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考试 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
考试kǎoshìto take an examHSK 2, vn, 14 strokes, rank #2341, Easy
考试kǎoshìexamHSK 2, vn, 14 strokes, rank #2341, Easy
kǎoshì(kao3shi4) T3
  1. 1to take an exam
  2. 2exam
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March 24, 2026

考试(考試)kǎoshì(kao3shi4)

考试 (kǎo shì) refers to the process of taking an exam or assessment to evaluate knowledge or skills in a specific subject. It is commonly used in educational contexts, such as schools and universities, and can also refer to various professional certifications and tests. The term encompasses both the action of taking an exam and the exam itself.

Strokes14Frequency#2341DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

Exams, particularly the gaokao (高考), are a significant aspect of Chinese culture, often determining a student's future educational and career opportunities. This intense focus on exams reflects societal values regarding education and success.

Memory Tip

Imagine a student (考, kǎo) sitting at a desk with a big 'test' (试, shì) paper in front of them. The student is nervously 'evaluating' their knowledge as they write down answers, thus linking the idea of testing with the characters that look like a student in action.

Meanings of 考试

kǎoshì(kao3shi4)
1to take an exam
2exam
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About 考试

考试Simplified
考試Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#2341Frequency Rank
次Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 考试

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Podcast: 考试

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AI Study Notes for 考试

Quick Contrast

测验 (cè yàn) refers to a test or quiz that is typically shorter and less formal than an 考试 (kǎoshì), which is a more comprehensive examination.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tones; 'kǎo' (考) and 'shì' (试) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion. Common collocations include '期末考试' (final exam) or '考试成绩' (exam results). It's primarily used in formal settings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 2 word, '考试' is essential for discussing school life and academic activities. Students should focus on the context in which exams are mentioned, such as studying, preparing, and the emotional aspects of taking exams.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '考试' with '考' or '试' alone, leading to incomplete expressions. For example, saying '我有一个考' (I have a test) is incorrect; it should be '我有一个考试'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 考试

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Component Characters

考kǎoto beat
HSK 26 strokes耂
View full entry
试shìto test
HSK 38 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to take an exam in Chinese

“to take an exam” in Chinese is考试kǎoshì

考试 (kǎo shì) refers to the process of taking an exam or assessment to evaluate knowledge or skills in a specific subject. It is commonly used in educational contexts, such as schools and universities, and can also refer to various professional certifications and tests. The term encompasses both the action of taking an exam and the exam itself.

When to use 考试

Be careful with the tones; 'kǎo' (考) and 'shì' (试) must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion. Common collocations include '期末考试' (final exam) or '考试成绩' (exam results). It's primarily used in formal settings.

考试 or something close to it

测验 (cè yàn) refers to a test or quiz that is typically shorter and less formal than an 考试 (kǎoshì), which is a more comprehensive examination.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '考试' with '考' or '试' alone, leading to incomplete expressions. For example, saying '我有一个考' (I have a test) is incorrect; it should be '我有一个考试'.

Write 考试

考
试

Practice writing 考试 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 考试

考 (kǎo) refers to the action of testing or examining, while 试 (shì) can refer to a test or an attempt, and together they specifically denote an exam.

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