中国汉语水平考试是为测试母语非汉语者(包括外国人、华侨和中国国内少数民族人员)的汉语水平而设立的国家级标准化考试。中国汉语水平考试(HSK)最早由北京语言文化大学汉语水平考试中心在1984年设计并研制的，并在1990年前通过了专家的鉴定。HSK考试自1991年起开始在海外进行，并在中国教育部颁发的第21号文件中指定为国家级别的考试。
现在的HSK考试系统包括基础汉语水平考试[简写为HSK(基础)]，初、中等汉语水平考试[ 简写为HSK(初、中等)]和高等汉语水平考试[简写为HSK(高等)]，三者在等级水平上互相衔接。每年定期在中国国内和海外举办，凡考试成绩达到规定标准者，可获得相应等级的《汉语水平证书》。截至2005年底，参加过汉语水平考试的人数已超过100万人，他们来自120多个世界上不同的国家（其中也包括中国少数民族的学生）。
The Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) is a national standardized test to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers (including foreigners, overseas Chinese and students of Chinese national minorities). The test began to be designed by Beijing Language Institute (Beijing Language and Culture University or BLCU now) in 1984 and passed the appraisal by experts in 1990. Launched abroad in 1991, HSK was designated as a state-level test in No.21 Writ issued by the National Education Commission of China (the Ministry of Education today).
Currently HSK is a comprehensive test system catering to various levels of the Chinese learners, including HSK Basic, HSK Elementary-Intermediate and HSK Advanced. By December 2005, HSK has been taken by about a million examinees from more than 120 countries (including students of ethnic minorities in China). |