New HSK 3: Word List PDF & Infographic 2021

Jul 21, 2021 | Highlights, HSK

In our previous posts, we’ve looked at the New HSK 1 and the New HSK 2. Let’s continue exploring the new HSK and look at the new HSK3 Vocabulary Word List for Level 3 in 2021.

For a free HSK3 PDF download, scroll down to the bottom👇

New HSK 3 Word List Infographic

New HSK3 Word List Infographic & Analysis 2021 | That's Mandarin Chinese Language School
New HSK 3 Word List Vocabulary

New HSK 3 Word List: Vocabulary Analysis

The new HSK 3 has 973 words.
The old HSK 3 only had 300 words.

Big change: out of those 300 words, only 57 stay in the new HSK 3! The remaining 916 words are totally new — mostly coming from old HSK4, 5, 6, or appearing for the first time ever.

  NEW HSK WORDS OLD HSK WORDS
TOTAL 973 300
COMING FROM THE OLD HSK 57  
COMPLETELY NEW 916  

HSK 3 Word List: What’s New?

Well… it might sound dramatic, but almost everything is new in the new HSK 3.

Most words are new, and they all come from higher levels — the old HSK 4, 5, and 6.

The general impression of the word list is that it’s very abstract. There are over 100 abstract nouns, over 150 abstract verbs, over 80 adverbs; so by reaching this level, you will be able to express your thoughts & ideas about quite advanced & complex subjects.

We’ll look at some specific examples later in the article.

New HSK 3 Word List Vocabulary

What Happened to the Old HSK 3 List?

Almost all the words from the old HSK 3 list (206 out of 300 words, or 2/3 of the whole list) have been moved to lower levels of HSK1 and HSK2. Some other 40 words went to HSK 4, 5, and 6, but only because the characters they are made of are not very common. Here’s a breakdown of all the changes:

57 words from the old HSK3 remained in the new HSK3;
58 words were moved to the new HSK 1;
148 words were moved to the new HSK 2;
29 words were moved to the new HSK 4, including 地方 (dìfāng, “place”) — who knows why;
9 words were moved to HSK 5: 鼻子 (bízi, “nose”), 聪明 (cōngmíng, “smart”), 蛋糕 (dàngāo, “cake”), 耳朵 (ěrduo, “ear”), 邻居 (línjū, “neighbor”), 皮鞋 (píxié, “leather shoes”), 瘦 (shòu, “slim/skinny”), 饮料 (yǐnliào, “drinks”), 熊猫 (xióngmāo, “panda”);
1 word was moved to HSK 6: 聊天 (liáotiān, “to chat”);
1 word was moved to HSK 7-9: 刮风 (guāfēng, “to blow (of wind));
1 word was removed: 数学 (shùxué, “maths”, and other subjects such as “chemistry” disappeared from the HSK list too).

New HSK 3 Word List Vocabulary

HSK3 Word List: New Topics

With over 900 new words added, no wonder that new topics have appeared in the new HSK 3 list. We’ve tried to create our own categories to get a sense of what’s going on — and you can do the same to memorize the words more easily, and create stories and dialogues to practice them.

The new vocabulary topics in HSK 3 include:

  • International relations & politics;
  • Business & trade;
  • Environment;
  • Jobs & occupations;
  • Clothing;
  • Food & drinks;
  • Emotions & feelings;
  • Cities, villages & life of local people;
  • Law & order;
  • Life & death;
  • New location & direction nouns;
  • More words to describe people as individuals and as groups;
  • Show business: music, news, TV & cinema, performing arts;
  • Sports;
  • Technology & internet;
  • Travel;
  • Nature & animals.

That is a LOT of new topics!

Not all the words will be equally useful in real life, but since the new HSK follows the principle of building as many possible combinations with the most common characters as possible, the word choice can almost always be explained by that principle.

