HSK handwriting characters · HSK 3

HSK 3 Handwriting Characters: 150 with Stroke Order (Free PDF)

Cover of the HSK 3 handwriting characters PDF: 150 characters with stroke order

The 150 characters HSK 3 asks you to write by hand on the 2025 HSK syllabus (HSK 3.0), 250 in all with the levels below. Each gets its stroke order, a row of boxes that builds it one stroke at a time, empty boxes to write it from memory and a pinyin line.

Characters:: 150 to write · 250 in all by HSK 3
Format:: PDF · 8 sheets of up to 20 · 70 pages on A4 / 74 on US Letter
Practice:: Stroke order · boxes that add one stroke at a time · empty 田字格 (tián zì gé) boxes · a pinyin line
List:: HSK 3.0 handwriting list (2025 syllabus) · a QR code on every sheet for online practice
Price:: Free · no sign-up · updated Oct 27, 2026

Practice these characters online

Next step after the characters: HSK 3 Guided Writing Workbook, free with a SayMei account.

All 150 HSK 3 characters to write

HSK 3's characters take from 2 to 12 strokes, 7.1 on average. The fewest: 力 (lì, strength) and 又 (yòu, again). The most: 答 (dá, to answer) and 渴 (kě, thirsty). 56 of the 150 are written differently in traditional Chinese, and 20 have a second reading in the official word list. They are listed below in the syllabus's own order, which is roughly alphabetical by pinyin.

