試 meaning and stroke order
To try, to experiment; exam, test
How to write 試, stroke by stroke
13 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
Meaning of 試
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to test
- to try
- experiment
- examination
- test
How 試 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 式 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 試
試 combines 言 (speech) with 式 (shì, pattern or formula), which also gives the sound. Picture an oral exam where you must speak and follow the set format: that is a test.
試 means to try something out or to test someone, and it appears in many exam words like 考試 (kǎoshì) and 面試 (miànshì). It is often doubled or followed by 看 to mean "give it a try": 你試試看。(Nǐ shìshi kàn.) Give it a try.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 試 with 式 (shì, style, form) because they share the same sound and 式 is inside 試. If the meaning involves testing or trying, you need the 言 on the left. Also note that 試 is fourth tone, unlike 是 or 事, which are fourth tone too but mean completely different things.
Common words with 試
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 考試 | kǎoshì | to take an exam; exam | HSK 1 |
| 試驗 | shìyàn | experiment; test | HSK 3 |
| 試題 | shìtí | exam question; test topic | HSK 3 |
| 測試 | cèshì | to test (machinery etc); to test (a person's skill in a particular area) | HSK 4 |
| 面試 | miànshì | to be interviewed (as a candidate); interview | HSK 4 |
| 試卷 | shìjuàn | examination paper; test paper | HSK 4 |
| 試圖 | shìtú | to attempt; to try | HSK 5 |
| 嘗試 | chángshì | to try (to see what it's like or whether one can do it) | HSK 5 |
| 試點 | shìdiǎn | test point; to carry out trial | HSK 6 |
| 筆試 | bǐshì | written examination; paper test (for an applicant) | HSK 6 |
| 口試 | kǒushì | oral examination; oral test | HSK 6 |
| 試探 | shìtan | to sound out; to probe | HSK 7-9 |
| 試用 | shìyòng | to try sth out; to be on probation | HSK 7-9 |
| 比試 | bǐshi | to have a competition; to measure with one's hand or arm | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 試
How many strokes are in 試?
試 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 試 mean?
試 (shì) means to try, to experiment; exam, test. A common word with it is 考试 (kǎoshì), meaning "to take an exam; exam".
How do you pronounce 試?
試 is pronounced shì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 試?
The radical of 試 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 試 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 試?
試 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 试, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 試圖 and 嘗試?
試圖 (shìtú) means to attempt to do something, often with a hint that the effort may fail, and it is used before a verb. 嘗試 (chángshì) means to try something to see what it is like and can also be a noun, as in 一次嘗試 (a try).
Can 試 be used to mean trying on clothes or tasting food?
Yes. 試穿 (shìchuān) means to try on clothes, and 試吃 (shìchī) means to taste a sample of food. In these words 試 adds the idea of trying something before deciding.