试验

• Pinyin: shì yàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 试 = 讠 (speech) + 式 (style/formula); 验 = 马 (horse) + 佥 (all, phonetic)

Meaning

To test; to experiment; trial. Refers to conducting tests or experiments to verify something.

Often used in scientific, engineering, and industrial contexts. Unlike 实验 which emphasises laboratory experiments, 试验 emphasises practical testing and trials of products, methods, or theories. Can function as both a verb and a noun.

Examples

1. 科学家正在试验一种新的方法。 Scientists are testing a new method.
2. 这个产品已经通过了安全试验。 This product has already passed safety testing.
3. 我们需要再做几次试验才能确定结果。 We need to conduct a few more tests to confirm the results.

Usage Guide

Context: science, engineering, academic

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 这种药物正在进行临床试验。(This drug is undergoing clinical trials.)
• 我们试验了好几种方案。(We tested several plans.)

Don't Say

• 我今天试验了一家新餐厅。(Don't use 试验 for casual trying out — use 试 or 尝试 instead. 试验 implies systematic or scientific testing.)

Origin & History

试 means 'to try' or 'to test' and 验 means 'to verify' or 'to examine'. Together they describe the process of testing something to verify its effectiveness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal