HSK 7-9 Character List 2026
HSK 7-9 introduces 1,148 new recognition characters and 500 new writing characters — the largest single character expansion in the entire HSK system. Together with HSK 1-6, the cumulative total reaches 3,088 recognition characters and 1,350 writing characters.
1,148
New recognition chars
500
New writing chars
3,088
Cumulative recognition
1,350
Cumulative writing
Compare Adjacent Levels
Follow the same skill across the HSK ladder
Compare recognition and handwriting character growth across the HSK ladder.
Cumulative Character Progress: HSK 1 to 7-9
Recognition characters = characters you must be able to read. Writing characters = characters you must write from memory. All writing characters are a subset of recognition characters.
| Level | New Recog. | New Writing | Cum. Recog. | Cum. Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 246 | 100 | 246 | 100 |
| HSK 2 | 125 | 150 | 371 | 250 |
| HSK 3 | 284 | 150 | 655 | 400 |
| HSK 4 | 441 | 150 | 1,096 | 550 |
| HSK 5 | 431 | 150 | 1,527 | 700 |
| HSK 6 | 413 | 150 | 1,940 | 850 |
| HSK 7-9 | 1148 | 500 | 3,088 | 1,350 |
See these characters in real words
In the Pass HSK app, HSK 7-9 characters show up in the words and sentences you learn, with pinyin, audio and short practice questions.
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Recognition Characters (认读字) — 1,148
All 1,148 new characters introduced at HSK 7-9. Characters highlighted in green are also required writing characters (500 total). Recognition means you must be able to read and understand these characters when encountered in text.
Writing Characters (书写字) — 500
These 500 characters must be written from memory with correct stroke order. They appear in HSK 7-9 production tasks including essay writing, translation, and formal document drafting.
500 characters • All shown above are required writing characters
How to Study 1,148 Characters
Focus on Semantic Components (部首)
HSK 7-9 chars span every domain. Group by radical: 疒 (illness: 癌/疤/痹/瘫/瘾/瘤), 氵 (water: 澜/澎/瀚/潦/瀑), 扌 (hand: 揣/撬/攒/撵/撼). Radicals reduce memorization by 50%.
Master Writing Chars as the Core
500 writing characters is your priority. These appear in exam production tasks. Aim for 5 new writing chars per day — that is 100 days for the entire writing list. Recognition chars follow naturally.
Encounter Characters in Context
At this level, isolated drilling is inefficient. Read Chinese news, academic papers, and formal essays. Characters like 赡/膳/瞻/斟 are best remembered through specific sentences that use them meaningfully.
Learn Literary & Classical Chars Separately
Some HSK 7-9 chars appear primarily in classical or literary contexts: 矣/兹/乃/若/兢/彬. Learn these through classical texts, proverbs, and formal written Chinese rather than modern conversations.
Check Pronunciation Carefully
Many HSK 7-9 chars have similar forms with different pronunciations: 辨(bian)/辩(bian)/辫(bian), 侧(ce)/则(ze)/测(ce). Practice pronunciation alongside character recognition from day one.
Use Mnemonic Stories
Complex HSK 7-9 chars like 鬣/蠢/爨 are too intricate for rote memorization. Build mnemonic stories using component meanings: 蠢 (spring + insect + insect) = bugs coming out in spring = stupidly naive.
Characters stick better inside words
In the Pass HSK app, HSK 7-9 characters show up in the words and sentences you learn, with pinyin, audio and short practice questions.
Find your level and start freeFree to start · No account or credit card needed · Web, iOS & Android