HSK HSK 5: Upper Intermediate

What does HSK HSK 5 mean?

HSK 5 is the fifth HSK level, covering 2,500 words. You can read Chinese newspapers and magazines, follow films and television programmes, and give a full-length prepared speech in Chinese on a familiar topic.

What can you do at HSK HSK 5?

At HSK HSK 5 you can typically do the following:

• Read Chinese newspapers and magazines, reaching for a dictionary only occasionally
• Watch Chinese films and television programmes and follow the plot
• Deliver a prepared speech in Chinese on a familiar topic
• Take part in workplace discussions and write formal correspondence
• Understand implied meaning in reasonably complex material

How long does it take to reach HSK HSK 5?

Reaching HSK HSK 5 from a standing start typically takes 1,000-1,800 hours.

A learner at this level generally has an active vocabulary of 2,500 official words and about 1,700 characters; HSK 3.0 sets 4,316 words and 1,500 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 5?

NativePal generates its content at the level you select, so at HSK HSK 5 your reading lessons, vocabulary and speaking prompts are pitched here rather than at a generic average.

Reading lessons produce stories written for HSK 5, 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 5?

HSK HSK 6 is the next level up. HSK 6 is the highest level of the current six-level HSK exam, covering 5,000 or more words. You can easily understand written and spoken Chinese and express yourself fluently in speech and writing on almost any topic.