HSK 3 Course Book: 12 Lessons for the New HSK 3

By the end you can

• Say how things are changing and whether you can manage. Use 越来越 for something that keeps changing, and put 得 or 不 between a verb and its result: 看得清楚, 看不清楚, 听得懂.
  我的汉语越来越好了。 · Wǒ de Hànyǔ yuè lái yuè hǎo le. · My Chinese is getting better and better.
• Move into a flat and say where things go. Say where you put things with 把……放在, put actions in order with 先 and 然后, and say what just happened with 刚.
  我们把沙发放在门口吧。 · Wǒmen bǎ shāfā fàng zài ménkǒu ba. · Let's put the sofa by the door.
• Give directions and get around town. Place buildings with north, south, east and west, say which way to go with 向, and add or leave things out with 除了……以外.
  图书馆在银行的北边。 · Túshūguǎn zài yínháng de běibian. · The library is north of the bank.
• Talk about a job: what you must do and when. Say what you have to, must and should do with 得, 必须 and 应该, that you needn't with 不用, and whether something was early or late with 就 and 才.
  他十点才来，我八点就来了。 · Tā shí diǎn cái lái, wǒ bā diǎn jiù lái le. · He didn't come till ten. I came at eight.
• Shop for clothes and be a good dinner guest. Compare with A 跟 B 一样, give two qualities with 又……又……, praise food with 极了 or 挺……的, and say what happens if with 如果……(的话)，就…….
  这双鞋又便宜又好看。 · Zhè shuāng xié yòu piányi yòu hǎokàn. · These shoes are cheap and good-looking.
• Talk about seasons, trips and what went wrong. Say how long something went on, compare with 比……更 or 还, tell what happened to you with 被, and set one condition with 只要……就…….
  我的箱子被人拿走了。 · Wǒ de xiāngzi bèi rén názǒu le. · My suitcase was taken (by someone).
• Talk about health, feelings and big days. Say what's wrong when you're ill, give the one condition with 只有……才……, a goal with 为了, a stronger point with 不但……而且……, and say something starts with 笑起来.
  只有多锻炼，身体才会好。 · Zhǐyǒu duō duànliàn, shēntǐ cái huì hǎo. · Only by exercising more will you get fit.
• Share your interests and make plans for next year. Do two things at once with 一边……一边……, say what interests you with 对……感兴趣, choose with 或者 and 还是, and keep going with 坚持下去.
  我对中国历史很感兴趣。 · Wǒ duì Zhōngguó lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqù. · I'm very interested in Chinese history.
• Check yourself and learn all 500 HSK 3 words. Three reviews with a roleplay, exam-style questions and a can-do list, a grammar page of linking words and complements, a word list of all 500 new HSK 3 words by lesson, and an answer key.

What’s inside

• Lesson 1: Dialogue: Back to Class · Words: Study and Class · More Words: Easy, Hard and Clear · Grammar: More and More: 越来越 · Grammar: Can or Can't: 看得清楚 · Read: My Study Notebook · Practice: Practice: Study Smarter
• Lesson 2: Dialogue: A New Flat · Words: Home and Building · More Words: Clean, Quiet and Handy · Grammar: Put It There: 把……放在 · Grammar: First, Then and Just: 先, 然后, 刚 · Read: My New Home · Practice: Practice: Settling In
• Lesson 3: Dialogue: Finding Our Way · Words: Maps and Streets · More Words: Getting Around Town · Grammar: North, South, East, West · Grammar: Besides and Except: 除了 · Read: My Ride to School · Practice: Practice: Around the City
• Lesson 4: Dialogue: A Part-time Job · Words: At the Office · More Words: Must, Should and Right Away · Grammar: Have To, Must, Should: 得, 必须, 应该 · Grammar: Early or Late: 就 and 才 · Read: My First Week at Work · Practice: Practice: Work Days
• Review A: Roleplay: Settling In · Practice: Review A: Test Yourself · Can-Do: What I Can Do Now
• Lesson 5: Dialogue: A Coat and a Pair of Shoes · Words: Clothes and Sizes · More Words: Choosing and Paying · Grammar: The Same or Not: A 跟 B 一样 · Grammar: Two at Once: 又……又…… · Read: A Skirt from a Website · Practice: Practise Lesson 5
• Lesson 6: Dialogue: Dinner at Ms Zhao's · Words: Guests and Tastes · More Words: At the Table · Grammar: Very and Quite: 极了, 挺……的 · Grammar: If: 如果……(的话)，就…… · Read: A Table Full of Food · Practice: Practise Lesson 6
• Lesson 7: Dialogue: A Day Out in Autumn · Words: Seasons and Weather · More Words: Out in Nature · Grammar: How Long: Verb + Time · Grammar: Even More: 比……更 / 还 · Read: Four Seasons by the Sea · Practice: Practise Lesson 7
• Lesson 8: Dialogue: Catching the High-speed Train · Words: Travel · More Words: On the Way · Grammar: It Happened to Me: 被 · Grammar: As Long As: 只要……就…… · Read: A Phone on the Boat · Practice: Practise Lesson 8
• Review B: Roleplay: Back from the Trip · Practice: Exam-Style Practice · Can-Do: Check Lessons 5–8
• Lesson 9: Dialogue: Staying Healthy · Words: Colds and Check-ups · More Words: Body and Care · Grammar: Only If: 只有……才…… · Grammar: For a Goal: 为了 · Read: Lin Hao Starts Running · Practice: Practice: Take Care
• Lesson 10: Dialogue: Wang Ming's Wedding · Words: Weddings and Feelings · More Words: People and Ties · Grammar: Not Only, But Also: 不但……而且…… · Grammar: Starting Up: 笑起来 · Read: Wang Ming's Story · Practice: Practice: Happy Days
• Lesson 11: Dialogue: Games, Shows and Culture · Words: Sport and Matches · More Words: Shows and Interests · Grammar: Two at Once: 一边……一边…… · Grammar: Interests and Topics: 对, 关于, 根据 · Read: A Night of History · Practice: Practice: What Interests You
• Lesson 12: Dialogue: New Year, New Plans · Words: Plans and Changes · More Words: Habits and Chances · Grammar: Or: 或者 and 还是 · Grammar: Keep Going: 坚持下去 · Read: Lin Hao's Year · Practice: Practice: Next Steps
• Review C: Roleplay: Ready for HSK 3 · Practice: Review C: Test Yourself · Can-Do: Ready for HSK 3
• Grammar at a Glance: Linking Words and Complements
• Word list: All 500 New HSK 3 Words by Lesson

