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March 24, 2026
试(試)shì(shi4)
The character 试 (shì) means 'to test' or 'to try.' It is commonly used in contexts such as taking exams, experimenting with ideas, or attempting new methods. This word conveys the idea of evaluating something through practical application or trial.
Strokes8Radical讠Frequency#459DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese education, exams play a crucial role, with the gaokao (高考) being a significant test that determines university admission. The character 试 reflects the emphasis on testing in academic and professional settings in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef (the radical 示) who is testing a new recipe. The chef is ready to share his dish (试 sounds like 'shee') with the world, but first, he must taste it himself to see if it is good. This connection of tasting leads you to remember that 试 means 'to test' or 'to try.'
Meanings of 试
shì(shi4)
1to test
2to try
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 试
试Simplified
試Traditional
8Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#459Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 试
Podcast: 试
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AI Study Notes for 试
Quick Contrast
尝 (cháng) vs 试 (shì): 用尝 when referring to tasting food, while 试 is used for testing or trying something in a broader sense.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 试 is pronounced with a falling tone (shì), which can be confused with similar sounding words. It is often used in combination with other words, such as 考试 (kǎoshì, 'exam') or 实验 (shíyàn, 'experiment').
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 3 vocabulary, 试 connects well with other common verbs like 做 (zuò, 'to do') and 学 (xué, 'to learn'). Focus on its application in sentences and practice using it in context, particularly in phrases related to testing and trying.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 试 with similar sounding words like 是 (shì, 'to be'). For example, saying '我试是这个' (Wǒ shì shì zhège) is incorrect; it should be '我试这个' (Wǒ shì zhège), meaning 'I will try this.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 试
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Simplified form of 試. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 式 represents the sound.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half式 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 试? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 试?
Decomposition of 试
IDS Structure⿰讠式
试Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
式shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 试?
How to say to test in Chinese
“to test” in Chinese is试shì
The character 试 (shì) means 'to test' or 'to try.' It is commonly used in contexts such as taking exams, experimenting with ideas, or attempting new methods. This word conveys the idea of evaluating something through practical application or trial.
When to use 试
Be cautious with the tone; 试 is pronounced with a falling tone (shì), which can be confused with similar sounding words. It is often used in combination with other words, such as 考试 (kǎoshì, 'exam') or 实验 (shíyàn, 'experiment').
试 or something close to it
尝 (cháng) vs 试 (shì): 用尝 when referring to tasting food, while 试 is used for testing or trying something in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 试 with similar sounding words like 是 (shì, 'to be'). For example, saying '我试是这个' (Wǒ shì shì zhège) is incorrect; it should be '我试这个' (Wǒ shì zhège), meaning 'I will try this.'
Write 试
试
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Practice writing 试 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 试
试 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
