HSK 5 Characters

How Many Characters Are in HSK 5?

HSK 5 contains 431 characters under the current HSK 3.0 standard (CLEC 2022 syllabus). This level covers advanced vocabulary for literature, formal writing, and professional contexts.

HSK 2.0 vs 3.0: Why the Numbers Differ

Many online resources still cite HSK 2.0 character counts. The HSK 3.0 standard, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) in 2022, significantly restructured all levels. Here's how HSK 5 changed:

HSK 3.0 (Current)HSK 2.0 (Legacy)
Characters431621
Vocabulary Words1,6001,300
Standard2026 SyllabusPre-2022

The per-level character count is lower because HSK 3.0 expanded from 6 to 9 levels. Many characters from levels 4–6 were moved to the new advanced bands 7–9. The total number of characters across all HSK levels increased from about 2,600 to over 3,000.

About HSK 5

HSK 5 targets advanced learners who need Chinese for professional and academic contexts. The characters at this level cover literature, formal writing, professional terminology, academic discussion, idiomatic expressions, and specialized vocabulary. Many HSK 5 characters appear primarily in multi-character compound words rather than standing alone.

At this level, the distinction between spoken and written Chinese is fully apparent. Many HSK 5 characters belong to the formal written register — you will encounter them in books, academic papers, and official documents more often than in everyday conversation.

Reaching HSK 5 proficiency corresponds to CEFR level C1. You can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognize implicit meaning. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously, and use language flexibly and effectively for professional and academic purposes.

HSK 5 Character Statistics

9
Avg. Strokes
1–19
Stroke Range
119
Unique Radicals
431
Total Characters

Most Common Radicals at This Level

扌手 (hand)39 chars氵水 (water)28 chars亻人 (person)21 chars口口 (mouth)18 chars木木 (tree)15 chars

Study Tips for HSK 5

1

Extensive reading becomes more efficient than isolated character study at this level. Read Chinese novels, long-form journalism, and essays — you will encounter HSK 5 characters repeatedly in natural context, which builds durable recognition.

2

Focus on the formal and written register vocabulary that differs from spoken Chinese. Many HSK 5 characters have colloquial synonyms you already know — learning when to use the formal variant is as important as learning the character itself.

3

Learn characters through their compound words. Most HSK 5 characters appear primarily in two- or three-character words, so studying the character in its most common compounds gives you practical vocabulary alongside character knowledge.

For a detailed comparison of how this level differs from the previous HSK standard, see our HSK 2026 changes guide.

