试

試

shì

式 + 讠

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

shì (verb) to test; to try

shì (noun) examination; test

Etymology

Simplified form of 試. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 式 represents the sound.

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 式

About

试 is the simplified form of 試, a phono-semantic compound. The left side 讠(simplified from 言) indicates speech and verbal inquiry, while the right side 式 supplies the sound and also suggests pattern, rule, or standard. Originally, the character denoted formally assessing someone's knowledge or suitability through spoken questioning. Over time, its meaning broadened from verbal examinations to the general act of trying something out, conducting experiments, attempting tasks, and testing how things function.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

试试这个吧。

shì shì zhè ge ba.

Try this.

你考试了吗？

nǐ kǎoshì le ma?

Did you take the exam?

我尝试做新菜。

wǒ chángshì zuò xīn cài.

I try to cook new dishes.

他们在做试验。

tāmen zài zuò shìyàn.

They are conducting an experiment.

请你试穿这件衣服。

qǐng nǐ shìchuān zhè jiàn yīfu.

Please try on this piece of clothing.

我们需要测试新软件。

wǒmen xūyào cèshì xīn ruǎnjiàn.

We need to test the new software.

他试图解释这个复杂的问题。

tā shìtú jiěshì zhège fùzá de wèntí.

He attempted to explain this complex problem.

在正式发布之前，我们必须多次测试产品以确保质量。

zài zhèngshì fābù zhīqián, wǒmen bìxū duō cì cèshì chǎnpǐn yǐ quèbǎo zhìliàng.

Before the official release, we must test the product multiple times to ensure quality.

Related Characters

Component: 式

Component: 讠

试