笔试 (bǐ shì) — (verb) to take or administer a written examinat…

Definition

笔试 is specifically a 'written exam' — same verb usage as 考试, but emphasizes the written/paper format, in contrast to 面试 (oral interview). Use when the format matters.

verb

to take or administer a written examination

Easily confused

鄙视bǐ shìsound-aliketo despise, to disdain, to look down upon

Examples

笔试。
Xué xiào bǐ shì le suǒ yǒu xué shēng.
The school administered a written exam to all students.
笔试。
Zhè cì kǎo shì bǐ shì le hěn duō rén.
This exam tested many people in writing.
笔试。
Wǒ men míng tiān bǐ shì xīn yuán gōng.
We will give a written test to new employees tomorrow.

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.

笔bǐpen or writing

试shìtest

笔 means pen or writing, 试 means test; together they mean a written test.

Characters in this word

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 筆; 笔 is its simplified writing.

竹聿筆

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

聿

聿yù筆bǐ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The simplified 笔 is based on the traditional form 筆, which puts 竹 (bamboo) beside 聿 (writing brush). 聿 already meant the brush and supplied the sound; 竹 was added later to show it was made of bamboo.

Open 笔 →

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 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

言式試

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yán

Sound part声符shēngfú

式

式shì試shì

Same sound today

The traditional form 試 puts 言 beside 式, and 式 gives the sound; the simplified 试 is the form of this character.

Open 试 →