Sample 1
电视
diàn shì
television
Show the answer
✓ True
HSK 3.0 · HSK 1 · Reading · Part 1
HSK 1 Reading Part 1: Word and Picture True / False
This part tests whether you recognise the written form of the level’s basic words. 5 questions — answer format: true (✓) or false (✗).
5Questions in this part
Part 1 of 4Reading section
~17 minWhole Reading section
AutomaticMarking
PrintedPinyin
How HSK 1 Reading Part 1 works
Each question prints a picture and a word, with pinyin. You decide whether the word names what the picture shows.
It is the most basic reading task in the exam: it checks that you can connect the written form of a word to its meaning. The false items are usually a related word from the same topic, so recognising the topic alone will not do.
The instruction on the paper
看图片和词语，判断对错。
kàn tú piàn hé cí yǔ ， pàn duàn duì cuò 。
Look at the picture and the word and decide whether they match.
HSK 1 Reading Part 1 sample questions with answers
5 questions from our practice bank, in the format of the real paper. Try each one before opening the answer.
Sample 2
猫
māo
cat
Show the answer
✓ True
Sample 3
苹果
píng guǒ
apple
Show the answer
✓ True
Sample 4
医生
yī shēng
doctor
Show the answer
✗ False
Sample 5
飞机
fēi jī
aeroplane
Show the answer
✗ False
How to approach it
- Look at the picture and think of the Chinese word before you read.
- Read the characters, not only the pinyin — the pinyin helps, but the characters are what you are learning.
- Watch for related words: 猫 and 狗, 米饭 and 面条, 电视 and 电脑.
- Answer quickly; this part should take a minute or two.
Common mistakes
- Reading only the pinyin and missing a similar-looking word.
- Marking ✓ for a word from the right topic but the wrong thing.
- Overthinking a picture that has one obvious reading.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in HSK 1 Reading Part 1?
5. It is part 1 of 4 in the HSK 1 Reading section, which has 20 questions and lasts about 17 minutes, for 100 points.
How is HSK 1 Reading Part 1 marked?
Automatically. Every question has one correct answer and all carry the same weight. A wrong answer costs nothing more than a blank one, so never leave a question empty.
Is pinyin printed at HSK 1?
Yes. At HSK 1 the printed words and sentences carry pinyin, so you can read the paper before you know every character. It is still worth learning the characters — the pinyin is gone from HSK 3.
Should I rely on the pinyin?
Use it, but learn the characters too: from HSK 3 the pinyin is gone, and the characters are what the rest of the exam is built on.
Are the words from the official list?
Yes. Every word in this part comes from the level’s word list, so learning that list is the direct preparation.
Can I practise HSK 1 Reading Part 1 online?
Yes. HSK Test has practice sets for this part, built like the real paper. Create a free account to start; your answers and scores are saved, so you can see how you are improving.
Every part of HSK 1
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