As of today (January 12, 2026)
Character Progression
2026-01-12
No new characters since previous update 
Still “consolidating”.
HSK
New HSK 3.0
Note: the 3.0 does not mean the HSK 3, the 3.0 is the new format of the HSK set to be implemented this year in July for all HSK levels (1-9).
So, I found out about two weeks ago that the new HSK format (new format 3.0) will be slowly implemented throughout this year, and fully implemented across all levels by July.
I reached out to a teacher that I know who’s somewhat a part of that organization, and asked her about any tips for changes for this year. What she found out is that I could mostly just find the differences in vocabulary sets online by the official websites.
Doing a deeper dive online, I found that each HSK level will essentially be looking for much much more vocabulary and grammar points. It seems like there isn’t a huge difference in terms of test format, but supposedly the new format will have a significant difference in “approach”. It’s supposed to be aimed at “practical usage” of the language as opposed to memorizing vocab lists and grammar. I don’t really understand the difference tbh.
One other addition that I find low key pointless beyond HSK 3 or even HSK 2 is a “syllables” section. I’m assuming it’ll be listening and you select the correct pinyin for the syllable, or you pick the correct pinyin for certain words. Either way, seems kind of redundant when you’re already at an HSK 3 level.
I haven’t taken the HSK 1 or 2, so I wouldn’t really know, but I just found out that you basically hardly needed to know any characters for those levels? That’s changing though, with greater requirements.
What to Study(?)
Honestly, I’m at a loss for what to study. On one hand, since the new format won’t be fully implemented till July, I could take advantage, and take the HSK 5 by June. On the other hand, I want to push myself and get closer to real fluency and knowing, so I should probably study for the new HSK 5. The problem, however, is that it’s basically like studying for the previous HSK 6 (sort of). So, really, I’m studying 2 levels above my current achievement. Not a bad thing, just a lot more work than what I had originally planned.
Additionally, I think many of us are familiar with the HSK Standard textbooks and workbooks (which you can find all for free + audio here: HSK Books (Levels 1-6)), but currently, the new textbooks are announced, but with no planned release date 
. Personally, I detest teasing like this. Don’t let us know about this stuff until you have everything prepared!! The anticipation with zero clarity is more agonizing than the studying itself.
