How to use these flashcards
If this is your first time learning Chinese, here is how to get the most out of these 150 words.
- Hear first, then read. Tap the speaker icon before you look at the answer. Training your ear is the most important skill at this stage.
- Say the tone out loud. 妈 (mā) and 马 (mǎ) are different words. If you cannot say the tone, you have not learned the word yet.
- Learn to recognize, not write. At HSK 1, focus on reading and understanding. Handwriting can come later.
- Short sessions work best. Ten minutes, twice a day, beats one long hour once a week.
What makes HSK 1 special
These 150 words are the most frequently used characters in Chinese. Master them and you can understand a surprising amount — numbers, greetings, family, food, and everyday verbs. It is a small list, but it is the foundation every Chinese learner builds on. The spaced-repetition system schedules each word for review right before you are about to forget it, so the 150 words stay in your memory with far less effort than rote memorization.
Ready for the next level?
Once you know all 150 words, move up to HSK 2 flashcards to learn 177 more words and start building real sentences.