#	Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Strokes	Traditional	Example words
1	安	ān	safe; calm; peaceful	6	安	安全 ānquán safe; safety; 安静 ānjìng quiet
2	把	bǎ	to hold; (object marker); handle	7	把	把握 bǎwò to grasp; confidence
3	般	bān	kind; sort; like (as in 一般)	10	般	一般 yìbān usually; ordinary
4	板	bǎn	board; plank	8	板	黑板 hēibǎn blackboard; 老板 lǎobǎn boss
5	办	bàn	to do; to handle	4	辦	办法 bànfǎ way; method; 办公室 bàngōngshì office
6	饱	bǎo	full (after eating)	8	飽
7	报	bào	newspaper; to report	7	報	报纸 bàozhǐ newspaper; 报名 bàomíng to sign up
8	北	běi	north	5	北	东北 dōngběi northeast; 西北 xīběi northwest
9	被	bèi	by (passive marker); quilt	10	被	被子 bèizi quilt; duvet
10	必	bì	must; certainly	5	必	必须 bìxū must; 不必 búbì need not
11	变	biàn	to change; to become	8	變	变化 biànhuà change; to change; 变成 biànchéng to become; to turn into
12	冰	bīng	ice	6	冰	冰箱 bīngxiāng refrigerator; 冰激凌 bīngjīlíng ice cream
13	才	cái	only then; just; talent	3	才	刚才 gāngcái a moment ago; 人才 réncái talented person; talent
14	参	cān	to take part; to join	8	參	参加 cānjiā to take part in; 参观 cānguān to visit (a place)
15	草	cǎo	grass	9	草	草地 cǎodì lawn; grassland
16	层	céng	floor (of a building); layer	7	層
17	查	chá	to check; to look up	9	查	检查 jiǎnchá to check; to examine; 调查 diàochá to investigate; survey
18	差	chà	poor; to fall short; to lack	9	差	差不多 chàbuduō almost; about the same; 出差 chūchāi to go on a business trip
19	成	chéng	to become; to succeed	6	成	完成 wánchéng to finish; to complete; 变成 biànchéng to become; to turn into
20	城	chéng	city; town; city wall	9	城	城市 chéngshì city; 城区 chéngqū urban area
21	除	chú	to remove; except	9	除	除了 chúle except; besides; 删除 shānchú to delete
22	处	chù	place; office	5	處	到处 dàochù everywhere; 处理 chǔlǐ to deal with; to handle
23	春	chūn	spring (season)	9	春	春天 chūntiān spring
24	答	dá	to answer	12	答	回答 huídá to answer; 答应 dāying to agree; to promise
25	带	dài	to bring; to take; belt	9	帶	带动 dàidòng to drive; to spur on; 领带 lǐngdài necktie
26	单	dān	single; list; bill	8	單	简单 jiǎndān simple; 名单 míngdān list (of names)
27	当	dāng	to serve as; when; at	6	當	当然 dāngrán of course; 适当 shìdàng appropriate
28	灯	dēng	lamp; light	6	燈	红绿灯 hóng-lǜdēng traffic light; 灯光 dēngguāng light; lighting
29	典	diǎn	standard work; classic (as in 词典)	8	典	词典 cídiǎn dictionary; 字典 zìdiǎn dictionary (of characters)
30	调	tiáo	to adjust; to mix (as in 空调)	10	調	空调 kōngtiáo air conditioner; 调查 diàochá to investigate; survey
31	定	dìng	to decide; to fix; settled	8	定	决定 juédìng to decide; decision; 一定 yídìng surely; definitely
32	丢	diū	to lose; to throw	6	丟	丢失 diūshī to lose
33	冬	dōng	winter	5	冬	冬天 dōngtiān winter
34	段	duàn	section; paragraph	9	段	阶段 jiēduàn stage; phase; 手段 shǒuduàn means; method
35	而	ér	and; but; yet	6	而	而且 érqiě and also; moreover; 然而 rán'ér however
36	耳	ěr	ear	6	耳	耳朵 ěrduo ear; 耳机 ěrjī earphones
37	发	fā	to send; to issue; to grow	5	發	发展 fāzhǎn to develop; development; 发现 fāxiàn to discover; to find
38	法	fǎ	law; method; way	8	法	方法 fāngfǎ method; way; 办法 bànfǎ way; method
39	方	fāng	square; direction; side	4	方	地方 dìfang place; 方法 fāngfǎ method; way
40	放	fàng	to put; to release; to let go	8	放	放心 fàngxīn to feel relieved; don't worry; 放假 fàngjià to have a holiday
41	风	fēng	wind	4	風	风景 fēngjǐng scenery; 风险 fēngxiǎn risk
42	复	fù	again; to return; complex	9	復	复习 fùxí to review; 复杂 fùzá complicated
43	该	gāi	should; ought to	8	該	应该 yīnggāi should
44	干	gàn	to do; to work	3	幹	干净 gānjìng clean; 干活儿 gànhuór to work; to do a job
45	刚	gāng	just; only a moment ago	6	剛	刚才 gāngcái a moment ago; 刚刚 gānggāng just now
46	更	gèng	more; even more	7	更	更加 gèngjiā even more; 更新 gēngxīn to update
47	共	gòng	together; common; in total	6	共	一共 yígòng in total; 共同 gòngtóng common; together