How to use this book

Twelve lessons of seven pages, about 45 minutes each, with a three-page review after every four lessons. Three lessons a week takes you through the book in about five weeks.

1. Every lesson: Seven pages in order. Read the dialogue aloud twice, Chinese first, then check the pinyin and English. Then the two word pages, two grammar pages, the reading and the practice page.
2. After each lesson: Write, then check. Write your answers on the practice page first, then check them with the answer key at the back.
3. Lessons 1–4: Study, home, town and work. A new term, a new flat, finding your way and a part-time job. Then Review A: a roleplay, a test and a can-do list.
4. Lessons 5–8: Shopping, dinner and trips. Clothes, a dinner at Ms Zhao's, a day out in autumn and a high-speed train. Then Review B.
5. Lessons 9–12: Health, people and plans. Staying healthy, a wedding, matches and shows, and plans for the new year. Then Review C.
6. Before the exam: Words and grammar. Go through the 500-word list lesson by lesson and the grammar page on linking words and complements, and go back to any lesson you couldn't tick.

Who it’s for

Learners who have finished HSK 2 and are working toward HSK 3 on the new HSK 3.0 syllabus, on their own, in a class or with a tutor.

Before you start: Know the HSK 1 and 2 words. Every dialogue and reading has pinyin and English, so you can check yourself after trying the Chinese.

Frequently asked questions

What's in each lesson?

Seven pages: a dialogue, two word pages, two grammar pages, a reading and a practice page. The 12 lessons go from a new term and a new flat to a part-time job, a wedding, matches and shows, and plans for the new year. A three-page review after every four lessons has a roleplay, exam-style questions and a can-do list.

What should I know before I start?

The HSK 1 and 2 words. Every dialogue and reading has pinyin and English, so you can try the Chinese first and check yourself after.

How long does it take?

About 45 minutes a lesson. Three lessons a week takes you through the book in about five weeks. Before the exam, go through the 500-word list and the grammar page on linking words and complements.

Does it follow the new HSK 3 (HSK 3.0) word list?

Yes. It is built on the new HSK 3 syllabus (2025), and the word list at the back gives all 500 new HSK 3 words under the lesson that introduces them.

Is there audio?

No. Every dialogue and reading has pinyin and English so you can read it aloud yourself. For listening in the exam format, the HSK 3 mock tests come with free audio.

Is there a workbook to go with it?

Yes. The HSK 3 Workbook has word, grammar, reading and writing exercises for each of the same 12 lessons, with its own answer key.

Do I need a SayMei account?

Yes, to download the PDF, and the account is free: sign up with Google, Apple or your email address. With it we email you a copy of the workbook, keep every workbook you download on your account on all your devices, save your place in the free online practice, and you can practise speaking with Mei Lin, SayMei's AI tutor.

How do I print it?

The PDF is US Letter size. On A4 paper, choose "Fit to page" (or "Scale to fit") in the print dialog so nothing is cut off. Print the whole workbook or only the pages you need; colour looks best, and black and white works too.

Keep going

HSK 3 Workbook: Exercises for All 12 Lessons, with Answers · HSK 3 Reading Practice: Stories, Notices & Everyday Decisions · HSK 3 Vocabulary in Context Workbook · HSK 3 Guided Writing Workbook: Sentences to Short Paragraphs · Browse all 294 workbooks