HSK study journal

Honest study guides, vocabulary breakdowns, and exam tactics — written for serious learners, not auto-generated for clicks.

All articles

HSK 4 is the level job listings ask for most. What the certificate actually proves, who asks for it, and when HSK 5 is the better target.

HSK 3 is where Chinese stops feeling like a hobby app. What actually changes at this level, and the weekly routine that gets you through.

Festival vocabulary sits squarely in the HSK 3–5 range. Learn the words around Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn and Dragon Boat as they come round.

Studying Chinese after a full day of work is its own skill. A routine that fits real schedules, the trade-offs, and the streak trap to avoid.

You do not need to handwrite all 5,000 HSK characters. The selectivity rule, a drill that builds real stroke memory, and pen versus screen.

While you read

Articles help, but most of the gain comes from real practice. Pair every read with a mock test or a handwriting drill.

Mock tests

HSK 1–6 + HSKK

Handwriting

Stroke order + SRS

Dictionary

Look up + pinyin

Placement quiz

3 minutes, free