48	故	gù	reason; cause; former	9	故	故事 gùshi story; 故意 gùyì on purpose
49	瓜	guā	melon; gourd	5	瓜	西瓜 xīguā watermelon; 黄瓜 huángguā cucumber
50	海	hǎi	sea; ocean	10	海	海洋 hǎiyáng ocean; 海外 hǎiwài overseas
51	合	hé	to close; to join; to suit	6	合	合适 héshì suitable; right; 符合 fúhé to fit; to match
52	河	hé	river	8	河	河流 héliú river
53	护	hù	to protect	7	護	护照 hùzhào passport; 保护 bǎohù to protect
54	化	huà	to change; to melt; -ize	4	化	文化 wénhuà culture; 变化 biànhuà change; to change
55	换	huàn	to change; to exchange	10	換	换乘 huànchéng to transfer (trains or buses); 交换 jiāohuàn to exchange
56	活	huó	to live; alive; work	9	活	生活 shēnghuó life; to live; 活动 huódòng activity
57	或	huò	or; maybe	8	或	或者 huòzhě or; 或是 huòshì or
58	级	jí	level; grade	6	級	年级 niánjí grade (in school); 班级 bānjí class (in school)
59	急	jí	anxious; urgent	9	急	着急 zháojí worried; anxious; 紧急 jǐnjí urgent
60	加	jiā	to add; plus	5	加	参加 cānjiā to take part in; 增加 zēngjiā to increase
61	假	jià	holiday; vacation	11	假	假期 jiàqī holiday; vacation; 请假 qǐngjià to ask for time off
62	讲	jiǎng	to speak; to explain	6	講	讲话 jiǎnghuà to speak; speech; 讲究 jiǎngjiu to be particular about
63	角	jiǎo	corner; horn; 1/10 of a yuan	7	角	角度 jiǎodù angle; point of view; 角色 juésè role; character
64	饺	jiǎo	dumpling (as in 饺子)	9	餃	饺子 jiǎozi dumpling
65	节	jié	festival; section; joint	5	節	季节 jìjié season; 节目 jiémù program; show
66	结	jié	to tie; knot; to end	9	結	结束 jiéshù to end; to finish; 结婚 jiéhūn to get married
67	借	jiè	to borrow; to lend	10	借	凭借 píngjiè to rely on; by means of
68	斤	jīn	jin (half a kilogram)	4	斤	公斤 gōngjīn kilogram
69	净	jìng	clean; net; only	8	淨	干净 gānjìng clean
70	久	jiǔ	long (time)	3	久	不久 bùjiǔ soon; before long; 好久 hǎojiǔ a long time
71	句	jù	sentence	5	句	句子 jùzi sentence
72	卡	kǎ	card	5	卡	信用卡 xìnyòngkǎ credit card; 银行卡 yínhángkǎ bank card
73	渴	kě	thirsty	12	渴
74	刻	kè	quarter (hour); moment; to carve	8	刻	立刻 lìkè immediately; 时刻 shíkè moment; at all times
75	空	kōng	empty; sky; air	8	空	空调 kōngtiáo air conditioner; 空气 kōngqì air
76	哭	kū	to cry	10	哭
77	礼	lǐ	gift; ceremony; courtesy	5	禮	礼物 lǐwù gift; present; 礼貌 lǐmào polite; manners
78	李	lǐ	plum; (common surname Li)	7	李	行李 xíngli luggage
79	力	lì	strength; power	2	力	努力 nǔlì to work hard; 能力 nénglì ability
80	练	liàn	to practice; to train	8	練	练习 liànxí to practice; exercise; 教练 jiàoliàn coach
81	凉	liáng	cool; cold	10	涼	凉快 liángkuai nice and cool; 着凉 zháoliáng to catch a cold
82	马	mǎ	horse	3	馬	马上 mǎshàng right away; 马路 mǎlù road; street
83	毛	máo	hair; fur; 1/10 of a yuan	4	毛	羽毛球 yǔmáoqiú badminton; 毛巾 máojīn towel
84	目	mù	eye; item	5	目	节目 jiémù program; show; 目前 mùqián at present
85	南	nán	south	9	南	西南 xīnán southwest; 东南 dōngnán southeast
86	难	nán	difficult; hard	10	難	难题 nántí difficult problem; 难过 nánguò sad
87	努	nǔ	to strive (as in 努力)	7	努	努力 nǔlì to work hard
88	怕	pà	to fear; to be afraid	8	怕	害怕 hàipà to be afraid; 恐怕 kǒngpà I'm afraid; probably
89	胖	pàng	fat; plump	9	胖
90	片	piàn	slice; piece; film	4	片	照片 zhàopiàn photo; 图片 túpiàn picture; image
91	平	píng	flat; level; peaceful	5	平	水平 shuǐpíng level; standard; 平时 píngshí usually; normally
92	瓶	píng	bottle	10	瓶	瓶子 píngzi bottle
93	其	qí	his; her; its; that	8	其	其他 qítā other; 其实 qíshí actually
94	汽	qì	steam; vapor	7	汽	汽车 qìchē car; 汽水 qìshuǐ soda; soft drink
95	且	qiě	moreover; and (as in 而且)	5	且	而且 érqiě and also; moreover; 并且 bìngqiě and; moreover
96	轻	qīng	light (weight); gentle	9	輕	年轻 niánqīng young; 轻松 qīngsōng relaxed; easy
97	秋	qiū	autumn	9	秋	秋天 qiūtiān autumn
98	求	qiú	to ask; to seek; to request	7	求	要求 yāoqiú to require; requirement; 需求 xūqiú demand; need
99	区	qū	area; district	4	區	小区 xiǎoqū residential community; 区别 qūbié difference
