HSK 3.0 · Updated for 2026

HSK 4 Character List 2026: 441 New Characters

HSK Level 4 adds 441 new recognition characters, bringing the cumulative total to 1,096. The writing requirement grows to 400 cumulative characters (150 new at L4). At this level, characters become structurally complex — many have multiple readings or appear in formal written contexts.

Character Requirements at a Glance

441

New recognition chars

1,096

Cumulative recognition

150

New writing chars

400

Cumulative writing

Recognition vs. Writing: What is the Difference?

Recognition (认读字)

You must be able to read these characters and understand their meaning in context. They appear in reading comprehension and listening passages. You do NOT need to write them from memory.

Writing (书写字)

You must be able to write these characters correctly from memory — correct stroke order, components, and tone. The 150 writing characters at L4 are a subset of the 441 recognition characters.

Recognition Characters by Theme

👤 People & Relationships

Kinship terms, life stages, and professional titles

父母兄姑娘伙俩亲婆傅硕聘授孙龄幼

🏢 Work & Society

Workplace, achievement, and professional vocabulary

职材技际评聘竞授证规格积绩奋功供获值

🏙️ Urban Life & Commerce

Shopping, commercial activity, and consumer transactions

购售价货品牌广逛市折账付费赚袋塑

🌿 Nature & Environment

Environment, natural phenomena, and ecology

森林棵浪污染垃圾散暑寒暖烟盐云洲

🏥 Body & Health

Body parts, symptoms, and medical/health vocabulary

肤膏胳膊脾肚肯嗽咳吸血汗免苦痛危险

🎭 Culture & Arts

Arts, media, performance, and cultural heritage

艺剧播摄印幅彩美精博著乐歌琴

📚 Learning & Abstract Concepts

Academic and abstract reasoning vocabulary

基础究论证则律规志质否判确误忆译

Full Recognition List (441 characters)

All 441 new HSK 4 recognition characters from the official 2026 syllabus.

按案傲巴败棒保抱背倍笨鼻毕标饼并播博膊部擦猜材彩餐操厕察产厂晨诚乘程厨础窗吹此粗村存达待袋戴弹刀导倒登低底递掉订堵肚度断队顿尔翻烦反费份奋丰否肤符幅福父付负傅富改赶敢钢膏胳格各功供购够估姑鼓挂观管光广逛规咳寒喊汗航何盒贺厚呼忽虎互户划怀悔伙货获圾积基及即籍计纪技际济既继寄价减建键江将奖降郊骄巾金仅尽紧禁京惊精景警竞竟镜究举拒具剧距聚绝烤科棵克肯恐苦况困垃拉辣懒浪厉丽励利例俩连联谅量列林龄另流乱论落律虑麻馒漫帽貌美梦迷密免秒民命默母慕耐恼闹内嗯娘农弄暖偶排牌判乓陪批皮脾篇频品聘乒评泼破葡普戚弃签歉强敲桥巧切亲琴青庆取缺却确染扰任扔仍入散森伤稍社摄申深甚省剩失拾食使氏示式柿释匙首授售输熟暑术帅顺硕死松嗽速塑酸随孙台抬态谈汤躺趟萄讨套堂填厅庭停通童桶痛土推脱袜危微围味温污无误吸悉惜细咸险线羡乡详项象消效辛醒幸性兄修羞秀许序续血压亚烟严研盐厌验扬洋邀钥叶夜疑艺忆译谊引印赢永勇优幽尤由油愉与预原约阅云允杂仔暂则责增章账招折针争整证之支汁值职植止址指至志质众洲祝著专转赚装资族组尊座

Writing Characters (150 new at L4)

These 150 characters must be written correctly from memory. All are a subset of the recognition list above.

巴保抱背标并部餐产厂晨程吹此村达刀导倒低掉度断队烦反份否父改敢各够挂观管广喊忽虎划基及计技际济寄建江将金京究举科克况困拉利例俩连联量另流论麻美民内农弄排牌篇品普强青取确任扔入社深省食使示式输熟术顺随台态谈汤堂讨套庭停通痛土推味温无误线象性兄许血压亚研验夜印永由油与原约云增章之支止指至志众专转装资组座

Study Tips for HSK 4 Characters

Group characters by component (部首)

Many L4 characters share components: 技、际、济、纪、继、绝 all contain 纟 (silk radical). Learning the radical meaning helps decode unfamiliar characters during the exam.

Prioritize the 150 writing characters first

Since writing characters are a strict subset of recognition characters, learn to write them first. Every writing character is automatically a recognition character too.

Watch for characters with multiple meanings

Characters like 省 (province / to save), 量 (measure / quantity), 弹 (to play / bullet), 划 (to row / to plan) have multiple readings. Always learn characters in their vocabulary context, not in isolation.

Use vocabulary to reinforce characters

Learn 研究 (research) together with 研 and 究. Learning characters embedded in the vocabulary they are part of doubles learning efficiency.

Practice Writing All 150 HSK 4 Characters

PASS HSK drills stroke order, meaning, and reading — with spaced repetition tuned to the exam.

Start Writing Practice Free