All HSK 5 Characters

湖húlake池chípool浅qiǎnshallow洞dòngcave, hole湿shīwet治zhìto govern, to treat煮zhǔto boil, to cook炸zhàto fry, to explode烈lièintense, fierce炒chǎoto stir-fry灰huīash, gray木mùwood/tree架jiàshelf, frame某mǒucertain, some念niànto read, to think of妇fùwoman, wife姿zīposture, appearance威wēipower, might娱yúentertainment婆pógrandmother投tóuto throw, to invest抓zhuāto grab, to catch扩kuòto expand设shèto set up, to design晒shàisunbathe, dry暗àndark暴bàoviolent, storm智zhìwisdom曾céngonce肥féifat, fertilizer腰yāowaist胆dǎngallbladder, courage肌jīmuscle胃wèistomach锁suǒto lock锅guōpot铃língbell培péito cultivate, to train堆duīto pile, to heap墙qiángwall域yùregion, area型xíngtype, model石shístone硬yìnghard碎suìbroken碰pèngto touch, to bump碌lùbusy番fāntime, foreign统tǒngto unite, system维wéito maintain织zhīto weave缩suōto shrink, to contract纷fēnnumerous绪xùmood, thread缓huǎnslow, delay补bǔto mend, to supplement裁cáito cut, to judge饰shìdecorate宽kuānwide宿sùlodge, stay穷qióngpoor窄zhǎinarrow库kùwarehouse府fǔgovernment office疗liáoto treat疯fēngcrazy疾jídisease践jiànto practice, to trample蹈dǎoto dance, to tread退tuìto retreat, to return追zhuīto chase逐zhúchase, one by one途túway, journey造zàoto make, to build虫chónginsect蛇shésnake薄báothin荐jiànto recommend雾wùfog震zhènto shake, to shock骂màto scold驾jiàto drive鸭yāduck软ruǎnsoft载zàito carry, to load辑jíto edit, to collect闭bìto close闲xiánidle, free贝bèishell, money贴tiēpaste, subsidy赔péito compensate赞zànpraise赠zèngto give as a gift传chuánto pass on络làosmall net访fǎng(bound form) to seek by inquiry制zhìsystem政zhèngpolitical领lǐngneck代dàito be a substitute for令lìngto order似sìto seem伟wěibig伸shēnto stretch催cuīto urge充chōngsufficient刺cìthorn创chuàngto initiate劝quànto advise勤qíndiligent匹pǐ(bound form) matching吵chǎoto quarrel含hánto keep in the mouth哲zhéwise善shàngood (virtuous)嘉jiāexcellent器qìdevice忍rěnto bear恢huīto restore悄qiǎoquiet慎shèncareful慧huìintelligent扇shānto fan执zhíto execute (a plan)拥yōngto hold in one's arms拨bōto push aside with the hand, foot, a stick etc挤jǐto crowd in挥huīto wave损sǔnto decrease掌zhǎngpalm of the hand控kòngto control描miáoto depict插chāto insert握wòto hold摇yáoto shake摸mōto feel with the hand撞zhuàngto knock against敏mǐn(bound form) quick敬jìng(bound form) respectful斜xiéinclined朝cháoabbr. for 朝鮮|朝鲜[Chao2 xian3] Korea未wèinot yet权quánauthority析xīto separate柜guìcupboard档dàng(bound form) shelves (for files)模móto imitate沉chénto submerge沿yánalong派pài(literary) tributary浏liúclear浓nóngconcentrated淡dàninsipid渐jiānto imbue源yuánroot滑huáto slip漏lòuto leak灵língquick燃ránto burn珍zhēnprecious thing甲jiǎfirst of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]览lǎnto look at稳wěnsettled筑zhùshort name for Guiyang 貴陽|贵阳[Gui4 yang2]糊húto paste综zèngheddle置zhìto install膀bǎngupper arm荣róngglory蔬shūvegetables衡héngto weigh触chùto touch赏shǎngto bestow (a reward)趋qūto hasten迅xùnrapid述shù(bound form) to state逻luópatrol遗yí(bound form) to leave behind避bìto avoid销xiāoto melt (metal)阻zǔto hinder陌mòraised path隔géto separate革géanimal hide玉yùjade桃táopeach欣xīnhappy县xiàncounty傻shǎfoolish称chènto fit靠kàoto lean against or on亿yì100 million占zhànto observe币bìmoney布bùto announce采cǎito pick范fànpattern防fángto protect古gǔancient哈hāabbr. for 哈薩克斯坦|哈萨克斯坦, Kazakhstan华huáabbr. for China集jíto gather救jiùto save类lèikind立lìto stand龙lóngChinese dragon录lùto carve wood媒méimedium配pèito join齐qí(name of states and dynasties at several different periods)群qúngroup神shénGod升shēngto ascend胜shèngvictory势shìpower属shǔcategory团tuánround武wǔmartial显xiǎnto make visible形xíngto appear宣xuānto declare (publicly)训xùnto teach义yì(Tw) Italy (abbr. for 義大利|义大利)营yíngcamp猪zhūhog状zhuàng(bound form) form伴bànpartner宝bǎojewel测cèto survey彻chèthorough承chéngCheng (c. 2000 BC), third of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 descended from Shennong 神農|神农 Farmer God尺chǐa Chinese foot冲chōng(of water) to dash against抽chōuto draw out促cù(bound form) of short duration措cuòto handle敌dí(bound form) enemy斗dǒuabbr. for the Big Dipper constellation 北斗星豆dòulegume独dúalone腐fǔdecay盖gàilid构gòu(Tw) (coll.) variant of 夠|够固gùhard裹guǒto wrap around汇huìto remit阶jiērank or step局júnarrow巨jùvery large卷juǎnto roll up均jūn(bound