HSK 5 Workbook: Exercises for All 12 Lessons, with Answers

By the end you can

• Talk about a new job and how it has changed you. Lesson 1 practises words for jobs and companies with 自从……以来 for change over time and 把……看作 for how you see something.
  我把这份工作看作一个挑战。自从开始上班以来，我的技能提升了不少。 · Wǒ bǎ zhè fèn gōngzuò kànzuò yí ge tiǎozhàn. Zìcóng kāishǐ shàngbān yǐlái, wǒ de jìnéng tíshēngle bù shǎo. · I see this job as a challenge. Since I started work, my skills have improved a lot.
• Run a team project and report on it. Lesson 2 uses project and team words with 一旦……就, 从而 and 因而, then you write about a project you worked on.
  一旦遇到困难，就马上告诉大家，别等到最后一天。 · Yídàn yùdào kùnnan, jiù mǎshàng gàosu dàjiā, bié děngdào zuìhòu yì tiān. · Once you hit a problem, tell everyone right away; don't wait until the last day.
• Sell a product and answer a client's doubts. Lesson 3 practises 哪怕……也 and 毕竟 to defend a price, and ends with a short product ad you write yourself.
  价格是比别的品牌高一点儿，可是毕竟品质好，用得也久。 · Jiàgé shì bǐ bié de pǐnpái gāo yìdiǎnr, kěshì bìjìng pǐnzhì hǎo, yòng de yě jiǔ. · The price is a bit higher than other brands, but after all the quality is good and it lasts longer.
• Plan for what could go wrong with money and rent. Lesson 4 covers banks, prices and rent, with 万一 for a possible problem and 难以 + verb for something hard to accept or believe.
  记得给护照拍张照片，存在手机里，万一丢了也不怕。 · Jìde gěi hùzhào pāi zhāng zhàopiàn, cún zài shǒujī li, wànyī diūle yě bú pà. · Remember to take a photo of your passport and keep it on your phone, in case you lose it.
• Sort out a problem at home. Lesson 5 uses words for home and the road with 要不是……就…… and 反而, around a leak that brings two neighbours together.
  要不是那天保安帮我叫了车，我就赶不上飞机了。 · Yàobúshì nà tiān bǎo'ān bāng wǒ jiàole chē, wǒ jiù gǎn bu shàng fēijī le. · If the guard hadn't called me a car that day, I'd have missed my flight.
• Argue for the environment with a source behind you. Lesson 6 practises 正如……所说 to cite what someone said and 意味着 to spell out what it means, then you write a short proposal.
  正如新闻里所说，城市越来越热，所以我们更应该多种树。 · Zhèngrú xīnwén li suǒ shuō, chéngshì yuèláiyuè rè, suǒyǐ wǒmen gèng yīnggāi duō zhòng shù. · Just as the news said, cities are getting hotter, so we should plant more trees.
• Give health advice and react to a surprise. Lessons 7 and 8 use 尽量, 尽快 and 简直 for health and habits, then 居然, 果然 and 仿佛 for people and relationships.
  你尽量多喝开水，如果明天还发烧，就尽快去医院。 · Nǐ jǐnliàng duō hē kāishuǐ, rúguǒ míngtiān hái fāshāo, jiù jǐnkuài qù yīyuàn. · Drink as much hot water as you can, and if you still have a fever tomorrow, go to hospital as soon as possible.
• Describe a festival and pass on the news. Lessons 9 and 10 add written patterns 以……为…… and 为……所……, then 据, 据说 and 似乎 to report news and sound less certain.
  据说下个月这里要开一家很大的博物馆。 · Jùshuō xià ge yuè zhèlǐ yào kāi yì jiā hěn dà de bówùguǎn. · Apparently a big museum is opening here next month.
• Talk about a work trip and sum up a short talk. Lessons 11 and 12 practise 即将 and 不是……就是…… for travel and busy weeks, then 在于 and 总之 to name the key point and sum up.
  这个软件又方便又便宜。总之，我每天都离不开它。 · Zhège ruǎnjiàn yòu fāngbiàn yòu piányi. Zǒngzhī, wǒ měi tiān dōu lí bu kāi tā. · This app is handy and cheap. In short, I can't do without it.

