HSK 4 Topics & Speaking 2026: All 30 Tasks
HSK 4 introduces 11 brand-new topic domains that were never tested at lower levels. The final 8 tasks — all new — cover Chinese culture, history, traditions, and landmarks. This means cultural knowledge is now a core exam competency, not a bonus.
Topic Overview: 5 Groups, 30 Tasks
| Group | Tasks | New ⭐ |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Personal & Social | 4 | 1 |
| 2. Daily Life | 6 | 1 |
| 3. Family, Study & Work | 6 | 2 |
| 4. Nature, Society & Tech | 6 | 4 |
| 5. Culture, Arts & History | 8 | 7 |
🍜 Daily Life
Food & Dining
介绍饮食情况
At L4, food topics include cooking methods, restaurant reviews, food delivery platforms, and food culture discussions. You may write a paragraph about a restaurant experience or describe a dish and its preparation.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
这家餐厅的北京烤鸭皮脆肉嫩，色泽金黄，配上甜面酱和葱，非常美味。
Transport & Travel
谈论交通出行
Includes travel planning in detail: hotel booking, itinerary preparation, driving conditions, and transport service comparisons. Longer narrative about travel experiences and emotional impressions of places visited.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我们提前三个月订好了酒店，规划好了整个行程，才开始这次西藏之旅。
Shopping & Commerce
交流购物体验、商业活动内容
Expanded to include online shopping, brand selection, promotional events, and advertising. Discuss shopping experiences across platforms and evaluate service quality, product features, and payment methods.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
这次双十一活动，很多品牌都打折，我在网上买了好几件衣服，非常划算。
Health & Medical
谈论就医情况、健康生活
Describe more complex health situations including injury, chronic conditions, and health philosophies. Discuss medical advice, medication, and healthy lifestyle habits in a coherent paragraph.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
医生建议我减少工作压力，保持规律的作息，每天坚持锻炼至少半小时。
Hobbies & Leisure
交流业余爱好、休闲度假
Discuss hobbies in depth: reading habits, internet activities, fitness routines, travel experiences, social gatherings. Express opinions on leisure philosophy and work-life balance.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我最近迷上了骑行，每个周末都会骑自行车去郊外，既锻炼了身体又放松了心情。
Housing & Community
⭐ NEW交流居住情况、社区情况
NEW at L4 (expanded): Community services, neighbor relationships, property rental negotiations, rental contracts, and housing conditions. Reading includes community posts, notices, and rental listings.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我在找房子，想租一个离公司近、交通方便的两居室，预算在三千块左右。
👨👩👧 Family, Study & Work
Family Life & Habits
交流家庭生活情况
Discuss generational living arrangements, parenting, care for the elderly, childhood memories, and home life philosophies. Write a paragraph describing family relationships or a specific family memory.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我的外婆和我们住在一起，她经常给我们讲她年轻时候的故事，让我对家乡产生了浓厚的感情。
Study & Learning
谈论教学、学习情况
Discuss academic programs, teaching methods, exam preparation, scholarships, and study experiences including studying abroad. Write a summary of a learning plan or study experience.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我申请到了交换生名额，明年将去北京大学学习一个学期，这对我来说是一个非常难得的机会。
Campus Life
交流校园生活
Campus satisfaction surveys, graduation events, school facilities (library, cafeteria, playground), and campus activities. Fill in forms: registration forms, surveys, opinion cards.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我们学校的图书馆刚刚改造完成，新增了很多学习区域和自助借书设备，大家都非常满意。
Education Trends & Concepts
⭐ NEW谈论教育现象、观念
NEW at L4: Discuss family education goals and methods, exam pressure, vocational education, educational organizations, and hot-topic education debates. Express an informed opinion about an education concept.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
现在很多家长过于注重孩子的成绩，而忽略了培养孩子的创造力和独立思考能力。
Work Performance & Office Life
谈论工作情况与表现
Specific work arrangements, performance evaluations, team cooperation, and company events. Reading includes work notices, schedules, and office-related articles.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我们公司上个月组织了一次团建活动，大家一起爬山，增进了彼此的了解和合作精神。
Career History & Workplace
⭐ NEW介绍职业经历与单位情况
NEW at L4: Job applications, resumes, interviews, promotions, salary packages, and workplace environment. Reading: resumes, company profiles, job postings. Writing: brief work experience narrative.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我上周参加了一家科技公司的面试，面试官主要考查了我的专业技能和团队合作经验。
🌍 Nature, Society & Technology
Nature & Climate
谈论自然情况
Broader scope: geographic overviews (oceans, forests, earth), regional climate differences, wildlife (tigers, bears), natural landscapes, and natural phenomena (stars, clouds). Write about a specific animal or weather experience.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
西双版纳的热带雨林气候温暖湿润，植物种类丰富，是中国著名的生物多样性地区。
Eco-Protection in Daily Life
谈论生活中的环保情况