100	全	quán	all; whole; complete	6	全	安全 ānquán safe; safety; 完全 wánquán completely
101	如	rú	like; as; if	6	如	如果 rúguǒ if; 比如 bǐrú for example
102	伞	sǎn	umbrella	6	傘
103	山	shān	mountain; hill	3	山	山区 shānqū mountain area
104	勺	sháo	spoon; ladle	3	勺	勺子 sháozi spoon
105	声	shēng	sound; voice; tone	7	聲	声音 shēngyīn sound; voice; 歌声 gēshēng singing voice
106	实	shí	real; true; solid	8	實	其实 qíshí actually; 实际 shíjì actual; reality
107	适	shì	to suit; to fit	9	適	合适 héshì suitable; right; 适应 shìyìng to adapt
108	收	shōu	to receive; to collect	6	收	收到 shōudào to receive; 收入 shōurù income
109	受	shòu	to receive; to suffer	8	受	受到 shòudào to receive; to be given; 接受 jiēshòu to accept
110	树	shù	tree	9	樹	树林 shùlín woods; 树木 shùmù trees
111	特	tè	special; especially	10	特	特别 tèbié special; especially; 特点 tèdiǎn feature; characteristic
112	挺	tǐng	quite; very; straight	9	挺
113	图	tú	picture; map; chart	8	圖	地图 dìtú map; 图书馆 túshūguǎn library
114	闻	wén	to smell; to hear; news	9	聞	新闻 xīnwén news
115	务	wù	affair; task; duty	5	務	服务 fúwù service; to serve; 任务 rènwu task; mission
116	物	wù	thing; object	8	物	动物 dòngwù animal; 礼物 lǐwù gift; present
117	夏	xià	summer	10	夏	夏天 xiàtiān summer
118	相	xiāng	each other; mutually	9	相	相信 xiāngxìn to believe; 相机 xiàngjī camera
119	香	xiāng	fragrant; tasty	9	香	香蕉 xiāngjiāo banana
120	响	xiǎng	loud; to make a sound	9	響	影响 yǐngxiǎng to affect; influence; 响声 xiǎngshēng sound; noise
121	向	xiàng	towards; direction	6	向	方向 fāngxiàng direction; 面向 miànxiàng to face; aimed at
122	心	xīn	heart; mind	4	心	心里 xīnlǐ in one's heart; in the mind; 担心 dānxīn to worry
123	信	xìn	letter; to believe; to trust	9	信	相信 xiāngxìn to believe; 信用卡 xìnyòngkǎ credit card
124	行	xíng	to go; to walk; OK	6	行	不行 bùxíng won't do; not OK; 银行 yínháng bank
125	须	xū	must; beard	9	須	必须 bìxū must
126	选	xuǎn	to choose; to elect	9	選	选择 xuǎnzé to choose; choice; 选手 xuǎnshǒu player; contestant
127	牙	yá	tooth	4	牙	牙刷 yáshuā toothbrush; 牙膏 yágāo toothpaste
128	言	yán	words; speech	7	言	语言 yǔyán language; 发言 fāyán to speak (at a meeting)
129	羊	yáng	sheep; goat	6	羊
130	阳	yáng	sun; sunshine	6	陽	太阳 tàiyáng sun; 阳光 yángguāng sunlight
131	养	yǎng	to raise; to keep (a pet)	9	養	养成 yǎngchéng to form (a habit); 培养 péiyǎng to train; to foster
132	业	yè	business; job; studies	5	業	作业 zuòyè homework; 职业 zhíyè occupation; job
133	页	yè	page	6	頁	网页 wǎngyè web page
134	音	yīn	sound; tone	9	音	声音 shēngyīn sound; voice; 音乐 yīnyuè music
135	饮	yǐn	to drink; drink	7	飲	饮料 yǐnliào drink; beverage; 饮食 yǐnshí diet; food and drink
136	应	yīng	should; ought to	7	應	应该 yīnggāi should; 适应 shìyìng to adapt
137	用	yòng	to use	5	用	不用 búyòng no need to; 常用 cháng yòng commonly used
138	又	yòu	again; and	2	又
139	于	yú	in; at; to; from	3	於	关于 guānyú about; concerning; 终于 zhōngyú finally
140	育	yù	to raise; to educate	8	育	体育 tǐyù sports; PE; 体育馆 tǐyùguǎn gym; stadium
141	咱	zán	we; us (including you)	9	咱	咱们 zánmen we (including you)
142	张	zhāng	sheet (measure word); to open	7	張	紧张 jǐnzhāng nervous; tense
143	者	zhě	-er; person who does something	8	者	或者 huòzhě or; 记者 jìzhě reporter; journalist
144	直	zhí	straight; directly	8	直	一直 yìzhí always; straight ahead; 直到 zhídào until
145	纸	zhǐ	paper	7	紙	报纸 bàozhǐ newspaper; 纸巾 zhǐjīn tissue; paper towel
146	种	zhǒng	kind; type; seed	9	種	各种 gèzhǒng all kinds of; 种植 zhòngzhí to plant; to grow
147	重	zhòng	heavy; important	9	重	重要 zhòngyào important; 重新 chóngxīn again; anew
148	主	zhǔ	owner; master; main	5	主	主要 zhǔyào main; mainly; 主意 zhǔyi idea; plan
149	助	zhù	to help	7	助	帮助 bāngzhù to help; help; 有助于 yǒuzhùyú to help; to contribute to
150	总	zǒng	always; total; general	9	總	总是 zǒngshì always; 总结 zǒngjié to sum up; summary

