试试 (shì shì) — to have a try, to try (informally/tentatively)

Definition

试试 (shì shi) is the casual, tentative 'give it a try' — softer and more inviting than the plain verb 试. Often paired with 一下 ('try it a bit') or repeated once like 再试试.

verb

to have a tryto try (informally/tentatively)

Examples

试试，。
Nǐ shì shì zhè ge xīn cài ba, hěn hǎo chī.
You should try this new dish; it's delicious.
试试。
Wǒ xiǎng shì shì yí xià zhè ge xīn shǒu jī.
I want to try out this new phone.
，试试。
Bié pà, zài shì shì yí cì.
Don't be afraid, try again once more.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

试shìtry

The doubled 试 makes the action light and tentative, meaning to give it a brief try.

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.

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 →