音読み: シ
訓読み: こころみる・ためす
画数: 13 strokes
部首: 言（ごんべん）
Meaning
Test, try, attempt, experiment — this kanji expresses the act of trying something out or testing one’s ability, often seen in educational and evaluative contexts.
- 試験 — exam, test
- 試す — to try, to test
- 試合 — match, game
- 試 — to attempt, to try
- 入試みる — entrance exam
- 試作 — trial production
With 言 (words) on the left and 式 (style/method) on the right, this kanji originally implied testing by speaking or acting in a particular manner. It's now a versatile kanji for trying things, from school tests to life experiments.
日本語の試験を受けます。
I will take a Japanese language test.
この方法を 試してみましょう。
Let’s try this method.
新しい技術を 試みています。
They are experimenting with a new technology.
🎧 “シ” is widely used in compound nouns (like 試験 or 試合), while ためす and こころみる are kun-yomi used in more casual or descriptive contexts.