Standard Course HSK 4 (Chinese Language Book)

The **HSK 4** is the fourth level of the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) exam and is intended for learners who have already acquired a strong foundation in Chinese. At this level, students are expected to have a vocabulary of **1,200 words** and be able to engage in conversations on a variety of topics in both spoken and written forms.

A **Standard Course HSK 4** book is designed to help learners prepare for this exam by focusing on advanced vocabulary, grammar structures, listening comprehension, reading, and writing skills. The content usually includes more in-depth lessons and exercises to help students pass the HSK 4 exam and continue building their Chinese proficiency.

### Key Details of HSK 4:

1. **Vocabulary**: HSK 4 requires knowledge of **1,200 words**. These words cover a wide range of topics, such as daily life, work, relationships, and society, and are generally more abstract than those at lower levels.

2. **Grammar**: Learners at this level are introduced to more advanced grammar, including **complex sentence structures**, **subordinate clauses**, and **conjunctions** that express cause, effect, and contrast.

3. **Skills Tested**:

– **Listening**: Understanding conversations on a variety of topics, including more complex scenarios in daily life, work, and social interactions.

– **Reading**: Reading longer passages and understanding main ideas and details, including more sophisticated content like news articles and simple essays.

– **Writing**: Writing short essays and filling in forms, including more nuanced expression of opinions and explanations.

4. **Duration**: The test lasts around **105 minutes** and consists of three sections: listening, reading, and writing.

5. **Test Format**:

– **Listening Section (35 questions)**: Longer dialogues, announcements, and conversations with multiple-choice questions.

– **Reading Section (40 questions)**: Multiple-choice questions and short answer questions based on longer passages.

– **Writing Section (10 questions)**: Short essays and sentence completions.

### Preparing for HSK 4:

A standard course for **HSK 4** will cover the following areas:

#### 1. **Vocabulary**:

– **1,200 words**: These words extend your vocabulary to cover a variety of social, cultural, professional, and academic topics. Example categories include:

– **Daily life**: 电视 (diànshì – television), 社交 (shèjiāo – socializing)

– **Work**: 工作 (gōngzuò – work), 会议 (huìyì – meeting)

– **Feelings and opinions**: 高兴 (gāoxìng – happy), 了解 (liǎojiě – understand)

– **Technology**: 电脑 (diànnǎo – computer), 网络 (wǎngluò – internet)

#### 2. **Grammar**:

– **Complex sentence structures**:

– **Subordinate clauses**: Using 但是 (dànshì – but), 因为 (yīnwèi – because), 如果 (rúguǒ – if).

– **Indirect speech**: Using 说 (shuō) and 问 (wèn) to report speech.

– **Resultative complements**: Verbs like 看见 (kànjiàn – to see), 听懂 (tīng dǒng – to understand by listening).

– **Passive constructions**: Using 被 (bèi) to indicate the object of the action is emphasized.

– **Expressing hypothetical situations**: Using 如果 (rúguǒ – if), 可能 (kěnéng – possibly).

#### 3. **Reading**:

– **Longer and more complex passages**: Learners will read news articles, stories, and informational texts.

– **Understanding main ideas and supporting details**: You will be asked to answer questions about the content and meaning of the texts, which will require understanding not only the vocabulary but also the structure of the passage.

#### 4. **Listening**:

– Listening exercises will include **conversations**, **discussions**, and **announcements** on a wide range of topics, from social issues to personal experiences. The focus will be on comprehending the main idea, specific details, and the speaker’s attitude.

#### 5. **Writing**:

– At this level, you will need to write more **complex compositions** (short essays) on familiar topics. You may also be asked to **complete sentences** or fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

### Suggested Textbooks for HSK 4:

1. **HSK Standard Course 4 (Chinese Edition)**:

– This is the most commonly recommended textbook for preparing for the HSK 4 exam. It includes **lessons on vocabulary**, **grammar**, and **practical exercises**. The book provides detailed explanations of the grammar points, and each chapter is focused on a specific theme (such as work, health, or relationships).

– It comes with **listening exercises** and **practice tests** to help you become familiar with the exam format.

2. **Integrated Chinese (Level 2, Part 2)**:

– This is a popular textbook series for intermediate learners. The second part of Level 2 covers much of the material found in the HSK 4. The textbook focuses on conversation, writing, and reading, and includes extensive vocabulary and grammar lessons.

– The exercises are designed to reinforce both **language skills** and **cultural knowledge**.

3. **Chinese Made Easy (Book 4)**:

– A useful textbook for learners at the intermediate level, this book focuses on building vocabulary and grammar while introducing more complex sentence patterns and structures.

– Each chapter includes a wide variety of practice exercises and listening activities.

4. **New Practical Chinese Reader (Book 4)**:

– This book offers a more comprehensive approach to intermediate Chinese learning, with detailed chapters on grammar, vocabulary, and cultural insights. It is ideal for students who are moving toward advanced proficiency.

– It includes exercises on **reading**, **writing**, **speaking**, and **listening**.

5. **HSK 4 Chinese Grammar**:

– A grammar-focused book specifically aimed at learners preparing for HSK 4. It breaks down the key grammar points required for the exam, with examples, explanations, and practice exercises.

6. **Chinese for Beginners (by Yi Ren)**:

– This series is another great option for learners transitioning to HSK 4. It provides both grammar and vocabulary practice while also offering plenty of writing and reading exercises.

7. **Apps and Online Resources**:

– **Skritter**: Helps with character writing and memorizing vocabulary.

– **HelloChinese**: An interactive app that covers the vocabulary and grammar for HSK 4, including listening and speaking practice.

– **ChineseSkill**: Another great app for reinforcing HSK 4 material with fun, game-based exercises.

### What to Expect at HSK 4:

By the end of HSK 4, you should be able to:

– **Understand and discuss** a variety of topics in Chinese, such as work, daily life, and social issues.

– **Read** more advanced texts and **understand key ideas** and supporting details.

– **Write short essays** and express your thoughts on familiar topics.

– **Understand conversations** involving multiple speakers and follow discussions with ease.

A typical HSK 4 curriculum will focus on:

– Mastering **1,200 words**.

– Engaging in **complex reading** and **listening comprehension** tasks.

– Writing **short essays** and completing **grammar exercises**.

– Regular **mock exams** to familiarize yourself with the HSK 4 format.

Would you like more details on any specific textbook, resource, or strategy for preparing for HSK 4?