New HSK 3 Word List Vocabulary

HSK 3 Word List: Examples

Example 1: New HSK 3 Vocabulary — Abstract Nouns

Over a hundred abstract nouns appear in the new HSK 3 list. Here are a few examples — of the nouns that are extremely useful, common, and appearing in everyday speech:

ABSTRACT NOUNS IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
变化 biànhuà change; to change (verb; noun)
成功 chénggōng success; to succeed (noun) NEW
程度 chéngdù degree; extent (noun) NEW
方式 fāngshì way; method (noun) NEW
关系 guānxi relationship; relations (noun)
过程 guòchéng process (noun) NEW
经验 jīngyàn experience (noun) NEW
理由 lǐyóu reason; excuse (noun) NEW
目标 mùbiāo target; goal; objective (noun) NEW
内容 nèiróng content (noun) NEW
情况 qíngkuàng situation; circumstances (noun) NEW
区别 qūbié difference (noun) NEW
任务 rènwu task; assignment (noun) NEW
数量 shùliàng quantity (noun) NEW
主意 zhǔyi idea (noun)

Notice that some of these nouns can work as verbs, too.

Example 2: New HSK 3 Vocabulary — Abstract Verbs

Over 130 abstract verbs appear in the new HSK 3 list. Many of them are synonyms — so you might want to learn them in context, and pay extra attention to the examples of use. Such verbs are great in any language though, as they can help you convey important ideas. Here are some indispensable abstract verbs:

ABSTRACT VERBS IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
发生 fāshēng to happen; to occur (verb) NEW
发展 fāzhǎn to develop; development (verb; noun)
继续 jìxù to continue (verb) NEW
结束 jiéshù to end; to finish (verb)
解决 jiějué to solve (verb)
经历 jīnglì to experience; experience (verb; noun) NEW
决定 juédìng to decide (verb)
开始 kāishǐ to begin; to start (verb) NEW
理解 lǐjiě to understand; to comprehend (verb) NEW
支持 zhīchí to support (verb) NEW
调整 tiáozhěng to adjust (verb) NEW
注意 zhùyì to pay attention; take something seriously (verb) NEW

Notice that some of these verbs can also work as nouns.

Example 3: New HSK 3 Vocabulary — Advantages & Disadvantages

Other topics are less extensive, they just include a few words. But there is a sense of accomplishment that comes with learning short lists. 🤩 Take, for instance, vocabulary related to strong & weak points — just 6 words:

New HSK 3 Advantages & Disadvantages Vocabulary | That's Mandarin
WORDS DESCRIBING ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
长处 chángchù forte; one’s strong/good point (noun) NEW
短处 duǎnchù shortcoming; one’s weak point (noun) NEW
缺点 quēdiǎn disadvantage(s) (noun) NEW
优点 yōudiǎn advantage(s) (noun)
优势 yōushì advantage(s) (noun) NEW
所长 suǒzhǎng what one is good at; one’s strong point (noun)

Example 4: New HSK 3 Vocabulary — Clothing

Some new words related to clothing appear in the new HSK 3, too.

Notice the trend: if new characters appear in the list (e.g. 衬 “shirt”, 裤 “pants”), they make sure to add as many common words with these characters as possible.

New HSK 3 Clothing-Related Vocabulary | That's Mandarin
CLOTHING-RELATED VOCABULARY IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
衬衫 chènshān shirt; blouse (noun)
衬衣 chènyī shirt; underclothes (noun) NEW
短裤 duǎnkù shorts (noun) NEW
服装 fúzhuāng dress; clothing (noun) NEW
裤子 kùzi pants (noun)
裙子 qúnzi skirt; dress (noun)
上衣 shàngyī coat (noun) NEW
衣架 yījià clothes hanger (noun) NEW
皮包 píbāo handbag; leather bag (noun) NEW

Example 5: New HSK 3 Vocabulary — Music & TV

New vocabulary has been added to introduce Chinese learners to China’s media industry: news, radio, TV, cinema, performing arts & music. Here’s an example of words in the music industry, to help you talk about your favorite TikTok and DouYin stars and discuss singers & bands on Weibo:

New HSK 3 Music-Related Vocabulary | That's Mandarin
MUSIC-RELATED VOCABULARY IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
歌迷 gēmí fan (of a singer) (noun; verb)
歌声 gēshēng singing voice; the sound of singing (noun) NEW
歌手 gēshǒu singer (noun; verb) NEW
录音 lùyīn recording; to record sound (noun; verb) NEW
听众 tīngzhòng audience (noun) NEW
演唱 yǎnchàng to sing (in a performance) (verb) NEW
演唱会 yǎnchànghuì concert (noun) NEW
演出 yǎnchū show (noun) NEW
乐队 yuèduì band (noun)
收听 shōutīng to listen to (a radio broadcast) (noun) NEW
收音机 shōuyīnjī radio set (noun)
New HSK 3 Movie and Music-Related Vocabulary | That's Mandarin
MOVIES & TV-RELATED VOCABULARY IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
导演 dǎoyǎn director (noun; verb)
电视剧 diànshìjù TV series (noun) NEW
电视台 diànshìtái TV station (noun) NEW
观看 guānkàn to watch; view (verb) NEW
观众 guānzhòng audience (noun) NEW
广播 guǎngbō broadcast; to be on the air (noun; verb) NEW
连续剧 liánxùjù TV series (with many seasons) (noun) NEW
pāi to shoot (a film) (verb) NEW
演员 yǎnyuán actor (noun)
影视 yǐngshì movies and television (noun) NEW
收看 shōukàn to watch (a TV program) (verb)

