Meaning of 考验
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to test
- to put to the test
- trial
- ordeal
How to use 考验
考验 is used for serious tests of character, ability, or relationships, not for school exams. It works as a verb and as a noun. Example: 这次困难是对我们的考验。(Zhè cì kùnnan shì duì wǒmen de kǎoyàn.) This difficulty is a test for us.
考 (kǎo) is the 考 in 考试 (kǎoshì, exam), and 验 (yàn) means to check or verify, as in 实验 (shíyàn, experiment). Put them together and you get life giving you an exam to check what you are really made of.
Common mistake: Learners often use 考验 for a classroom test, but a school or written exam is 考试 (kǎoshì). 考验 means a trial or ordeal, such as hardship testing your patience or friendship.
考验 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
验 yàn · to examine · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Related words
Words that share a character with 考验.
| 考试 | kǎoshì | to take an exam; exam |
| 考生 | kǎoshēng | exam candidate; student whose name has been put forward for an exam |
| 经验 | jīngyàn | experience; to go through; to experience |
| 实验室 | shíyànshì | laboratory |
| 实验 | shíyàn | experiment; test |
| 体验 | tǐyàn | to experience for oneself |
| 试验 | shìyàn | experiment; test |
| 考虑 | kǎolǜ | to think over; to consider |
| 思考 | sīkǎo | to reflect on; to ponder over |
| 参考 | cānkǎo | consultation; reference |
| 考察 | kǎochá | to inspect; to observe and study |
| 检验 | jiǎnyàn | to inspect; to examine |
Questions about 考验
What does 考验 mean?
考验 (kǎoyàn) means "to test; to put to the test" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 考验?
考验 is made of 2 characters: 考 (6 strokes), 验 (10 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 考验 an HSK word?
Yes. 考验 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 考验 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 考验 is written 考驗.
What is the difference between 考验 and 检验?
考验 tests people, their will, loyalty, or ability, often through hardship. 检验 (jiǎnyàn) means to inspect or verify things like product quality or a theory.
What are common phrases with 考验?
You will often hear 经受考验 (jīngshòu kǎoyàn, to withstand a test), 经得起考验 (jīng de qǐ kǎoyàn, able to stand the test), and 考验耐心 (kǎoyàn nàixīn, to test one's patience).