Meaning of 考试
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to take an exam
- exam
Measure word: 次
How to use 考试
考试 works as both a noun and a verb, so you can have an exam or take an exam. To say you have an exam, use 有考试. To talk about how it went, use 考得好 or 考得不好, not 考试得好. Example: 明天我有考试。 (Míngtiān wǒ yǒu kǎoshì.) I have an exam tomorrow.
考 (kǎo) means to test or check, and 试 (shì) means to try. It has the speech radical 讠 because you try something out with words. Put them together: the teacher tests you and you try your best, and that is an exam.
Common mistake: Learners often say 考试数学 for "take a math exam." When you name a subject, use 考 alone: 考数学 (kǎo shùxué). Also check the tones. Both syllables have tones: 考 is third tone and 试 is fourth, so do not drop the tone on 试.
考试 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
考 kǎo · to check · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
试 shì · to test · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 考试.
| 考生 | kǎoshēng | exam candidate; student whose name has been put forward for an exam |
| 考验 | kǎoyàn | to test; to put to the test |
| 试验 | shìyàn | experiment; test |
| 试题 | shìtí | exam question; test topic |
| 考虑 | kǎolǜ | to think over; to consider |
| 测试 | cèshì | to test (machinery etc); to test (a person's skill in a particular area) |
| 思考 | sīkǎo | to reflect on; to ponder over |
| 面试 | miànshì | to be interviewed (as a candidate); interview |
| 参考 | cānkǎo | consultation; reference |
| 考察 | kǎochá | to inspect; to observe and study |
| 试卷 | shìjuàn | examination paper; test paper |
| 试图 | shìtú | to attempt; to try |
Questions about 考试
What does 考试 mean?
考试 (kǎoshì) means "to take an exam; exam".
How do you write 考试?
考试 is made of 2 characters: 考 (6 strokes), 试 (8 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 考试 an HSK word?
Yes. 考试 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 考试 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 考试 is written 考試.
How do I say pass or fail an exam in Chinese?
Pass is 考试及格 (kǎoshì jígé) or 通过考试 (tōngguò kǎoshì). Fail is 考试不及格 (kǎoshì bù jígé). In casual speech people also say 没考过 (méi kǎoguò) for "didn't pass."
What is the difference between 考试 and 测试?
考试 is the everyday word for a school or official exam. 测试 (cèshì) is more technical. It is used for testing machines or software, or for short quizzes that measure a particular skill.