测试 (cè shì) — to test (machinery, a person's skill, etc.); to…

Definition

测试 (cèshì) emphasizes giving something a structured, deliberate trial — products, systems, or skills. Stronger and more formal than 试 ('to try'), and more focused on a planned trial than 试验 ('to experiment').

verb

to test (machinery, a person's skill, etc.)to beta test (software)

Examples

测试。
Wǒ gāng gāng cè shì le zhè tái xīn shǒu jī.
I just tested this new phone.
测试。
Lǎo shī yòng zhè cì kǎo shì cè shì xué shēng de shuǐ píng.
The teacher used this exam to test the students' level.
测试。
Gōng sī zhèng zài ràng yòng hù cè shì xīn de bǎn běn.
The company is having users beta test the new version.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

测cèmeasure

试shìtry

测 and 试 both involve checking, so the word means to 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 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

氵則測

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

則

則zé測cè

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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 →