考 kǎo
“to check; to verify; to test”
verb2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
考 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 380: 考 kǎo — Level 2; official annotation 2 (动). PDF page 89
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 考
A verb meaning "to take an exam" or "to give/test someone". It takes the subject tested as its object: 考数学, 考语法; 考试 is a separate noun/verb-object word for "exam". Common results are 考上了 and 考得很好.
例句Example sentences
- 明天我们要考数学。míng tiān wǒ men yào kǎo shù xué.Tomorrow we have a math test.
- 这次他考得很好。zhè cì tā kǎo de hěn hǎo.He did very well on this test.
- 姐姐今年考大学。jiě jie jīn nián kǎo dà xué.My older sister is taking the college entrance exam this year.
易混词Easily confused
考vs考试
考试 is a noun or a verb-object word ("to sit an exam"), while 考 is the verb that can take an object naming the subject tested.
义项All meanings
- kǎo: to beat; to hit; variant of 考; to inspect; to test; to take an exam
- kǎo: to check; to verify; to test; to examine; to take an exam; to take an entrance exam for