HSK 1 Chinese Basics

Identify the five Mandarin tone categories in isolated syllables.

Produce the first, second, third, fourth, and neutral tones with recognizable pitch contours.

Maintain distinct tones when pronouncing familiar two-syllable words.

Apply third-tone sandhi in common two-syllable expressions.

Apply the usual tone changes of 一 and 不 in familiar expressions.

Use 你好, 您好, and 再见 in appropriate social situations.

Use 谢谢, 不客气, 对不起, and 没关系 in short exchanges.

Ask a speaker to repeat or slow down using 请再说一遍 and 请说慢一点.

Use 我, 你, 他, 她, and 我们 as subjects in simple spoken sentences.

State a name and identity using 叫 and 是.

Ask and answer yes-or-no questions with 吗.

Use 呢 to return a question or continue a short exchange.

Ask and answer questions about names using 什么 and 叫.

Ask and answer where someone is from using 哪国人 and 来自.

State which languages someone speaks using 说 and 会.

Conduct a short spoken exchange covering greeting, name, origin, and language.

Produce and understand Mandarin numbers from zero through one hundred.

Ask and state a person’s age using 几, 多少, and 岁.

Say and confirm a telephone number digit by digit.

Read and state a calendar date using 年, 月, 日 or 号, and 星期.

Ask for and state clock times using 点, 分, and 半.

Use 昨天, 今天, 明天, and 现在 to locate an event in time.

Place a time expression before the verb in a simple sentence.

Arrange a meeting time by proposing, confirming, or changing a day and hour.

Name immediate family members and common social relationships in Mandarin.

Express possession and personal relationships using 的.

Ask and answer who-questions using 谁.

Use 个 with familiar nouns when counting people or objects.

Express possession or existence using 有 and 没有.

Form simple descriptions with a subject, 很, and an adjective.

Describe a friend’s or family member’s identity and one personal quality.

Identify names, relationships, ages, and descriptions in a short spoken profile.

Use common HSK 1 verbs for studying, working, eating, drinking, sleeping, reading, watching, listening, speaking, and writing.

Build affirmative subject–verb–object sentences in standard Mandarin word order.

Choose 不 or 没有 to negate a familiar beginner sentence.

Ask what someone does or is doing using 做什么.

State likes and dislikes using 喜欢 and 不喜欢.

Express a wish or intended action using 想.

Distinguish learned ability with 会 from situational ability with 能 in simple sentences.

Exchange information about a typical day using ordered time expressions.

Name common HSK 1 places, including 家, 学校, 商店, 医院, 饭店, and 车站.

Use 这, 那, and 哪 to identify or ask about familiar places and objects.

State where a person or object is using 在.

Describe basic relative positions using 里, 前面, 后面, and 上面.

Ask and answer where-questions using 哪儿 or 哪里.

Use 来, 去, 回, 坐, and 住 in simple sentences about movement and location.

State a basic transport choice using 坐 followed by a familiar vehicle.

Arrange where to meet a friend and confirm how to get there.

Name common HSK 1 foods, drinks, and fruit used in everyday conversation.

Ask what another person wants to eat or drink.

Order one familiar food or drink using 想, 要, and an appropriate measure word.

State food and drink preferences using 喜欢 and 不喜欢.

Ask and answer how much an item costs using 多少钱 and 块.

Understand spoken quantities and prices in a short buying exchange.

Make a polite request using 请 and 给.

Perform a short café or shop dialogue from greeting through payment and thanks.

Ask about the weather using 天气怎么样.

Describe basic weather conditions using 冷, 热, and 下雨.

Describe an action in progress using 在 or 正在 before a verb.

Ask what a friend is doing now using 现在 and 做什么.

Use 了 to report a familiar completed action.

Distinguish a habitual action from an action happening now in a short spoken exchange.

Respond to a simple invitation by accepting, declining, or suggesting another time.

Give a brief spoken update about today’s weather, current activity, and one completed activity.

Recognize fifteen high-frequency characters used for people and introductions.

Recognize fifteen high-frequency characters used for numbers, dates, and time.

Recognize fifteen high-frequency characters used for daily activities and places.

Recognize fifteen high-frequency characters used for food, preferences, and social phrases.

Enter studied words and sentences using a pinyin Chinese keyboard.

Identify the main question and key details in a short message from a friend.

Compose a three-sentence Chinese message that greets a friend, answers a question, and asks a follow-up question.

Hold a three-minute supported conversation covering introductions, daily life, preferences, and plans.