试图 (shìtú) means 'to attempt, to try' and emphasizes a deliberate, purposeful effort, often in a formal or written context. It is stronger and more goal-oriented than 试 (shì 'to try, to test'), which is casual and often means sampling or testing. 尝试 (chángshì) is a close synonym but feels more like 'to try something out' or 'to give it a go', while 试图 focuses on the intention to achieve a specific result.