form) equal括kuò(bound form) to tie up郎láng(arch.) minister泪lèi(bound form) tears厘líLi (c. 2000 BC), sixth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 descended from Shennong 神農|神农 Farmer God, also known as Ai 哀良liánggood粮liánggrain临línto face陆lùsix (banker's anti-fraud numeral)率lǜ(bound form) ratio秘mìsee 秘魯|秘鲁企qǐ(bound form) to stand on tiptoe and look弱ruòweak诗shīabbr. for Shijing 詩經|诗经, the Book of Songs施shī(bound form) to put into effect (regulations etc)守shǒuto guard殊shū(literary) to kill俗súcustom替tìto substitute for挑tiāoto carry on a shoulder pole弯wānto bend尾wěitail席xíwoven mat限xiànto limit寻xúnto search呀yāah (used to express surprise)延yánto prolong依yīto depend on移yíto move益yìbenefit映yìngto reflect (light)幼yòuyoung余yú(literary) I圆yuáncircle战zhànto fight召zhàoto call together阵zhèndisposition of troops征zhēngjourney致zhì(bound form) fine版bǎna register扮bànto disguise oneself as彼bǐthat玻bōsee 玻璃册cèbook叉chāfork拆chāito tear open倡chàngto initiate丑chǒuclown臭chòustench辞cíto resign旦dàn(literary) dawn挡dǎngto resist冻dòngto freeze吨dūnton (loanword)盾dùnshield躲duǒto hide乏fáshort of罚fáto punish繁fáncomplicated返fǎnto return (to)泛fàn(bound form) general仿fǎngto imitate扶fúto support with the hand搞gǎoto do沟gōuditch冠guànhat滚gǔnto boil猴hóumonkey胡húnon-Han people, esp. from central Asia惠huì(bound form) act of kindness (from a superior)艰jiāndifficult剪jiǎn(bound form) scissors or similar tool届jièto arrive at (place or time)军jūn(bound form) army颗kēclassifier for small spheres, pearls, corn grains, teeth, hearts, satellites etc款kuǎnsection狂kuángmad亏kuīto lose (money)劳láo(bound form) to toil梨lípear璃lí(phonetic character used in transliteration of foreign names)恋liànto feel attached to矛máospear眠miánto sleep漠mòdesert幕mùcurtain or screen奈nàiused in expressions that convey frustration and futility, such as 無奈|无奈 and 莫可奈何|莫可奈何 (literary)盆pénbasin骗piànto cheat拼pīnto piece together凭píngto lean against欠qiànto owe抢qiǎngto fight over曲qūbent绕ràoto wind润rùnmoist洒sǎto sprinkle舍shěto give up驶shǐ(of a vehicle, horse etc) to go fast鼠shǔ(bound form) rat摔shuāito throw down私sīpersonal搜sōuto search肃sùrespectful索suǒabbr. for 索馬里|索马里, Somalia兔tùrabbit违wéito disobey唯wéionly慰wèito comfort卧wòto lie夕xī(bound form) sunset献xiànto offer享xiǎngto enjoy协xiéto cooperate虚xūemptiness询xúnto ask about押yāto mortgage咬yǎoto bite乙yǐsecond of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干犹yóuas if豫yùabbr. for Henan province 河南 in central China怨yuànto blame糟zāodregs摘zhāito take涨zhǎngto rise (of prices, rivers)诊zhěnto examine or treat medically挣zhèngto struggle to get free竹zhú(bound form) bamboo紫zǐpurple醉zuìintoxicated遵zūnto observe傍bàngnear藏zàngTibet宠chǒngto love佛fóBuddha副fùsecondary贡gòngto offer tribute憾hànregret (sense of loss or dissatisfaction)佳jiābeautiful捡jiǎnto pick up捐juānto relinquish扣kòuto fasten屏bǐngto get rid of茄jiāphonetic character used in loanwords for the sound "jia", although 夾|夹 is more common税shuìtaxes素sùraw silk拖tuōto drag伍wǔsquad of five soldiers胁xiéflank (the side of one's torso)咨zī(bound form) to consult哎āihey!唉āiinterjection or grunt of agreement or recognition (e.g. yes, it's me!)熬āoto boil橙chéngorange tree齿chǐtooth翅chì(bound form) wing (of a bird or insect)恭gōngrespectful瑰guī(semiprecious stone)祸huòdisaster迹jìfootprint浆jiāngthick liquid浇jiāoto pour liquid谨jǐncautious橘júmandarin orange (Citrus reticulata)昆kūndescendant姥lǎograndma (maternal)玫méi(fine jade)魅mèidemon哦éto chant欧ōuEurope (abbr. for 歐洲|欧洲)厦xiàabbr. for Xiamen or Amoy 廈門|厦门, Fujian删shānto delete擅shànwithout authority厢xiāngbox (in theater)橡xiàngoak肖xiàosimilar悠yōulong or drawn out喻yùto describe sth as寓yù(bound form) to reside蝴húbutterfly (in 蝴蝶)蝶diébutterfly (in 蝴蝶)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many characters are in HSK 5?
HSK 5 contains 431 unique characters under the current HSK 3.0 standard (per the official CLEC 2022 syllabus, effective 2026). Under the older HSK 2.0 standard, Level 5 had only 621 characters from 1,300 vocabulary items. Many online resources still cite the outdated HSK 2.0 count — if you see a different number, check whether the source references HSK 3.0 or 2.0.
