HSK 7-9 Vocabulary List 2026
HSK 7-9 introduces approximately 5,600 new words — the largest vocabulary jump in the entire HSK system. The cumulative total reaches ~10,600 words, spanning professional, academic, literary, legal, scientific, and classical Chinese registers.
~5,600
New words at 7-9
~10,600
Cumulative vocab
14
Categories
Family, Community & Housing
~280 words
Family dynamics, marriage customs, lineage, community culture, housing systems, neighborhood organizations, and civic community life.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 家风 | jiafeng | family tradition; family ethos | n. |
| 家教 | jiajiao | family upbringing; private tutoring | n. |
| 婚嫁 | hunjia | marriage; wedding customs | n. |
| 单亲 | danqin | single-parent | adj. |
| 抚养 | fuyang | to raise; to bring up; to support | v. |
| 社区制度 | shequ zhidu | community regulations/systems | n. |
| 邻里 | linli | neighborhood; neighbors | n. |
| 产权 | chanquan | property rights; ownership | n. |
Showing 8 of ~280 sample words
Health, Medicine & Life Sciences
~400 words
Disease diagnosis and etiology, treatment methods, mental health, medical ethics, pharmacology, physiology, and health psychology.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 诊断 | zhenduan | diagnosis; to diagnose | v./n. |
| 抑郁症 | yiyuzheng | depression (illness) | n. |
| 病因 | bingyin | cause of disease; etiology | n. |
| 诊疗 | zhenliao | diagnosis and treatment | n. |
| 医学伦理 | yixue lunli | medical ethics | n. |
| 生理 | shengli | physiological; physiology | adj./n. |
| 心理 | xinli | psychological; psychology; mental | adj./n. |
| 煎熬 | jianaO | torment; suffering; to be tortured by | n./v. |
Showing 8 of ~400 sample words
Food, Culinary Culture & Dining
~200 words
Advanced food vocabulary including culinary techniques, dining customs, restaurant industry terms, nutrition science, and cultural dimensions of Chinese cuisine.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 业态 | yetai | business model; industry format | n. |
| 食材 | shicai | ingredients; foodstuffs | n. |
| 烹饪 | pengren | cooking; culinary arts | v./n. |
| 餐桌礼仪 | canzuo liyi | table manners; dining etiquette | n. |
| 菜肴 | caiyao | cooked dishes; cuisine | n. |
| 滋味 | ziwei | flavor; taste; feeling | n. |
| 地道 | didao | authentic; genuine; real | adj. |
| 饮食文化 | yinshi wenhua | food culture; culinary culture | n. |
Showing 8 of ~200 sample words
Sports, Geography & Travel
~300 words
Sports events and culture, adventure tourism, natural geography, cultural landscapes, tourism models, ethnography, and environmental travel.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 冲浪 | chonglang | surfing; to surf | n./v. |
| 摔跤 | shuaijiao | wrestling; to wrestle; to fall | n./v. |
| 徒步探险 | tubu tanxian | hiking/trekking expedition | n. |
| 民宿 | minsu | homestay; bed and breakfast | n. |
| 地貌 | dimao | landform; terrain; topography | n. |
| 人文特色 | renwen tese | cultural/humanistic characteristics | n. |
| 风俗 | fengsu | customs; local practices | n. |
| 体育精神 | tiyu jingshen | sportsmanship; athletic spirit | n. |
Showing 8 of ~300 sample words
Legal, Civic & Rights
~300 words
Contracts, agreements, civil law, personal rights, property disputes, consumer advocacy, legal procedures, and civic engagement in dispute resolution.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 租赁 | zulin | to lease; leasing; rental | v./n. |
| 纠纷 | jiufen | dispute; conflict; controversy | n. |
| 诉求 | suqiu | demand; claim; appeal | n. |
| 责任归属 | zeren guishu | attribution of responsibility | n. |
| 侵权 | qinquan | infringement; to violate rights | v./n. |
| 维权 | weiquan | to protect/defend one's rights | v. |
| 合同 | hetong | contract; agreement | n. |
| 协议 | xieyi | agreement; protocol | n. |
Showing 8 of ~300 sample words
Work, Business & Industry
~500 words