AI: DeepSeek
I’m not against using AI, I’m against people generating images/videos of dropping poop bombs on their opponents in the name of a gag.
Suggestion for our learners!! When you’re done with your review, copy the entire list of vocabulary and characters (right and wrong, or just wrong), and go to DeepSeek and ask:
Please write a story using all of the following vocabulary at an HSK [#] level: [paste list].
This may help with having the meaning of the vocab stick in context. Since DeepSeek is developed by China, I’m sure it’s a lot likely to generate sentences that are more natural or contextually accurate.
Today’s Example:
Can you write me a story at an HSK 5 level using all of the following vocabulary: 向往, 病床, 回顾, 业绩, 化石, 围困, 不屑, 继而, 亮丽, 问卷, 淡, 临, 尚, 抽奖, 捏造, 毫, 怀抱, 郎, 毫米, 敞, 阶梯, 尊严, 炼金术, 智力, 标志, 可歌可泣, 牲畜, 尺寸, 哪怕, 总算, 交待, 拼图, 压扁, 范围, 策, 陷, 嵌, 御, 技能, 抢救, 进攻, 迟疑, 遗传, 拆, 雄伟, 查询, 届, 棺, 麻醉, 面面俱到, 颗, 气质, 总裁, 夭, 抖, 渴望, 扫兴, 丁级, 茂密, 分别, 穴位, 岗, 灰泥, 炉, 偏远, 咨, 探讨, 撤, 入侵, 一带, 闷, 冈, 辽阔, 珠宝, 棚, 旱, 嫁妆, 扒, 吹捧, 洋溢, 不争气, 车厢
破碎的拼图
在我的家乡，有一座雄伟的古堡，它曾是御敌的堡垒，也是我童年时最向往的地方。古堡坐落在一片茂密森林的一带，周围环绕着辽阔的田野，与偏远的村落形成鲜明对比。父亲是古堡博物馆的总裁，他总是满怀激情地向访客讲解，说这里的每一块灰泥、每一块化石，都标志着一段可歌可泣的历史。
大学毕业后，我没有继承父亲的衣钵，反而跑到大城市，在一家咨询公司拼命工作，追求亮丽的业绩和珠宝般的头衔。我学会了用精心捏造的数据吹捧项目，用看似面面俱到的问卷应付客户。每当父亲打来电话，探讨我是否愿意回去帮忙时，我总是不屑地拒绝，觉得那个世界古老而沉闷，像一具被遗忘的棺材。
直到那个闷热的夏天，父亲突发重病，倒在了博物馆的阶梯上。我总算放下手头一切，赶回故乡。医院病床上，他消瘦的手抖着递给我一把旧钥匙，声音淡得像远处的山冈：“库房…最里面的炉子旁…有个盒子…”
我走进尘封的库房。这里堆满了各种尺寸的化石、生锈的兵器，还有牲畜拉过的农具车厢。在一个积满灰尘的棚架下，我找到了一个压扁的铁盒。打开后，里面不是嫁妆，也没有抽奖券，只有一堆零散的拼图碎片，和一本发黄的笔记。
笔记是爷爷留下的，记录了他对家族历史的回顾与查询。原来，我们家并非显贵，祖上曾是炼金术士的学徒，继而成为守护这片土地的卫士。古堡的地基下，嵌着一个古老的秘密：一张记载了穴位般精准的旱季水源图，以及一套独特的农业技能。然而，在战乱年代，祖先为保护秘密，故意将地图拆解，分散镶嵌在古堡各处，就像把宝藏扒开藏起。敌人曾多次入侵，将城堡围困，但都因找不到水源和粮道而撤退。笔记最后写道：“家族的尊严不在业绩，而在守护。智慧需要抢救，而非麻醉。”
我迟疑了。我引以为傲的商业智力和技能，在这堆碎片面前毫无用处。我花了几天时间，坐在昏暗的库房里，试图拼凑那张古老的地图。这过程像解开一个遗传的谜题，又像重新拆解和认识自己。地图的范围远超我的想象，精确到毫米，涵盖山冈、森林与旱地。每一片拼图的背后，都记录着一次进攻、一次抢救、一次为了生存的策略。
当我终于将最后一块碎片嵌入，完整的地图在阳光下展现时，我感到一种前所未有的渴望——不是对成功的渴望，而是对连接、对根源的渴望。我怀抱着拼好的地图回到父亲床边。他浑浊的眼睛亮了，洋溢出欣慰。他用尽力气交待：“你郎（好孩子）…这地图，是钥匙…能救这一带的土地…别让它…再被压扁在历史里。”
不久，父亲去世了。我没有扫兴地回到城市格子间。我留了下来，接替了博物馆的岗位。我不再使用那些花哨的咨询报告，而是带着地图，与农学家探讨，将古老的智慧与现代技术结合，抢救因旱情而陷入困境的农田。
几年后，曾经偏远的故乡因为生态农业而闻名。古堡敞开了大门，不再只是展示化石的橱窗，而是变成了一个活生生的文化标志。游客们来这里，不仅能触摸历史，还能感受到土地怀抱的生命力。
又是一个黄昏，我站在古堡高处，回顾来路。我曾向往远方的亮丽，不屑此地的“落后”。如今我明白，真正的气质，源于对根源的接纳与传承。哪怕是最小的颗粒尘埃，也承载着一段历史。父亲的离去曾让我觉得天塌了下来，但最终，他留给我的不是沉重的棺椁，而是一张通向新生的地图。我总算没有成为一个他眼中“不争气”的儿子，而是在这片辽阔的土地上，找到了属于自己的尊严与坐标。
So, in the end, it incorporated almost all of the vocabulary, and I got an interesting story out of it lol.
