HSK 4 vocabulary cheatsheet for the writing section

HSK 4 introduces short-form writing: 80 characters, ~5 minutes. What separates a pass from a fail is not grammar — it is having the right connectors, examples, and opinion phrases ready. This is the cheatsheet.

Connectors (30)

• 因为...所以 (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ, because…so)
• 虽然...但是 (suīrán…dànshì, although…but)
• 不但...而且 (búdàn…érqiě, not only…but also)
• 一...就 (yī…jiù, as soon as)
• 只有...才 (zhǐyǒu…cái, only if…then)
• 除了...以外 (chúle…yǐwài, except for)
• 无论...都 (wúlùn…dōu, no matter…all)
• 一方面...另一方面 (yī fāngmiàn…lìng yī fāngmiàn, on one hand…on the other)

Drop at least one connector per paragraph. Examiners look for them.

Opinion phrases (20)

• 我认为 (wǒ rènwéi, I think)
• 在我看来 (zài wǒ kàn lái, in my view)
• 我觉得 (wǒ juéde, I feel)
• 就我个人而言 (jiù wǒ gèrén ér yán, personally speaking)
• 大家都知道 (dàjiā dōu zhīdào, everybody knows)
• 有人说 (yǒu rén shuō, some say)

Use 认为 or 觉得 in short essays. Save "在我看来" for a stronger opening.

Hedging (15)

• 可能 (kěnéng, maybe)
• 应该 (yīnggāi, should)
• 差不多 (chàbuduō, roughly)
• 尽量 (jǐnliàng, try to)
• 大部分 (dàbùfen, most)
• 有的时候 (yǒude shíhou, sometimes)

Hedging avoids absolute claims. Absolutes lose points.

Example markers (15)

• 比如 (bǐrú, for example)
• 例如 (lìrú, e.g.)
• 举例来说 (jǔlì láishuō, for instance)
• 就像 (jiù xiàng, just like)

Cause and effect (20)

• 导致 (dǎozhì, to cause/lead to)
• 影响 (yǐngxiǎng, to affect)
• 产生 (chǎnshēng, to produce/generate)
• 造成 (zàochéng, to cause)
• 结果 (jiéguǒ, result)

Time markers (20)

• 首先 (shǒuxiān, first)
• 其次 (qícì, second)
• 最后 (zuìhòu, finally)
• 与此同时 (yǔ cǐ tóngshí, meanwhile)
• 然而 (rán'ér, however)

Common topics and their high-yield words

• Environment: 污染, 保护, 环境, 空气, 资源
• Education: 学习, 成绩, 压力, 兴趣, 培养
• Technology: 网络, 手机, 电脑, 便利, 依赖
• Health: 锻炼, 健康, 睡眠, 饮食, 习惯
• Work: 工作, 同事, 效率, 挑战, 机会

How to drill

Put 200 words on cards, front = Chinese + pinyin, back = translation + example sentence from an HSK 4 essay. FSRS for 5 weeks. You will have them ready for any prompt.

Deck ready

Vô chi ships an HSK 4 writing deck with the 200 highest-yield words. Unlock HSK 4–6 with one-time 50,000₫ add-on.