Professional communication, corporate operations, industry overviews, negotiations, HR policy, project management, and business correspondence.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 业绩 | yeji | performance; achievement; results | n. |
| 策划 | cehua | to plan; to devise; planning | v./n. |
| 倡议 | changyi | proposal; initiative; to propose | n./v. |
| 绩效考核 | jixiao kaohe | performance appraisal/evaluation | n. |
| 进修 | jinxiu | advanced study; continuing education | v./n. |
| 聘任 | pinren | to engage; to appoint; appointment | v./n. |
| 基层 | jiceng | grassroots level; basic level | n. |
| 共享经济 | gongxiang jingji | sharing economy | n. |
Showing 8 of ~500 sample words
Finance, Trade & Economics
~400 words
Market dynamics, economic policy, investment, trade finance, consumer behavior, economic disputes, reform policies, and macroeconomic concepts.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 杂交水稻 | zajiao shuidao | hybrid rice | n. |
| 能耗 | nenghao | energy consumption | n. |
| 公款 | gongkuan | public funds; public money | n. |
| 势头 | shitou | momentum; tendency; situation | n. |
| 经济体制 | jingji tizhi | economic system/structure | n. |
| 跨境电商 | kuajing dianshang | cross-border e-commerce | n. |
| 市场动态 | shichang dongtai | market dynamics; market trends | n. |
| 消费热点 | xiaofei redian | consumer trend; hot consumption topic | n. |
Showing 8 of ~400 sample words
Science, Technology & Innovation
~450 words
AI, cybersecurity, big data, aerospace, biotech, network security, information technology, scientific research methods, and emerging technologies.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大数据 | da shuju | big data | n. |
| 信息安全 | xinxi anquan | information security; cybersecurity | n. |
| 人工智能 | rengong zhineng | artificial intelligence (AI) | n. |
| 航空航天 | hangkong hangtian | aviation and aerospace | n. |
| 生物化学 | shengwu huaxue | biochemistry | n. |
| 算法 | suanfa | algorithm | n. |
| 版权保护 | banquan baohu | copyright protection | n. |
| 著作权 | zhuzuoquan | copyright; intellectual property rights | n. |
Showing 8 of ~450 sample words
Media, Society & Current Affairs
~400 words
Journalism, news analysis, media ethics, social responsibility, online media, public opinion, social phenomena, and current event commentary.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 时事 | shishi | current events; current affairs | n. |
| 深度报道 | shendu baodao | in-depth reporting; investigative journalism | n. |
| 社会责任 | shehui zeren | social responsibility | n. |
| 谣言 | yaoyan | rumor; false information | n. |
| 诽谤 | feibang | defamation; slander; to defame | v./n. |
| 舆论 | yulun | public opinion; public sentiment | n. |
| 传媒 | chuanmei | mass media; media industry | n. |
| 老龄化 | laolinghua | aging (of population); graying society | n. |
Showing 8 of ~400 sample words
Education & Academic Research
~350 words
Academic institutions, research methodology, thesis writing, literature reviews, academic debate, scholarly exchange, and higher education systems.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 文献综述 | wenxian zongshu | literature review | n. |
| 研究设计 | yanjiu sheji | research design | n. |
| 论文提要 | lunwen tiyao | thesis abstract; paper summary | n. |
| 学籍 | xueji | student status; enrollment records | n. |
| 攻读 | gongdu | to pursue a degree; to study intensively | v. |
| 后现代主义 | houxiandai zhuyi | postmodernism | n. |
| 有教无类 | you jiao wu lei | education for all regardless of background (Confucius) | phrase |
| 答辩 | dabian | thesis defense; to defend a thesis | n./v. |
Showing 8 of ~350 sample words
Chinese Culture, Thought & Global Issues
~400 words
Classical Chinese thought, literary analysis, world heritage, global public health, human community building, and cross-cultural exchange.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人类命运共同体 | renlei mingyun gongtongti | community of shared future for mankind | n. |
