小心 xiǎo xīn
“to be careful; to take care”
adjective, verb, adverbial adjectiveHSK 3 · 2021 list level 2
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
小心 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 898: 小心 xiǎoxīn — Level 3; official annotation 3 (动、形). PDF page 102
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 小心
小心 means "be careful" or "watch out": it is used alone as a warning, before a noun or verb to tell someone to take care with something, and after 很 to describe a cautious person. Typical patterns are 小心！, 小心 + noun (小心车), and 小心别 + verb (小心别摔倒).
例句Example sentences
- 路上车很多，你过马路要小心。lù shang chē hěn duō, nǐ guò mǎ lù yào xiǎo xīn.There are many cars on the road, so be careful when you cross.
- 小心！前面有台阶。xiǎo xīn! qián miàn yǒu tái jiē.Watch out! There's a step ahead.
- 他小心地把杯子放在桌子上。tā xiǎo xīn de bǎ bēi zi fàng zài zhuō zi shàng.He carefully put the cup on the table.
常见错误Common mistakes
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✗你要小心不迟到。
✓你要小心别迟到。
To warn someone not to do something, use 小心别 / 小心不要 + verb; 小心 is not followed by a plain negative clause.