Example 6: New HSK 3 Vocabulary — Trade & Business-Related Nouns & Verbs

Finally, plenty of new vocabulary has been added on the topics of international relations, business & trade. It touches upon different areas — from day-to-day work tasks to discussing international business, strategy and operations.

New HSK 3 Business-Related Vocabulary | That's Mandarin
BUSINESS-RELATED NOUNS IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
合作 hézuò collaboration; to work together (noun; verb)
交易 jiāoyì business deal; transaction (noun) NEW
进步 jìnbù progress; to make progress (noun; verb) NEW
经济 jīngjì economy; economic (noun) NEW
市场 shìchǎng market (noun) NEW
商业 shāngyè commerce; trade; business (noun) NEW
生意 shēngyì business; trade (as in “to do business) (noun) NEW
风险 fēngxiǎn risk; hazard; danger (noun) NEW
工资 gōngzī salary; pay (noun) NEW
会议 huìyì meeting (noun) NEW
老板 lǎobǎn boss (noun) NEW
对方 duìfāng the other side; the other person involved (noun) NEW
对手 duìshǒu opponent; rival; competitor (noun) NEW
海关 hǎiguān customs (noun) NEW
New HSK 3 Business-Related Vocabulary | That's Mandarin
BUSINESS-RELATED VERBS IN THE NEW HSK 3
CHINESE PINYIN ENGLISH PART OF SPEECH NEW?
创新 chuàngxīn to innovate; innovation (verb; noun)
创业 chuàngyè to start a business; entrepreneurship (verb; noun) NEW
发明 fāmíng to invent; invention (verb; noun) NEW
经营 jīngyíng to manage, to run; operation, management (verb) NEW
开发 kāifā to develop; to exploit (a resource) (verb) NEW
开业 kāi yè to open a business; to open (for business) (verb phrase) NEW
负责 fùzé (to be) in charge of; responsible for (verb) NEW
生产 shēngchǎn to produce (verb; noun) NEW
制造 zhìzào to make; to manufacture; to produce (verb) NEW
制作 zhìzuò to make; to manufacture (verb) NEW
安排 ānpái to arrange; arrangement (verb; noun) NEW
办理 bànlǐ to handle (verb) NEW
处理 chǔlǐ to deal with; to handle (verb) NEW
guǎn to control; to manage; to run (verb) NEW
管理 guǎnlǐ to manage; management (verb; noun) NEW

More Categories

There are many more categories in the new HSK 3 list. We encourage you to create your own and learn the words this way — it’s much easier to memorize things in context!

Learn Chinese Vocabulary for HSK3 in context

New HSK 3 Word List: PDF Download

Note: This list is an extremely valuable piece of content and we want to protect it. Other schools and websites have been copying our HSK lists and pretending they wrote/made them themselves. So we are asking for your email for security measures. Thanks for understanding!

Further Reading

To learn more about other HSK levels and download free PDF word lists, read these posts:

New HSK 1 Word List PDF + Infographic | That's Mandarin

New HSK 1: Word List PDF, Analysis & Infographics 

New HSK 2 Word List PDF + Infographic | That's Mandarin

New HSK 2: Word List PDF, Analysis & Infographics 

For more news about the new HSK, make sure to check these articles: 

New HSK Levels Revealed 2021

New HSK Levels Revealed 2021: All You Need to Know

When Will the New HSK Exams Come Into Effect? | That's Mandarin Blog
When Will the New HSK Exams Come Into Effect?
Written and Spoken HSK to Be Combined | That's Mandarin Blog

New HSK 3-6 Changes: Written & Spoken Exams Combined (Update 2022) 

For more information on the HSK, from the different levels, the benefits and the time it takes to complete, have a read here!

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