| 世界遗产 | shijie yichan | world heritage; World Heritage Site | n. |
| 全球化 | quanqiuhua | globalization | n. |
| 本土化 | bentuhua | localization; indigenization | n. |
| 消除贫困 | xiaochu pinkun | poverty elimination; poverty alleviation | n. |
| 公共卫生 | gonggong weisheng | public health | n. |
| 生态环境 | shengtai huanjing | ecological environment | n. |
| 少数民族 | shaoshu minzu | ethnic minority; minority nationality | n. |
Showing 8 of ~400 sample words
Formal, Literary & Classical Register
~350 words
Literary vocabulary, classical Chinese expressions (文言), formal document language, rhetorical devices, philosophical terms, and elevated written registers.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 所谓 | suowei | so-called; what is called; what is meant by | adv. |
| 予以 | yuyi | to give; to grant; to accord (formal) | v. |
| 乃至 | naizhi | even; even as far as; up to | conj. |
| 况且 | kuangqie | furthermore; moreover; besides | conj. |
| 免得 | miande | so as not to; in order to avoid | conj. |
| 倘若 | tangruo | if; supposing; in case (literary) | conj. |
| 既然 | jiran | since; given that; now that | conj. |
| 归根到底 | guigen daodi | in the final analysis; ultimately | phrase |
Showing 8 of ~350 sample words
Chengyu, Idioms & Set Expressions
~300 words
Four-character idioms (成语), proverbs, literary allusions, and set expressions commonly encountered in formal written Chinese and sophisticated speech.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 小心翼翼 | xiaoxin yiyi | with the utmost care; cautiously | phrase |
| 颠倒黑白 | diandao heibai | to confuse right and wrong; to distort | phrase |
| 刻舟求剑 | ke zhou qiu jian | to act without regard to changing circumstances | phrase |
| 天伦之乐 | tianlun zhi le | family happiness; joy of family life | phrase |
| 力所能及 | li suo neng ji | within one's power/capability | phrase |
| 取经 | qujing | to learn from others experience; to study best practices | v. |
| 摊牌 | tanpai | to lay one's cards on the table; to have a showdown | v. |
| 分外 | fenwai | especially; extraordinarily; beyond one's duty | adv. |
Showing 8 of ~300 sample words
How to Study 5,600 New Words
📰
Immerse in Native Content Daily
5,600 new words cannot be acquired through flashcards alone. Read Chinese newspapers (人民日报, 南方周末), watch documentaries (纪录片), and follow academic podcasts daily.
🎓
Learn Domain-Specific Clusters
Group words by profession: legal terms (纠纷/诉求/侵权), medical terms (诊断/病因/诊疗), academic terms (文献综述/答辩/学籍). Domain clusters are more memorable than random lists.
📜
Master Chengyu and Formal Registers
HSK 7-9 tests classical expressions, literary allusions, and formal written Chinese. Read classical texts, official government documents, and formal commentary to build this register.
🔄
Active Production, Not Just Recognition
At this level, passive recognition is insufficient. Write essays, translate texts, and practice translation aloud to build productive vocabulary. Keep a writing journal in Chinese.
⏱️
Budget 2-4 Years
5,600 new words at 10/day = 560 days of first exposure alone. Factor in review cycles (at least 3x per word) and this is genuinely a multi-year effort requiring sustained immersion.
🔗
Link Words to Contexts, Not Translations
At HSK 7-9, many words lack simple one-to-one translations (e.g., 人类命运共同体, 有教无类). Learn them through Chinese explanations and context, not English glosses.
Build HSK 7-9 Vocabulary Systematically
PASS HSK uses frequency-ranked spaced repetition to prioritize the most exam-relevant HSK 7-9 words.
Start Learning Free
Social Life & Personal Identity
~350 words
Personal character, values, interpersonal relationships, lifestyle choices, aesthetics, and social etiquette in formal and informal settings.
Showing 8 of ~350 sample words