How many words are in HSK 5?
HSK 5 includes 1,600 vocabulary words under the HSK 3.0 standard (CLEC 2022). Word count and character count are different: a single character like 学 can appear in multiple vocabulary words (学生 "student," 学习 "to study," 大学 "university"). HSK 5 has 431 unique characters but 1,600 vocabulary words formed from those and other characters.
What's the difference between HSK 2.0 and HSK 3.0 Level 5?
The HSK 3.0 standard, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) in 2022 and effective from 2026, significantly restructured all levels. Level 5 went from 621 characters and 1,300 vocabulary words (HSK 2.0) to 431 characters and 1,600 vocabulary words (HSK 3.0). The per-level character count decreased because HSK 3.0 expanded from 6 levels to 9 — many characters that were at levels 4–6 under the old system are now classified under the new advanced bands 7–9. The total number of characters across all HSK levels increased from about 2,600 to over 3,000. If you see conflicting character counts for HSK 5 on different websites, it is almost certainly because one source references the outdated HSK 2.0 data.
How long does it take to learn HSK 5?
Most learners report reaching HSK 5 proficiency after approximately 800–1,200 cumulative hours of study from a beginner level. This varies significantly based on native language (speakers of Japanese or Korean progress faster due to shared characters), study method, daily practice time, and immersion opportunities. Consistent spaced-repetition practice — reviewing characters at increasing intervals as you master them — can accelerate character retention considerably.
What are the hardest HSK 5 characters?
By stroke complexity, the most challenging HSK 5 characters include 雾 (wù, 19 strokes), 蹈 (dǎo, 17 strokes), 糟 (zāo, 17 strokes), 藏 (zàng, 17 strokes), 薄 (báo, 16 strokes). The average stroke count at this level is 9. Characters with more strokes generally require more practice to write correctly and distinguish visually — using animated stroke-order guides and spaced repetition helps build muscle memory for complex characters.
What topics does HSK 5 cover?
HSK 5 focuses on literature, formal writing, professional terminology, academic discussion, idiomatic expressions, and specialized vocabulary. Mastering this level equips you for professional work in a Chinese-language environment, reading novels and academic papers, participating in formal debates, and writing structured essays.
What is the CEFR equivalent of HSK 5?
HSK 5 corresponds to CEFR level C1 under the HSK 3.0 framework (CLEC 2022). The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) alignment was established as part of the HSK 3.0 restructuring to provide an international reference point. At this advanced level, you can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, recognize implicit meaning, and express yourself fluently and spontaneously for professional and academic purposes.
What's the difference between HSK 5 and HSK 6?
HSK 5 covers 431 characters and 1,600 vocabulary words, while HSK 6 introduces 413 characters and 1,800 vocabulary words. HSK 5 maps to CEFR C1, while HSK 6 maps to CEFR C2. The step up requires learning new characters, mastering more complex grammar, and expanding into new topic areas such as academic texts, literary works, specialized professional domains.

Sources & Standards

Character data on this page is based on the HSK 3.0 Standard (《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》), published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, 2022 revision. The standard took effect as the official syllabus for HSK examinations beginning in 2026.

Character counts, vocabulary word counts, and level classifications reflect the official CLEC syllabus. CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) equivalences follow the alignment established in the HSK 3.0 specification. All character statistics (stroke counts, radical classifications, frequency rankings) are computed from HanziFeed's curated dataset of 431 characters at this level.