In 2026, the Hanban published a revised HSK standard — HSK 3.1 — alongside the existing HSK 3.0. But here is the part that matters most: HSK 1-6 tests are not changing for now. The revised word placements are published standards, not a test mandate. What is new is HSK 7-9, an advanced tier launching in 2026. Here is what actually changed and what to do about it.
A note on naming: "HSK 3.1" is not an official Hanban designation. Hanban calls both the 2021 and 2025 versions "HSK 3.0." The "3.1" label is an unofficial community convention started by researchers to distinguish the two versions. We use it here for clarity.
Looking for apps that support the new HSK levels? See our HSK prep app comparison covering SuperTest, Hidden Dragon, HelloChinese, and Duolingo.
The Change That Will Surprise You Most
手机 (shǒujī, mobile phone) used to sit at HSK Level 4. In the new standard, it is Level 1.
That is not a mistake. It reflects a deliberate philosophy: vocabulary placement should reflect how often learners encounter words in modern China. You will hear 手机 in your first week of exposure to Chinese. Burying it at Level 4 never made sense.
The same logic moved 超市 (supermarket) from Level 4 to Level 1, and 包子 (steamed bun) from Level 5 to Level 1. These are words you need on day one.
What the Published Standard Says
The HSK 3.1 standard reclassified 6,503 words between levels. Of those, 2,824 moved to higher levels, 1,194 moved to lower levels, 1,206 were added, and 1,279 were removed. The total vocabulary stayed roughly the same. But importantly: these are published standards, not current test content. HSK 1-6 tests have not changed.
The reclassification splits into two clear patterns.
Everyday words moved down. Concrete, common, modern vocabulary shifted to lower levels. 手机, 超市, 包子 are now at the levels where beginners encounter them.
Abstract words moved up. 厉害 (lìhai, awesome/fierce) jumped from Level 2 to Level 5. 简单 (jiǎndān, simple) moved from Level 2 to Level 5. 认真 (rènzhēn, serious) went from Level 3 to Level 6. These words require more nuance to use correctly, and the revision acknowledged that.
The underlying logic: concreteness belongs at early levels, abstraction at later ones.
The Inverted Pyramid (Again)
The bigger structural change is the word count distribution.
| Level | HSK 2.0/3.0 (current tests) | HSK 3.1 (published standard) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 500 | 300 |
| 2 | 772 | 197 |
| 3 | 973 | 491 |
| 4 | 1,000 | 990 |
| 5 | 1,071 | 1,579 |
| 6 | 1,140 | 1,777 |
| 7-9 | 5,656 | 5,562 |
| Total | 11,112 | 10,896 |
HSK 3.1 returns to the structure HSK 2.0 also used: narrow at the base, wide at the top. Very few words at the early levels, an explosion at the advanced levels. Level 6 grew by 56%. Level 1 shrank by 40%.
For learners, that means beginners have less to memorize before they can start reading and listening. The early levels are tighter and more purposeful. Advanced learners face a bigger vocabulary ceiling.
What Stayed the Same
The core vocabulary did not change. The 9-level structure is the same. The test format is the same. If you studied HSK 3.0 materials, the vast majority of what you learned still applies. Words did not disappear. They shifted levels.
Grammar expectations at each level are also unchanged. HSK has always tested vocabulary far more than grammar, and that remains true in 3.1.
What This Means for You
If you are currently studying for an HSK test: Your test uses the current HSK 2.0/3.0 word lists. HSK 1-6 tests are not changing for now. Do not switch your study materials based on the published 3.1 standard.
If you are using textbooks: Most textbooks in print today are based on HSK 2.0 or 3.0. That is fine. The vocabulary overlaps heavily. Treat the level labels in older materials as approximate. A word listed as HSK 4 in your textbook may now be HSK 5 or HSK 3 in the published standard, but you still need to know it.
If you are just starting out: The published HSK 3.1 standard has a better word distribution for beginners — fewer words at early levels, more at advanced. You get to a useful vocabulary faster with free Chinese graded readers that highlight HSK level for every word. Hidden Dragon has dedicated vocabulary books for HSK levels 1 through 6, with over 64,000 Tatoeba example sentences across all levels. Built-in listening, reading comprehension, and grammar exams let you test your readiness at any level before committing to an exam date.
The Full Data
The HSK version comparison page has everything: a searchable table of all 6,503 level changes, complete vocabulary lists by level, and the full word count breakdown across all three versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does HSK 3.1 take effect for HSK 1-6?
No date has been officially announced. As of August 2026, HSK 1-6 tests still use the current word lists. A thorough fact-check on StackExchange found that the widely-circulated "July 2026" rollout date appears to have originated from a placeholder date in a PDF document, not from any official announcement. Confucius Institutes have stated they are still waiting for confirmation. The chinesetest.cn website does not mention a rollout date.
Where does this data come from?
The vocabulary lists are from two sources: drkameleon/complete-hsk-vocabulary (MIT, HSK 2.0/3.0 data) and Becky Li's HSK 3.1 sources. The comparison scripts we used to generate the level-change data are here: word-level and character-level. To run them, download the script along with both data files (complete.json, hsk3.1-complete.json), place them in the same directory, and run node compare-hsk-versions.cjs.
What about HSK 7-9?
HSK 7-9 is genuinely new. It is an advanced tier aimed at international students majoring in Chinese language and literature, overseas Sinology researchers, and advanced learners. According to an official response from chinesetest.cn support, HSK 7-9 is expected to launch as early as the second half of 2026. This has been corroborated by multiple Confucius Institutes.
Is HSK 3.1 harder than HSK 3.0?
Not overall. The published HSK 3.1 standard moved everyday words to lower levels and abstract words to higher levels. Beginners actually have less to memorize (300 words at Level 1 instead of 500), while advanced levels expanded. The total vocabulary stayed roughly the same. But again — HSK 1-6 tests have not changed to reflect this.
Do I need to restart my HSK studies for 3.1?
No. No words were removed from the standard. The same vocabulary exists, just at different levels in the published standard. If you have been studying HSK 3.0 materials, the vast majority of what you learned still applies. Use the interactive comparison tool to see exactly which words changed levels.
What is the difference between HSK 3.0 and 3.1?
HSK 3.1 is a published revision of HSK 3.0. The main change is that 6,503 words were reclassified. Concrete everyday words (like phone, supermarket, steamed bun) moved to lower levels, and abstract words (like awesome, simple, serious) moved to higher levels. The 9-level structure and total word count are essentially the same. HSK 1-6 tests have not yet adopted these changes.
Should I use HSK 3.0 or 3.1 materials?
Use HSK 3.0 materials for now — that is what the tests cover. The published 3.1 standard is useful as a reference for how word levels may change in the future, and Hidden Dragon's spaced repetition flashcards show both 3.0 and 3.1 levels. But for exam preparation, stick with the current test format.
The 2026 revision is less disruptive than the 2021 one. HSK 3.0 was a wholesale restructuring that added thousands of new words and expanded to 9 levels. HSK 3.1 is a calibration that fixes the distribution and aligns placement more closely with real-world usage. The key thing to remember: HSK 1-6 tests have not changed. The published standard is a useful reference, but your current study materials are still what matter for exams. HSK 7-9, the genuinely new advanced tier, is expected to launch in the second half of 2026.
If you are new to Mandarin and wondering where to start, read What is Hidden Dragon for an overview of how the app covers all four skills. And if tones are still a work in progress, this guide is the place to fix that.
Corrections or feedback? If you spot an error in the data, the comparison scripts, or this article, we'd genuinely appreciate hearing from you so we can update this page when new information surfaces.