HSK 3.0 Band 6 Word List — PDF + Native Audio

What is HSK 3.0 Band 6?

Band 6 changes what you can say. Up to Level 3 you describe your day; from Level 4 you explain, compare and argue. That shift lives in the linking words on this list: 而 (ér, and yet), 却 (què, but), 因此 (yīncǐ, therefore), 即使 (jíshǐ, even if) and 无论 (wúlùn, no matter). It lives in abstract nouns such as 情况 (qíngkuàng, situation), 能力 (nénglì, ability) and 责任 (zérèn, responsibility), and in verbs such as 继续 (jìxù, to continue), 提供 (tígōng, to provide) and 放弃 (fàngqì, to give up).

Official Level 4 adds 1,000 new words, far too many for one list. We took the Level 4 words that Bands 1–5 had not yet covered, ranked them by how often they appear in real Chinese, and put the top 198 here. Because they are the most frequent, you will meet them in news, books, shows and conversation long before you sit an exam.

You get all 198 words in three forms: an A4 PDF organised by category for printing and offline study, the search-and-filter grid above for quick lookup, and native Mandarin audio for every word (Microsoft Xiaoxiao, slowed slightly for clarity).

How to use this Band 6 word list

Intermediate words are harder to picture than a passport or a fridge, so context matters more than ever. Here’s how to learn this list:

1. Print the PDF and keep the Connectives page beside you when you read or write in Chinese. Spotting 而 (ér) and 却 (què) in real text is how they stick.
2. Start with the verbs. Everyday Verbs (43 words) is the biggest category and comes first on this page for that reason.
3. Learn linking words in pairs: 即使 (jíshǐ, even if) goes with 也 (yě, also); 无论 (wúlùn, no matter) goes with 都 (dōu, all); 不但 (bùdàn, not only) goes with 而且 (érqiě, but also). Learn the frame, not the single word.
4. Notice the formal words. 之 (zhī), 与 (yǔ) and 将 (jiāng) are the written-style cousins of 的 (de), 和 (hé) and 会 (huì). You’ll read them in signs, news and formal writing more than you’ll say them.
5. Write one sentence with each abstract noun. 这个情况很严重 (zhège qíngkuàng hěn yánzhòng, this situation is serious) teaches 情况 (qíngkuàng) better than its gloss.
6. Listen for the reading. A few words use a less common reading here, such as 重 (chóng, again) and 待 (dāi, to stay). Tap them in the grid and listen to the reading on this list.

If you’re aiming at the new Level 4 exam, Band 6 is a strong start but not the whole syllabus; the exam also tests listening, reading, handwriting and speaking. Our 1-on-1 HSK Preparation course follows the new format. For conversation without an exam, our Basics course builds the confidence to use these words out loud.

The 16 categories in this Band 6 word list

This list groups the 198 words into 16 categories. The biggest are the verbs, the linking words, the adverbs and the abstract nouns, which is exactly where intermediate Mandarin grows.

• Everyday Verbs (43) — 继续 (jìxù), 无 (wú), 使 (shǐ) — the biggest group: continuing, providing, protecting and giving up.
• People & Pronouns (8) — 一切 (yīqiè), 任何 (rènhé), 此 (cǐ) — everything, anything, each and the other side.
• Family (4) — 父亲 (fùqīn), 父母 (fùmǔ), 母亲 (mǔqīn) — parents and siblings, in the more formal register.
• Time & Dates (6) — 之后 (zhīhòu), 之前 (zhīqián), 目前 (mùqián) — before, after, now and in the end.
• Numbers & Measure Words (4) — 部 (bù), 首 (shǒu), 台 (tái) — measure words for films, songs, machines and tasks.
• Places & Getting Around (7) — 内 (nèi), 区 (qū), 底 (dǐ) — districts, cities, addresses and markets.
• School & Work (16) — 调查 (diàochá), 研究 (yánjiū), 任务 (rènwu) — research, technology, jobs and the people who do them.
• Body & Health (2) — 血 (xiě), 痛 (tòng) — blood and pain.
• Nature, Animals & Weather (3) — 光 (guāng), 自然 (zìrán), 火 (huǒ) — light, fire and nature itself.
• Things & Objects (3) — 图 (tú), 刀 (dāo), 油 (yóu) — pictures, knives and oil.
• Thinking & Feeling (13) — 心 (xīn), 肯定 (kěndìng), 考虑 (kǎolǜ) — considering, understanding, dreams and pressure.
• Speaking & Communication (9) — 消息 (xiāoxi), 保证 (bǎozhèng), 联系 (liánxì) — contacting, suggesting, explaining and promising.
• Adjectives & Descriptions (16) — 美 (měi), 强 (qiáng), 整个 (zhěnggè) — serious, deep, basic and correct.
• Adverbs & Degree (19) — 就是 (jiùshì), 已 (yǐ), 重 (chóng) — at least, after all, still and once again.
• Connectives & Grammar Words (26) — 而 (ér), 将 (jiāng), 与 (yǔ) — the linking words of argument and explanation.
• Ideas, Society & Abstract Words (19) — 情况 (qíngkuàng), 成功 (chénggōng), 方式 (fāngshì) — situations, goals, ability, law and society.

Stepping up to Level 4?

Band 6 gives you the most common Level 4 words, but the exam also tests listening, reading, handwriting and speaking. Our 1-on-1 HSK Preparation course drills those skills with mock papers and pacing technique.

Book a free HSK consultation

A two-week study plan

Here’s a two-week plan for the whole Band 6 list at about 14 words a day, 15–20 minutes a session.

• Week 1: Everyday Verbs (43) + Connectives & Grammar Words (26) + Adverbs & Degree (19) — 88 words. The engine of intermediate Mandarin: verbs, linking words and adverbs.
• Week 2: Ideas, Society & Abstract Words (19) + Adjectives & Descriptions (16) + School & Work (16) + Thinking & Feeling (13) + Speaking & Communication (9) + People & Pronouns (8) + Places & Getting Around (7) + Time & Dates (6) + Family (4) + Numbers & Measure Words (4) + Nature, Animals & Weather (3) + Things & Objects (3) + Body & Health (2) — 110 words. Abstract nouns, descriptions and the vocabulary of work and study. Then filter “All” in the grid and say every word before the audio plays.

After a fortnight you’ll have met every Band 6 word with native audio. The rest of Level 4 is the next rung, and the HSK levels guide shows the whole ladder.

FAQs

Sources: word list from the official HSK 3.0 (November 2025) syllabus via Chinese Testing International; English glosses adapted from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0).