Mandarin word lists
Curated lists for the Mandarin catalogue. From the highest-leverage 100 words you cannot speak the language without, through to GCSE-aligned vocabulary for exam learners.
Per Nation (2006), the most frequent 1,000 word-families cover 81-84% of spoken English.
Critical 100
100 must-know words
The highest-leverage opening hundred Mandarin words. Function words and the handful of verbs and nouns you will use in every conversation.
Browse 97 words
Core 1000
1,000 most common words
The 1,000 most-frequent Mandarin words. Covers around 80% of spoken Mandarin per Nation (2006); the workhorse vocabulary every learner needs.
Browse 904 words
Core 5000
5,000 most common words
Ranks 1-5,000. The reach to near-native reading fluency in Mandarin.
Browse 1,792 words
GCSE vocabulary
AQA GCSE-aligned word list
Every word from our catalogue that appears in the AQA GCSE Mandarin (8673) specification. Each entry records which AQA topic unit(s) it covers so the list can be split by topic later.
Browse 113 words
HSK 1
HSK 1 exam vocabulary (A1)
Every word from our catalogue in the HSK 2.0 level 1 vocabulary - the 150 words the HSK 1 exam tests. Hanban maps HSK 1 to CEFR A1.
Browse 127 words
HSK 2
HSK 2 exam vocabulary (A2)
Every word from our catalogue in the HSK 2.0 level 2 vocabulary - cumulative across levels 1-2, 300 official words. Hanban maps HSK 2 to CEFR A2.
Browse 311 words
HSK 3
HSK 3 exam vocabulary (B1)
Every word from our catalogue in the HSK 2.0 level 3 vocabulary - cumulative across levels 1-3, 600 official words. Hanban maps HSK 3 to CEFR B1.
Browse 511 words
HSK 4
HSK 4 exam vocabulary (B2)
Every word from our catalogue in the HSK 2.0 level 4 vocabulary - cumulative across levels 1-4, 1,200 official words. Hanban maps HSK 4 to CEFR B2.
Browse 736 words
HSK 5
HSK 5 exam vocabulary (C1)
Every word from our catalogue in the HSK 2.0 level 5 vocabulary - cumulative across levels 1-5, 2,500 official words. Hanban maps HSK 5 to CEFR C1.
Browse 807 words
HSK 6
HSK 6 exam vocabulary (C2)
Every word from our catalogue in the HSK 2.0 level 6 vocabulary - cumulative across levels 1-6, 5,000+ official words. Hanban maps HSK 6 to CEFR C2.
Browse 815 words