What’s inside

• Lesson 1: Words: First Day at the Office: Words · Grammar: First Day at the Office: Grammar · Read: Xiaoyu's First Day as an Intern · Write: First Day at the Office: Write
• Lesson 2: Words: The Project Meeting: Words · Grammar: The Project Meeting: Grammar · Read: The Lunch Survey · Write: The Project Meeting: Write
• Lesson 3: Words: Meeting the Client: Words · Grammar: Meeting the Client: Grammar · Read: The Tea Shop Goes Online · Write: Meeting the Client: Write
• Lesson 4: Words: The Phone Call: Words · Grammar: The Phone Call: Grammar · Read: Lin Hao Rents a Flat · Write: The Phone Call: Write
• Review A: Test Yourself: Test Yourself on Lessons 1–4
• Lesson 5: Words: Trouble Outside the Flat: Words · Grammar: Trouble Outside the Flat: Grammar · Read: Water from the Ceiling · Write: Trouble Outside the Flat: Write
• Lesson 6: Words: Environment Week: Words · Grammar: Environment Week: Grammar · Read: No More Paper Cups · Write: Environment Week: Write
• Lesson 7: Words: Words for Staying Well · Grammar: Grammar: 尽量, 尽快 and 简直 · Read: Lin Hao's Week of Early Nights · Write: Write About a Healthy Habit
• Lesson 8: Words: Words for Getting Along · Grammar: Grammar: 居然, 果然 and 仿佛 · Read: Thirty Years Together · Write: Write About Someone You Treasure
• Review B: Test Yourself: Test Yourself on Lessons 5–8
• Lesson 9: Words: Words for Tradition and the Arts · Grammar: Grammar: 以……为…… and 为……所…… · Read: Writing 福 with Grandpa · Write: Write About a Festival You Love
• Lesson 10: Words: Words for News and the Internet · Grammar: Grammar: 据, 据说 and 似乎 · Read: The Kindest Neighbour · Write: Write About a News Story
• Lesson 11: Words: Words for a Work Trip · Grammar: Grammar: 即将 and 不是……就是…… · Read: Hotpot After Work · Write: Write About a Trip
• Lesson 12: Words: Words for Science and Technology · Grammar: Grammar: 在于 and 总之 · Read: Three Points, Eight Minutes · Write: Write About Useful Technology
• Review C: Test Yourself: Test Yourself on Lessons 9–12

How to use this book

Each lesson has four pages, Words, Grammar, Read and Write, and takes about 30 minutes. Do it after the same lesson of the HSK 5 Course Book, or use it on its own.

1. Each lesson: Words, then Grammar. Practise the lesson's words, then its grammar patterns. Every page names its pattern and starts with a worked example.
2. Each lesson: Read, then Write. Read the short text, answer the questions on it, then write a paragraph of 100–120 characters on the lesson's topic.
3. After each page: Check with the key. Try every exercise first, then mark it with the answer key at the back. Compare your paragraph with the model answer.
4. After Lessons 4, 8, 12: Review A, B and C. Pages 19, 36 and 53 are one-page tests that show what has stuck before you move on.
5. Every speaking task: Out loud. Say each speaking task aloud, then once more from memory.

Who it’s for

Learners working towards HSK 5 in the new HSK (HSK 3.0), especially anyone using SayMei's free HSK 5 Course Book, and teachers who want four pages of homework for each lesson.

Before you start: You should be comfortable with HSK 4 words and grammar. Exercises are in characters with short English hints, and the readings are in characters only.

Frequently asked questions

What's in each lesson?

Four pages, Words, Grammar, Read and Write, for about 30 minutes. The 12 lessons run from a first day as an intern and a project meeting to renting a flat, Environment Week, writing 福 with Grandpa and hotpot after work. Reviews A, B and C on pages 19, 36 and 53 come after Lessons 4, 8 and 12.

Do I need the HSK 5 Course Book to use it?

It follows the SayMei HSK 5 Course Book lesson by lesson. You can also use the workbook on its own: every page names its words and grammar pattern, with a worked example.

Is there pinyin?

Only in a few places. Exercises and readings are in characters, with short English hints on the exercises. The three key phrases under each reading and the model speaking lines have pinyin.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The answer key at the back covers every exercise in the 12 lessons and the three reviews, with model answers for the writing tasks.

What can I use alongside it?

HSK 5 Paraphrasing & Written Responses trains the writing section: rewriting, summaries, five-word essays and emails. For a full practice paper with free audio, try the HSK 5 Mock Test.

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 5 Course Book: 12 Lessons for the New HSK 5 · HSK 5 Reading Practice: Articles, Arguments & Detail · HSK 5 Paraphrasing & Written Responses · HSK 5 Vocabulary Workbook: Collocations, Word Families & Recall · Browse all 294 workbooks