ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to try; test

shì
8 strokes · 讠(speech radical) + 式 (formula/style, sound shì) · HSK 2

Where 试 comes from

Speech 讠 plus formula 式: to try something is to run it against the formula and see if the words hold. 试 began in officialdom — testing candidates by questioning — and kept both senses: the attempt and the assessment.

试 in Chinese culture

试试看 'give it a try' is the gentlest push in Chinese — how parents offer vegetables and friends offer karaoke microphones. 试衣间 the fitting room is where 试 meets shopping; 面试 the interview is where it meets fate.

Example

试试 shìshi — to have a try

这件衣服可以试试吗?
Zhè jiàn yīfu kěyǐ shìshi ma?
Can I try this on?

How to remember it

Speak 讠 the formula 式 out loud and see if it works — TRY it.

试用期 'trial period' governs both new employees (up to 6 months) and app subscriptions (usually 7 days) — 试 is the word before commitment.

Same sound, different tones

1st shī
poem
2nd shí
ten
3rd shǐ
to begin
4th shì
to try

Words unlocked by 试

考试 kǎoshì
exam
试试 shìshi
to have a try
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