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试用 (shì yòng) — to try out (a product, software, etc.); to be on probation (for a job)

Definition

Short, practical trial of a product or a new employee on probation. More everyday and consumer-facing than 试行, which is for piloting policies or systems.

verb
to try out (a product, software, etc.)to be on probation (for a job)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 试用。
    Wǒ xiǎng shì yòng zhè ge xīn shǒu jī.
    I want to try out this new phone.
  • 。
    Gōng sī gěi le wǒ sān gè yuè de shì yòng qī.
    The company gave me a three-month probation period.
  • 试用，。
    Nǐ kě yǐ xiān shì yòng, zài jué dìng mǎi bu mǎi.
    You can try it out first, then decide whether to buy.

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.

试shìtry
用yònguse

试 ('try') and 用 ('use') combine to mean try out.

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 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

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 →

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

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Shopping & ErrandsWorkplace & Office

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