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Look-Alike Characters

Chinese characters in HSK 1–3 that are easily confused because they look alike — grouped by how they differ

characterslook-alikeconfusableHSK 1HSK 2HSK 3 Updated 7 July 2026
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ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
tree, wood3
běnroot; (MW for books)1
end, tip2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
big1
tàitoo, excessively1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
tiānsky; day1
husband2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
sun; day1
báiwhite1
jiùold (of things)3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
oneself2
already2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
gànto do; (gān) dry1
qiānthousand1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
noon1
niúcow, ox1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
earth, soil3
shìscholar; soldier1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
shǒuhand1
máohair, fur1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
rénperson1
to enter2
eight1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
dāoknife3
strength, power2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
báiwhite1
bǎihundred1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
érchild; son1
how many; a few1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
le(particle); (liǎo) to finish1
child; son1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
niǎobird2
horse1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
to drink1
thirsty1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
jièto borrow, lend2
cuòwrong; mistake1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
hěnvery1
gēnwith; to follow1
gēnroot; (MW for long thin things)3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
qǐngplease; to invite1
qíngfeeling, emotion2
qīngclear, clean2
qíngclear / sunny (weather)2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
zuòto do, make1
zuòto do; work1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
mom1
ma(question particle)1
code, number3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
míngbright; (明天) tomorrow1
péngfriend (朋友)1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
river2
what; how3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
kuàifast1
kuàipiece; (unit of money)1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
wèiposition; (polite MW for people)2
zhùto live, stay1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
rènto recognize1
ràngto let, allow2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
zhǎoto look for1
to hit; to play1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
xiàoschool (学校)1
jiàocomparatively (比较)3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
I, me1
zhǎoto look for1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
mǎito buy1
màito sell1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
wènto ask1
jiānbetween; (MW for rooms)1
wénto hear; to smell2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
míngname1
each3
duōmany, much1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
xiūto rest (休息)1
body (身体)1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
yòuright (side)1
yǒuto have1
shístone3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
báiwhite1
self2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
xiēsome; (MW for a small amount)1
this3
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
wànten thousand2
fāngsquare; direction1
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
tóuhead2
shíreal; solid2
ChinesePinyinEnglishHSK
shēngto be born; raw1
niúcow, ox1