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March 24, 2026
比试(比試)bǐshi(bi3shi5)
比试 (bǐ shì) refers to a competition or contest where participants measure their skills against each other. It is commonly used in contexts such as sports, martial arts, or any competitive scenario where abilities are evaluated. The nuance often implies a friendly rivalry rather than a serious dispute.
Frequency#17393DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 比试 often occurs not only in sports but also in traditional arts such as calligraphy and martial arts, where practitioners showcase their skills as a form of respect and camaraderie.
Memory Tip
Imagine two friends, each holding a measuring tape, ready to compare their heights. The character '比' (bǐ) looks like two people standing side by side, while '试' (shì) suggests trying or testing. Together, they are 'measuring' who is taller in a 'competition'.
Meanings of 比试
bǐshi(bi3shi5)
1to have a competition
2to measure with one's hand or arm
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About 比试
比试Simplified
比試Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 比试
Podcast: 比试
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AI Study Notes for 比试
Quick Contrast
较量 (jiàoliàng) - use 比试 for friendly competitions, while 较量 suggests a more intense or serious confrontation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two friends, each holding a measuring tape, ready to compare their heights. The character '比' (bǐ) looks like two people standing side by side, while '试' (shì) suggests trying or testing. Together, they are 'measuring' who is taller in a 'competition'.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 比试 with other similar words like 竞争 (jìng zhēng), which implies a more serious competition. 比试 is more informal and can be used in friendly contexts. Common collocations include 比试武艺 (bǐ shì wǔ yì - to compete in martial arts) and 比试技能 (bǐ shì jì néng - to compete in skills).
HSK Study Tips
Although 比试 is not directly listed in HSK vocabulary, it can be related to HSK Level 3 words like 竞争 (jìng zhēng) and 技能 (jì néng). Focus on understanding its usage in casual conversation about competitions and practice using it in sentences with similar context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 比试 often occurs not only in sports but also in traditional arts such as calligraphy and martial arts, where practitioners showcase their skills as a form of respect and camaraderie.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 比试 as a formal term for competition. For example, saying '我们在比试比赛' (We are competing in the competition) is incorrect; it should simply be '我们在比试' (We are competing).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 比试
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Cultural Notes for 比试
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 比试 often occurs not only in sports but also in traditional arts such as calligraphy and martial arts, where practitioners showcase their skills as a form of respect and camaraderie.
Frequently Asked Questions about 比试
Generally, 比试 is used in informal or friendly competitions, while formal competitions would use 竞争 (jìng zhēng).
While it primarily means to compete, it can also imply testing one's skills or abilities in various contexts.
You might say, '我们来比试一下，看谁的功夫更好' (Let's have a competition and see whose skills are better).