How to use it

Read the pinyin and meaning on the sheet's first page, and say each character out loud.
Follow the row that builds the character one stroke at a time, tracing each new stroke in the order shown.
Write it from memory in the empty boxes and its pinyin on the line, then scan the QR code to check your strokes online.

Common questions

How many characters do you need to write for HSK 3?

150 new ones. The 2025 HSK syllabus (HSK 3.0) adds 150 characters to its handwriting list, 书写字 (shū xiě zì), at HSK 3, for 250 in all with the levels below. You need to recognize more than you write: 284 new reading characters at HSK 3, 655 in all.

Is the HSK 3 characters PDF free?

Yes. It is a free PDF in A4 or US Letter, with no account or email needed; the page picks the paper used in your country. The 150 characters come in 8 sheets of up to 20, 70 pages on A4, and every sheet has a QR code that opens online practice for its characters.

What is on each page?

Each sheet starts with its characters' pinyin and meanings. Then every character gets its stroke order as a strip, a row of 田字格 (tián zì gé) boxes that adds one stroke at a time in color, empty boxes to write it from memory and a line for its pinyin. Stroke-direction cards close each sheet.

Which HSK 3 characters have the most strokes?

答 (dá, to answer) and 渴 (kě, thirsty) have 12 strokes, the most at HSK 3; 力 (lì, strength) and 又 (yòu, again) have just 2. The average is 7.1 strokes.

How is this different from the HSK 3 writing workbook?

The writing workbook traces every word of the level in fading boxes, a word at a time. These sheets are for the 150 single characters HSK 3 asks you to write from memory, built up one stroke at a time. Learn the characters here first, then write them inside words in the workbook.

Can I print copies for my class?

Yes. Print as many copies as you like — it's free. Print every sheet or only the ones your class needs; to change the characters on a sheet, open it in the worksheet generator and edit it there.

Keep going

HSK 3 writing workbook · HSK 4 handwriting characters · HSK 1–2 handwriting characters · All 1,200 HSK handwriting characters · Stroke order worksheet maker · Chinese writing grid paper · HSK 3 lessons with Mei Lin

Handwriting characters by level

HSK 1–2 · HSK 3 · HSK 4 · HSK 5 · HSK 6 · HSK 7–9

Character list: the 2025 HSK syllabus, 书写字 (Center for Language Education and Cooperation). Pinyin choices, meanings and traditional forms: SayMei. Updated Oct 27, 2026.