# HSK HSK 3: Lower Intermediate

> HSK 3 is the third HSK level, covering 600 words. You can handle most situations encountered while travelling in China, communicate on familiar topics, and manage basic personal and work-related conversations in everyday life.

- Framework: HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (Chinese Proficiency Test)), Chinese Ministry of Education / Chinese Testing International (CTI)
- Typical vocabulary: 600 official words and about 620 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 2,245 words and 900 characters
- Study to reach this level: 300-600 hours
- Next level: HSK HSK 4

## What you can do at HSK HSK 3

- Handle most situations you meet while travelling in China
- Talk about your studies, work and hobbies in some detail
- Read short texts written in characters without pinyin
- Write short messages and fill in simple forms by hand
- Follow conversations between native speakers on familiar topics

## FAQ

### What does HSK HSK 3 mean?

HSK 3 is the third HSK level, covering 600 words. You can handle most situations encountered while travelling in China, communicate on familiar topics, and manage basic personal and work-related conversations in everyday life.

### What can you do at HSK HSK 3?

At HSK HSK 3 you can typically: Handle most situations you meet while travelling in China; Talk about your studies, work and hobbies in some detail; Read short texts written in characters without pinyin; Write short messages and fill in simple forms by hand; Follow conversations between native speakers on familiar topics.

### How long does it take to reach HSK HSK 3?

Reaching HSK HSK 3 from a standing start typically takes 300-600 hours. A learner at this level generally has an active vocabulary of 600 official words and about 620 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 2,245 words and 900 characters. These are guides, not guarantees: prior languages, study intensity and how much you speak all move the number substantially.

### How do you practise at HSK HSK 3 with NativePal?

NativePal generates its content at the level you select, so at HSK HSK 3 your reading lessons, vocabulary and speaking prompts are pitched here rather than at a generic average. Reading lessons produce stories written for HSK 3, with every word tappable for a translation and a comprehension quiz at the end. Vocabulary lessons and the spaced-repetition flashcards draw on words appropriate to the level, and Speaking Practice scores your pronunciation on individual sounds, stress and rhythm, fluency and connected speech.

### What comes after HSK HSK 3?

HSK HSK 4 is the next level up. HSK 4 is the fourth HSK level, covering 1,200 words. You can discuss a fairly wide range of topics and converse fluently with native speakers, and it is the level most Chinese universities ask of applicants for degree programmes.

## More

- [HSK levels explained](https://nativepal.app/levels/hsk/)
- [All proficiency frameworks](https://nativepal.app/levels/)
- [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html)