How Many Chinese Words Do You Know?
Take this free 2-minute test to estimate your Mandarin vocabulary size and discover your HSK/CEFR level.
Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary Size Test
You'll see 50 mandarin chinese words. For each one, mark whether you know its meaning. We'll estimate your total vocabulary size.
50 words
From 10 frequency bands
~2 minutes
Quick and easy
CEFR level
A1 through C2
Be honest! Only mark "I know this" if you can recall the meaning without guessing. The test works best when you answer truthfully — overestimating will skew your results.
Science-Based
Uses adaptive frequency sampling from a 10,000-word corpus to accurately estimate your total vocabulary size from just 50 words.
HSK + CEFR Mapping
See where you fall on both the HSK 1-6 and CEFR A1-C2 scales, plus how many words to reach the next level.
Share Your Results
Get a shareable results card to show friends and track your progress over time as your vocabulary grows.
Understanding Your Mandarin Vocabulary Size
Mandarin Chinese vocabulary acquisition is uniquely challenging because each word must be learned with its character(s), pronunciation (pinyin), and tone. However, vocabulary size remains one of the strongest predictors of overall proficiency, and the HSK exam levels are closely tied to vocabulary knowledge.
This test works by showing you words sampled from different frequency bands of Mandarin Chinese, drawn from the Lancaster Corpus of Mandarin Chinese and HSK vocabulary lists. By checking which words you recognize, we estimate your total vocabulary size.
At the HSK 1-3 level (up to ~1,200 words), you can handle basic daily situations. At HSK 4-5 (1,200-5,000 words), you can follow conversations, read news articles, and express yourself on familiar topics. At HSK 6 and beyond (5,000+ words), you can engage with literature, academic papers, and nuanced expression.
The best way to grow your vocabulary is through extensive reading and listening at your level — what linguists call comprehensible input. Lenguia is built around this principle, offering stories, articles, and podcasts tailored to your proficiency level.
Take your learning further
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Vocabulary Milestones for Mandarin Learners
300 words
Basic greetings, numbers, time, simple daily expressions
HSK 1-2 Level
1,200 words
Simple conversations, basic reading of everyday topics
HSK 3 Level
2,500 words
Follow everyday conversations, read simple articles and news
HSK 4 Level
5,000 words
Read newspapers, follow broadcasts, handle business situations
HSK 5 Level
8,000 words
Understand complex texts, nuanced conversation, academic writing
HSK 6 Level
10,000+ words
Engage with any text, understand literary and specialized language
Near-Native
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Methodology
This test uses adaptive frequency sampling. Words are organized into 10 frequency bands representing the most common 10,000 words, and 5 words are randomly sampled from each band to create a 50-word test. Your recognition rate per band is extrapolated to estimate total vocabulary size.
The word lists were curated to approximate frequency rankings informed by established corpora and frequency research. They are not direct exports from any single corpus, but are designed to span a realistic difficulty range from everyday vocabulary to rare and literary terms.
CEFR vocabulary thresholds are approximate estimates based on research by Paul Nation and the Council of Europe CEFR framework. For Japanese and Mandarin, level mappings additionally reference JLPT and HSK standards respectively.
This is an estimation tool for fun and self-assessment. Results are approximate and should not be treated as a certified proficiency measurement.