HSK 4 Word Selection / 选词填空
Three-step decision: word class → collocation → meaning context
HSK 4 reading Part 1 gives you 6 vocabulary options (A-F) and 5 sentences with blanks. You must place each word into its correct sentence. The mistake most candidates make is jumping straight to meaning — but the fastest path is class first, collocation second, meaning last.
5 Strategies for HSK 4 Fill in the Blank / 5 个应试策略
Step 1 — classify all 6 options by part of speech
Mark each option with its word class: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, conjunction. The blank's neighbouring words (前后词) tell you what class is needed. This eliminates 3-4 options instantly.
Step 2 — match high-frequency collocations
Many HSK 4 blanks are filled by FIXED collocations, not free meaning. Memorize: 抽时间, 引起注意, 留下印象, 提高水平, 改变看法, 节约时间, 接受邀请, 解决问题, 增加知识. If you spot 留下___, the answer is almost always 印象.
Step 3 — use 'measure-word + noun' clues
If the blank is right after a measure word like 一份/一篇/一场, the answer is a noun matching that MW: 一份(报纸/工作/材料), 一篇(文章/报道), 一场(比赛/电影/雨). MW selection narrows nouns to 2-3 options.
Tackle the obvious blanks first, save the hard ones for the end
If only one option fits a sentence beyond doubt (e.g., a clear 固定搭配), lock it in immediately. Each lock-in eliminates that option from the remaining sentences, making the harder blanks easier.
Dialogue blanks (Q51-55) — focus on the function word
Q51-55 are short dialogues, often A-B exchanges. The blank is usually an 副词 (顺便/肯定/恐怕/突然/究竟) or a 固定结构 (来得及/没法). Read the WHOLE dialogue, not just the line with the blank — speaker B's response often reveals what speaker A meant.
⚠ Common HSK 4 Mistakes to Avoid / 常见错误
- Filling in by gut feeling without checking the part of speech — classic source of wrong answers.
- Using one option twice — each option appears exactly once across the 5 sentences.
- Spending 90 seconds on the first blank — budget 30-40 seconds per question, attack the easy ones first.
Practice Questions / 练习题
Try these 3 practice items in HSK 4 format. Apply the strategies above and check your reasoning.