to submit (a document) to higher authorities
上诉shàng sùto appeal (a judicial case); appeal
上调shàng tiáoto raise (prices); to adjust upwards
上限shàng xiànupper bound
下令xià lìngto give an order; to issue an order
下半场xià bàn chǎngsecond half of a game or contest
下台xià táito go off the stage; to fall from position of prestige; to step down (from office etc)
下场xià chǎngto leave (the stage, an exam room, the playing field etc); to take part in some activity; to take an examination (in the imperial examination system)
下坠xià zhuì(of objects) to fall; to drop; to droop
下属xià shǔsubordinate; underling
下意识xià yì shísubconscious mind
下手xià shǒuto start; to put one's hand to; to set about
下游xià yóulower reaches (of a river); lower level; lower echelon
下滑xià huáto slide down (a slope etc); (fig.) to decline
下级xià jílow ranking; low level; underclass
下落xià luòwhereabouts; to drop; to fall
下行xià xíng(of trains) down (i.e. away from the capital); (of river boats) to travel downstream; to issue (a document) to lower bureaucratic levels
下调xià diàoto demote; to pass down to a lower unit
下跌xià diēto fall; to tumble
下达xià dáto transmit to lower levels; to issue (a command, decree etc)
不下bù xiàto be not less than (a certain quantity, amount etc)
不乏bù fáthere is no lack of
不了了之bù liǎo liǎo zhīto settle a matter by leaving it unsettled; to end up with nothing definite
不予bù yǔto not grant; to refuse to; to withhold
不亚于bù yà yúno less than; not inferior to
不亦乐乎bù yì lè hūlit. isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius); fig. (jocular) extremely; awfully
不以为然bù yǐ wéi ránnot to accept as correct (idiom); to object; to disapprove; to take exception to
不假思索bù jiǎ sī suǒ(idiom) to act without taking time to think; to react instantly; to fire from the hip
不像话bù xiàng huàunreasonable; shocking; outrageous
不免bù miǎninevitably
不准bù zhǔnnot to allow; to forbid; to prohibit
不力bù lìnot to do one's best; not to exert oneself
不动产bù dòng chǎnreal estate; immovable property; immovables
不厌其烦bù yàn qí fánnot to mind taking all the trouble (idiom); to take great pains; to be very patient
不及bù jíto fall short of; not as good as; too late
不可思议bù kě sī yì(idiom) inconceivable; unimaginable; unfathomable
不可或缺bù kě huò quēnecessary; must have
不堪bù kāncannot bear; cannot stand; utterly
不妙bù miào(of a turn of events) not too encouraging; far from good; anything but reassuring
不妨bù fángthere is no harm in; might as well
不定bù dìngindefinite; indeterminate; (botany) adventitious
不容bù róngmust not; cannot; to not allow
不屑bù xièto disdain to do sth; to think sth not worth doing; to feel it beneath one's dignity
不平bù pínguneven; injustice; unfairness
不当bù dàngunsuitable; improper; inappropriate
不得已bù dé yǐto act against one's will; to have no alternative but to; to have to
不得而知bù dé ér zhīunknown; unable to find out
不惜bù xīnot stint; not spare; not hesitate (to do sth)
不愧bù kuìto be worthy of; to deserve to be called; to prove oneself to be
不慎bù shènincautious; inattentive
不懈bù xièuntiring; unremitting; indefatigable
不折不扣bù zhé bù kòua hundred percent; to the letter; out-and-out
不敢当bù gǎn dānglit. I dare not (accept the honor); fig. I don't deserve your praise; you flatter me
不景气bù jǐng qìslack; in a slump
不服bù fúnot to accept sth; to want to have sth overruled or changed; to refuse to obey or comply
不正之风bù zhèng zhī fēngunhealthy tendency
不法bù fǎlawless; illegal; unlawful
不由得bù yóu decan't help; cannot but
不由自主bù yóu zì zhǔ(idiom) can't help but; involuntarily
不相上下bù xiāng shàng xiàequally matched; about the same
不知不觉bù zhī bù jué(idiom) unconsciously; unwittingly
不知所措bù zhī suǒ cuònot knowing what to do (idiom); at one's wits' end; embarrassed and at a complete loss
不算bù suànto not calculate; to not count; to not be considered (as)
