Analyzing the Alignment of Japanese Chinese Proficiency Test Level 3 Reading Items with HSK Standards: A Comprehensive Vocabulary and Thematic Evaluation

Next to the number of Japanese learners studying English, Japanese learners of Chinese are the second largest group, especially in higher education. Japanese Chinese Proficiency Test (日本中国語検定, Chuken) has played a role in examining Japanese learners of Chinese language proficiency for over 40 years. This study focuses on analyzing the reading comprehension section of the Chuken for Level 3 over the past three years, aiming to evaluate whether the test items align with the specified proficiency criteria and the HSK (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì) equivalence table. The analysis examines the vocabulary used in the test, comparing it against the guidelines set by Japan’s official test administrators and the HSK framework. The reading passages were categorized based on thematic areas from the official curriculum, ensuring they reflect the cognitive and language proficiency targets outlined for Level 3. The results show that the vocabulary used in the reading comprehension tests covers approximately 70–80% of the basic level vocabulary, with advanced vocabulary making up around 6–14%, consistent with the HSK Levels 4 to 5. The passages predominantly center on daily life scenarios, which supports the assessment that the test successfully measures the candidate's ability to handle typical conversational and reading situations in Chinese. These findings confirm that the skills evaluated through the Chuken Level 3 correspond to the official ability descriptors, making it a reliable indicator of language competence for learners aiming to engage in basic to intermediate Chinese language communication.