9-Year-Old Passes HSK 5, Sparks Online Quizzes from Netizens

Source: OT-Team(G)

  Recently, a 9-year-old foreign child who passed the HSK Level 5 exam has attracted the attention of many Chinese netizens and has been strongly praised by many fans in the comment section.

  This young boy, named Ma Lele, posted a photo on his social media account on June 15, smiling while holding his HSK Level 5 score report. He said that he passed the exam at the age of 9, has mastered 2,500 commonly used words, and can understand Chinese TV programs without subtitles, reaching a language proficiency level sufficient for pursuing graduate studies at a Chinese university. 

  Ma Lele's score report reveals that his full name consists of 26 letters, his nationality is Spanish, and he scored 96 in the "Listening" section, just 4 points shy of a perfect score.

  In a self-introduction video, Ma Lele mentioned that he resides in the UK and speaks Chinese, English, Spanish, and French. He travels to China every year with his family and has a deep love for Chinese culture. At the age of 6, he passed the HSK Level 3 exam with a perfect score.

  Interestingly, many netizens following Ma Lele have transformed into "examiners" in the comment section, posting tongue twisters, polyphonic characters, making Ma Lele exclaim, "This is really hard." 

  Of course, these playful comments were meant in jest. Many netizens reassured him, saying: "We're just joking, no one actually speaks like this in real life"; "Even I was confused by some of these, don't get discouraged"; and "You passed HSK Level 5 at 9, and I still can't pass English Level 4 or 6 at 20."

  Public information indicates that the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), or Chinese Proficiency Test, is an international standardized exam established to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers, including foreigners, overseas Chinese, ethnic Chinese, and minority candidates in China. Level 6 is the highest level of the new HSK.

  The HSK (Level 5) exam consists of 100 questions divided into three sections: listening, reading, and writing. It is primarily aimed at candidates who have studied Chinese for more than two years at a pace of 2-4 class hours per week and have mastered 2,500 commonly used words. Candidates who pass the HSK (Level 5) can read Chinese newspapers and magazines, enjoy Chinese films and television, and deliver relatively complete speeches in Chinese.

  Therefore, it is truly impressive that 9-year-old Ma Lele was able to pass the HSK Level 5 exam. As one netizen said, "Chinese culture is extensive and profound. We look forward to Lele experiencing more of China's charm through his studies and welcome him to visit China!"