Beginner Foundation HSK 1 Required 12 words

Basic Needs and Questions

Ask what, who, where, how much, and whether something is possible.

Goal

Learners can form practical questions around wants, needs, places, people, and permission.

Ask where something is, what someone wants, and whether you can do something.

questions needs permission

你想要什么？

Nǐ xiǎng yào shénme?

What do you want?

这里可以吗？

Zhèlǐ kěyǐ ma?

Is here okay?

Ask who, what, where, how, and how much without adding extra question machinery.

我要一杯水。

I want a cup of water.

Use 要 to say you want or need something.

我想喝茶。

I want to drink tea.

Use 想 before a verb to say what you want to do.

学校有很多学生。

The school has many students.

Existence or possession uses 有.

我没有钱。

I do not have money.

Use 没有 to say do not have.

要

yào

Look this over. Continue when you think you’ll remember it.

Meanings

to want; to need; to ask for will; shall; about to

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	Level	Dictionary
要	yào	to want; to need; to ask for	HSK 2.0 2 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
想	xiǎng	to think (about)	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
有	yǒu	to have; there is	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
没有	méi yǒu	haven't	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
吗	má	(coll.) what?	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
呢	ne	particle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word (\What about ...?\, \And ...?\)	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
什么	shén me	what?	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
谁	shéi	who	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
哪里	nǎ lǐ	where?	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
多少	duō shao	how much?	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
怎么	zěn me	how?	HSK 2.0 1 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary
可以	kě yǐ	can	HSK 2.0 2 HSK 3.0 1	Dictionary