If you are learning Mandarin and not using Anki, you are leaving the most effective memorization tool on the table. Finding a good HSK deck — complete pinyin, example sentences, proper formatting, no broken media — is harder than it should be.
So I built one. Four decks, 401 words, free download, no account required.
What Each Card Includes
- Chinese character — large display, optimized for reading at a glance
- Pinyin with tone marks — colored for visibility
- Part of speech — noun, verb, adjective, etc.
- English translation
- Example sentence in Chinese — target word bolded
- Example sentence in English
Each word generates two cards: a forward card (Chinese to English) and a reverse card (English to Chinese). That is 802 cards total in the full deck, covering both recognition and production.
The Four Decks
| Deck | Words | Cards | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSK 1 | 151 | 302 | Complete beginner |
| HSK 2 | 126 | 252 | Elementary |
| HSK 3 | 124 | 248 | Pre-intermediate |
| HSK 1-3 All | 401 | 802 | Full package |
Why Anki Works for HSK
HSK is a vocabulary-heavy exam. HSK 3 covers 600 words. HSK 6 covers 5,000. The words are not hard to understand — the challenge is retaining them over weeks without review.
Anki uses spaced repetition: it shows you cards at increasing intervals, right before you are likely to forget them. A word you just learned might appear tomorrow, then in four days, then in two weeks. The algorithm manages the schedule.
15 minutes of Anki per day, done consistently, will outperform two hours of cramming before an exam. The research on this is solid.
For Chinese specifically, the reverse cards matter. Recognizing the character is easy. Producing it when you see the English translation is what the writing section tests. Most HSK Anki decks only go one direction. These go both.
How to Install
- Download the .apkg file from the tool page (link below)
- Open Anki on your desktop (free at apps.ankiweb.net)
- Go to File then Import and select the downloaded file
- The deck appears instantly in your collection
On AnkiDroid or AnkiMobile, import via the app or sync from AnkiWeb after importing on desktop first.
Download the Free HSK Anki Decks
All decks are hosted on GitHub. Direct download, no login, no email required. The same page also has a browser-based flashcard tool if you want to practice without installing Anki.
Mandarin Flashcards – HSK 1-3 (browser + Anki download): https://ordinarymantrying.com/tools/mandarin-flashcards.html
Get the free HSK Anki decks here (401 words, dual cards, 4 levels) →
Other Free Chinese Learning Tools
Chinese Writing Toolkit — 11 writing formats (diary, email, essay, debate) with AI prompt templates for practice
All Free Chinese Learning Tools
Related Reading
- 5 Free Chinese Learning Tools I Built While Living in China (2026)
- 10 Historical Decisions Told in Chinese (HSK 4-6). Read the Story, Then Make the Call.
- Albert Einstein Failed His Entrance Exam, Worked as a Patent Clerk, Then Signed the Letter That Started the Atomic Bomb.
- Learn Chinese: Free Mandarin Tools & Resources — Full Collection
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