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实验 (shí yàn) — (noun) experiment; test; (verb) to experiment; to test

Definition

实验 is a formal/scientific 'experiment' — a planned test in a lab or research context, more rigorous than the everyday 试 ('to try'). As a verb it means 'to experiment on' something; contrast with 试验, which emphasizes trial-testing a method or policy.

noun
experimenttest
verb
to experimentto test
Measure word · 个, 次

Examples

  • 实验。
    Zhè ge shí yàn de jié guǒ fēi cháng zhǔn què.
    The result of this experiment is very accurate.
  • 实验。
    Tā men zhèng zài shí yàn yì zhǒng xīn fāng fǎ.
    They are experimenting with a new method.
  • 实验。
    Wǒ men zuò le sān cì shí yàn cái chéng gōng.
    We did three experiments before succeeding.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

实shíactual
验yàntest

实验 pairs 实 (actual) and 验 (test) to mean a test in practice.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 驗; 验 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎ
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān驗yàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驗 pairs 馬 (horse) with 僉 for sound; the simplified 验 is a later abbreviation.

Open 验 →
Appears in
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