试 (shì) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

试

shì[shi4]Tone 4

to test, to try

HSK 1

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試

Guru Deep Dive

English · to test, to try

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:8

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (讠) occupies about one-third of the width, while the right component (式) takes up the remaining two-thirds, maintaining a well-balanced horizontal proportion.

Simplification Logic: The left radical is the standard simplified speech radical (讠), derived from 言, and the right component (式) remains structurally identical to the traditional form.

1. Meaning

to test, to try

experimentexaminationtest

Verb / NounNeutral#evaluation#action#education

Sample Usage

我想试一下。
Wǒ xiǎng shì yī xià.
I want to try it out.
明天有考试。
Míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì.
There is an examination tomorrow.

2. Sound

/[ʂʐ̩⁵¹]/Tone: 51

试

shìshi4

`(51)

=shì

Initial Consonant

Type: Retroflex Fricative

Sounds like: sh sound with tongue curled back

UnaspiratedRetroflex

Airflow Tactile Test: Hollow wind sound through curled tongue channel.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip curled back towards the hard palate

Final Rhyme

i (-i*)

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: apical vowel after retroflex initials (buzzing ih sound)

Note: Written as 'i (-i*)', pronounced as rounded 'i' [y].

Mouth Shape Guide: Combine initial 'zh-' (jr) with final '-i' (rr/zz).

Common Learner Trap: Do NOT pronounce '-i' as 'ee' after zh-! Keep your tongue in the consonant position and buzz 'rr/zz'.

Tone

T4 (51)

5 → 1 (51)

4th Tone (High-Falling)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and plunges instantly to the bottom, just like shouting a firm 'Down!' or giving a sharp command in English.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the retroflex initial 'sh-' with the alveolar 's-' sound (as in English 'sea'). Make sure to curl your tongue back for 'shì'.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, decisive downward chop with your hand, mirroring an emphatic 'No!' or a stern command.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 8 strokes

Simplification Logic: The left radical is the standard simplified speech radical (讠), derived from 言, and the right component (式) remains structurally identical to the traditional form.

4. Components

Radical 讠 · Speech Radical (Speech, words, language)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 讠 (Indicates that testing or trying often involves speech, questioning, or inquiry.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 式 (original sound: shì)

Speech (讠) combines with a pattern or formula (式) to mean testing or experimenting according to a standard method.

讠 Speech / Words
式 Pattern / Formula

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

8· Phonetic Root: 式 (shì)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally formed by combining the speech radical (言) for communication/inquiry with the phonetic and structural component (式), reflecting the process of evaluating or examining through trial.

Semantic Evolution: From ancient administrative vetting and oral testing of skills to modern general uses meaning to try, test, or experiment.

The component 式 originally depicted a carpenter's square, relating to standard measurements and rules.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: シ (shi) / Kun: ため.す (tamesu), ため.し (tameshi)

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

You use your **speech** (讠) to ask questions according to a strict **formula or pattern** (**式**) when you take a **test** (**shì**).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

试

shìto test, to tryBase character with speech radical.

式

shìstyle, formulaWithout the speech radical on the left.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

式(shì)

Missing the left speech radical (讠); means style or formula rather than testing.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

我想_______一下这件衣服。

Clue: shì

Common Learner Pitfall

Forgetting that 'shì' has a retroflex initial 'sh-' and mispronouncing it with a plain alveolar 's-' sound.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: What does '试' mean and how is it pronounced with tones?

Production: How do you write the character for 'to test / to try' (shì) using its speech radical and phonetic part?

试shìto test, to try

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