Pollution issues, eco-protection practices, environmental regulations, and green campaigns. Describe an eco-friendly activity, personal habits, or environmental event.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我们小区从今年开始推行垃圾分类，刚开始很多人不习惯，但现在大家都养成了这个好习惯。
New Technology & Science
⭐ NEW介绍新技术应用及科技成果
NEW at L4: Discuss drones, QR code payment, popular science, and research findings. Express personal views on how technology affects daily life. Reading: simple technology introductions.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
无人机送货技术正在不断发展，将来在一些偏远地区可能会改变传统的配送方式。
China's Provinces & Ethnic Groups
⭐ NEW介绍中国的主要省市、民族
NEW at L4: Introduce Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Yunnan), minority ethnic groups, their geographic distribution, and cultural characteristics.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
云南省是中国少数民族最多的省份，有彝族、傣族、白族等二十多个民族，各有独特的文化和习俗。
Economic Phenomena
⭐ NEW谈论经济现象
NEW at L4: Trending products, new business models (livestream commerce, food delivery platforms), economic conditions, and market developments. Express an opinion on an economic trend.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
近几年，直播带货成为一种新的商业模式，越来越多的消费者通过观看直播来购买商品。
Social Phenomena
⭐ NEW谈论社会现象
NEW at L4: Lifestyle values (marriage attitudes, consumer values), internet culture, and trending social topics. Write or speak about a social phenomenon you have observed.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
随着网络的发展，越来越多的年轻人更喜欢在家里网购，而不愿意去实体商店购物。
🎭 Culture, Arts & History
Arts, Events & Works
介绍文艺形式、活动、作品
Introduce specific art forms (stage play, film, music), cultural events, performers, and works. Give a brief plot summary or express opinions on a creative work. Reading: cultural event programs.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我最近看了一部话剧，讲的是一个关于友情和理想的故事，演员的表演非常精彩，让我深受感动。
Sports & Competitions
⭐ NEW谈论体育项目及比赛
NEW at L4: Discuss sports (table tennis, volleyball), competition results, athlete stories. Introduce a sport, describe an exciting match, or talk about a sports icon.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
中国乒乓球队在世界比赛中一直保持着很高的水平，赢得了无数冠军，是中国体育的骄傲。
China–Foreign Friendship
⭐ NEW讲述中外友好故事
NEW at L4: Stories of friendship between Chinese and foreign people, sister cities, school exchanges, Chinese language competitions, and study-abroad experiences. Write a short friendship story.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
我的大学有很多留学生，我和一个来自德国的同学成为了很好的朋友，我们互相学习对方的语言和文化。
Proverbs & Famous Quotes
⭐ NEW介绍常见俗语、名言
NEW at L4: Introduce common Chinese proverbs (俗语) and famous quotes. Explain the meaning and context in which they are used. Reading: short texts explaining proverbs.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
中国有句俗语叫'一日之计在于晨'，意思是一天中最重要的计划应该在早上就安排好。
Traditional Food Culture
⭐ NEW介绍传统饮食文化
NEW at L4: Chinese dining etiquette, regional food characteristics, century-old brands, and the cultural significance of specific foods. Write about a traditional food or food custom.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
中国的春节期间，北方家庭有吃饺子的传统，饺子的形状像古代的银元宝，象征着财富和好运。
Customs & Traditions
⭐ NEW介绍风俗传统
NEW at L4: Traditional Chinese festivals (Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival), national cultural heritage (kung fu, Peking opera), folk beliefs, and social etiquette norms.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
中秋节是中国的传统节日，人们会赏月、吃月饼，象征着家庭团圆和对美好生活的祝愿。
Historical Sites & Landmarks
⭐ NEW介绍名胜古迹
NEW at L4: Introduce famous Chinese landmarks (Tiananmen, the Great Wall, West Lake). Describe the historical background, location, and significance. Write a short introduction to a site.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
长城是中国最著名的历史建筑之一，全长超过两万公里，是古代中国人民智慧和勇气的象征。
Historical Figures & Events
⭐ NEW介绍历史人物、历史事件
NEW at L4: Introduce Chinese historical figures (Confucius, Laozi) or major historical events. Describe their significance and lasting influence. Reading: general introductory texts about history.
Key Vocabulary
Example sentence:
孔子是中国古代著名的思想家和教育家，他的儒家思想对中国文化产生了深远的影响，至今仍受到人们的尊重。
Speaking Strategies for HSK 4
Prepare a 'cultural facts bank' for Tasks 25–30
The 8 culture/history tasks require factual background knowledge you cannot improvise. Prepare 3–5 key facts for each domain: one proverb and its meaning, two Chinese landmarks, two festival customs, one historical figure. Memorize these before exam day.
Use compound sentence connectors to upgrade your answers
HSK 4 rewards connected discourse. Use 虽然…但是, 不仅…而且, 既然…就, 尽管…可是 to link your ideas. A 3-sentence answer using complex connectors scores higher than 5 simple sentences.
Give your opinion on social/economic phenomena
Tasks 21 and 22 expect you to express a view, not just describe facts. Practice phrases like 我认为…, 在我看来…, 对我来说…, 这说明… to move from describing to evaluating.
Continue with HSK 4
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