HSK Writing Characters 书写字
The official 2025 HSK writing list — 1200 characters, level by level. Writing starts at HSK 2; HSK 1 has no handwriting requirement.
Choose your writing level
Every official writing character with pinyin and meaning, your practised and recalled progress, and a free printable workbook for each level.
What is a writing character?
The official HSK list separates characters you must read from characters you must hand-write. The writing list is the smaller one, and it is the one a handwritten exam asks for.
认读字 · Reading
3,088 characters across all levels. You need to recognise them in reading; the list starts at HSK 1.
书写字 · Writing
1,200 characters across HSK 2–7-9. You need to write them from memory; there is no handwriting list at HSK 1.
Your progress
Progress is saved in this browser on this device. Practiced means traced or written at least once; Recalled means written once from memory.
HSK writing questions
Does HSK 1 require handwriting?
No. Handwriting starts at HSK 2, with 100 characters. HSK 1 only tests reading.
How many characters do I need to write for HSK 3?
150 new writing characters; 250 in total by the end of HSK 3.
Are these the official 2025 characters?
Yes. The lists follow the official 2025 HSK writing list, in use from July 2026. We check every character and level against it.
Is the workbook free?
Yes. Each level has a free printable PDF with tracing practice, blank writing grids, a progress checklist, and a self-test section.
Write the official list, one character at a time
Trace with stroke-order guidance, then write from memory. Your progress stays in this browser, and every level has a free printable workbook.