不约而同bù yuē ér tóng(idiom) (of two or more people) to take the same action without prior consultation; (usu. used adverbially) all (or both) of them, independently; as if by prior agreement
不经意bù jīng yìnot paying attention; carelessly; by accident
不翼而飞bù yì ér fēito disappear without trace; to vanish all of a sudden; to spread fast
不耻下问bù chǐ xià wènnot feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates
不肖bù xiào(literary) unlike one's parents; degenerate; unworthy
不见得bù jiàn denot necessarily; not likely
不解bù jiěto not understand; to be puzzled by; indissoluble
不言而喻bù yán ér yùit goes without saying; it is self-evident
不辞而别bù cí ér biéto leave without saying good-bye
与众不同yǔ zhòng bù tóng(idiom) to stand out from the crowd; distinctive; different from the rest
与否yǔ fǒuwhether or not (at the end of a phrase)
与日俱增yǔ rì jù zēngto increase steadily; to grow with each passing day
与时俱进yǔ shí jù jìnabreast of modern developments; to keep up with the times; progressive
丑恶chǒu èugly; repulsive
丑闻chǒu wénscandal
丑陋chǒu lòuugly
专人zhuān rénspecialist; person appointed for specific task
专制zhuān zhìautocracy; dictatorship
专卖zhuān màimonopoly; exclusive right to trade
专柜zhuān guìsales counter dedicated to a certain kind of product (e.g. alcohol)
专栏zhuān lánspecial column
专程zhuān chéngspecifically; specially (for that purpose)
专职zhuān zhíspecial duty; assigned full time to a task
专著zhuān zhùmonograph; specialized text
专辑zhuān jíalbum; record (music); special collection of printed or broadcast material
专长zhuān chángspecialty; special knowledge or ability
专项zhuān xiàngspecial; dedicated
且qiěand; moreover; yet
世人shì rénpeople (in general); people around the world; everyone
世代shì dàifor many generations; generation; era
世故shì gùthe ways of the world
世间shì jiānworld; earth
丘陵qiū línghills
丙bǐngthird of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]; third in order; letter "C" or Roman "III" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc
业绩yè jìachievement; accomplishment; (in more recent usage) performance (of a business, employee etc); results
丛cóngcluster; collection; collection of books
丛林cóng línjungle; thicket; forest
东奔西走dōng bēn xī zǒuto run this way and that (idiom); to rush about busily; to bustle about; to hopscotch
东张西望dōng zhāng xī wàngto look in all directions (idiom); to glance around
东道主dōng dào zhǔhost; official host (e.g. venue for games or a conference)
丝sīsilk; thread-like thing; (cuisine) shreds or julienne strips
丝毫sī háothe slightest amount or degree; a bit
丝绸sī chóusilk (cloth)
丢三落四diū sān là sìforgetful; empty-headed
丢人diū rénto lose face
丢弃diū qìto discard; to abandon
丢脸diū liǎnto lose face; humiliation
两下子liǎng xià zia couple of times; to repeat the same; the same old trick
两口子liǎng kǒu zihusband and wife
两手liǎng shǒuone's two hands; two prongs (of a strategy); both aspects, eventualities etc
两栖liǎng qīamphibious; dual-talented; able to work in two different lines
两翼liǎng yìtwo wings; both flanks (military)
严密yán mìtight; strict; closely controlled; rigorous and thorough
严峻yán jùngrim; severe; rigorous
严谨yán jǐnrigorous; strict; careful; (of writing) well organized; meticulous
丧生sàng shēngto die; to lose one's life
个头儿gè tóu rsize; height; stature
个案gè ànindividual case; special case
丫头yā tougirl; servant girl; (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment)
中叶zhōng yèmid- (e.g. mid-century); middle period
中庸Zhōng yōngthe Doctrine of the Mean, one of the Four Books 四書|四书[Si4 shu1]
中性zhōng xìngneutral
中止zhōng zhǐto cease; to suspend; to break off
中立zhōng lìneutral; neutrality
中途zhōng túmidway
丰厚fēng hòugenerous; ample
丰满fēng mǎnample; well developed; fully rounded
丰盛fēng shèngrich; sumptuous
丰硕fēng shuòplentiful; substantial; rich (in resources etc)
串门chuàn ménto call on sb; to drop in; to visit sb's home
临línto face; to overlook; to arrive
临床lín chuángclinical
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