实验

• Pinyin: shí yàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 实 = simplified from 實, meaning real; 验 = 马 (horse) + 佥 (all), simplified from 驗, meaning to test or examine

Meaning

Experiment; to experiment. A scientific test conducted to discover or prove something.

Used both as a noun (做实验 = do an experiment) and as a verb (实验一下 = try experimenting). Common in science, education, and research contexts. Collocations: 科学实验 (scientific experiment), 化学实验 (chemistry experiment), 实验结果 (experimental results). Also used figuratively for trying new approaches.

Examples

1. 学生们在实验室里做化学实验。 The students are doing chemistry experiments in the laboratory.
2. 这个实验的结果让科学家们很惊讶。 The results of this experiment surprised the scientists.
3. 我们需要通过实验来证明这个理论。 We need to prove this theory through experiments.

Usage Guide

Context: science, education, research

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个实验需要做三次才能确认结果。(This experiment needs to be done three times to confirm the results.)
• 做实验的时候要注意安全。(Be careful about safety when doing experiments.)

Don't Say

• 我实验了一下新餐厅。(For trying out a restaurant, use 试了一下 or 去了一下. 实验 is for scientific or systematic testing.)

Origin & History

实 means real or actual; 验 means to test or verify. Together: to test in reality — to experiment and verify through practice.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal