考 kǎo — to check; to verify; to test; to examine
下周我们要考数学。Xià zhōu wǒ men yào kǎo shù xué.Next week we have a math exam.
Common words: 考试 (kǎo shì)、考生 (kǎo shēng)、考验 (kǎo yàn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to test"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to test", including 考 (kǎo), 验 (yàn), 试 (shì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to test" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 考 (kǎo), 验 (yàn), 试 (shì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span kǎo, yàn, shì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 考 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 考 kǎoto check; to verify; to test; to examineUseful words: 考试, 考生
- 验 yànto examine; to test; to checkUseful words: 经验, 实验
- 试 shìto test; to try; experiment; examination; testUseful words: 考试, 试验
Common words for these 3 "to test" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 考 (kǎo) — so "to test" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
考试kǎo shìto take an exam; exam考生kǎo shēngexam candidate; student whose name has been put forward for an exam考验kǎo yànto test; to put to the test; trial; ordeal经验jīng yànexperience; to go through; to experience实验shí yànexperiment; test; experimental; to experiment试验shì yànexperiment; test; to experiment; experimental考试kǎo shìto take an exam; exam试验shì yànexperiment; test; to experiment; experimental试题shì tíexam question; test topic
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to test".
验 yàn — to examine; to test; to check
做完实验要写一份报告。Zuò wán shí yàn yào xiě yí fèn bào gào.After doing the experiment, you should write a report.
Common words: 经验 (jīng yàn)、实验 (shí yàn)、试验 (shì yàn)
试 shì — to test; to try; experiment; examination; test
你可以先试穿一下这件衣服。Nǐ kě yǐ xiān shì chuān yí xià zhè jiàn yī fu.You can try on this piece of clothing first.
Common words: 考试 (kǎo shì)、试验 (shì yàn)、试题 (shì tí)
All 3 characters
Open 考、验、试 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.