考试
kǎoshì
The Chinese word for "exam" is 考试 (kǎoshì).
考试 is used to refer to a formal test used to evaluate a person's knowledge or skill in a particular subject. While it can be used alone, it is very common to use the verb 参加 (to participate in) before it to express the phrase "to take an exam".
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of two characters: 考, which means "to examine" or "to test" and 试, which means "to try" or "to test".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 考试 is versatile and can function as both a noun (an exam) and a verb (to take an exam).
How do you pronounce it?
kǎoshì
Did you know?
- A person who fails an 考试 might describe themselves as 挂科 (gua ke), which literally means 'hanging the subject', resembling how a laundry item is hung up.
- When wishing someone luck on an 考试, people often say 加油 (jia you), which literally means 'add oil' or 'step on the gas'.
- The imperial civil service examinations of ancient China were the world's first meritocratic system for selecting government officials based on 考试 results.
Examples in context
- 祝考试好运！Good luck on the exam!This sentence is useful for wishing someone good luck with their 考试.Tatoeba #409431 by GlossaMatik, translation #409429 by FeuDRenais
- 告诉我考试结果。Let me know about the result of the exam.This sentence is useful for asking about the result of an 考试.Tatoeba #398890 by GlossaMatik, translation #263465 by CK
- 我必须通过这场考试。I have to pass this exam.This sentence is useful for expressing the necessity of passing an 考试.Tatoeba #11706395 by Jokubas, translation #1744984 by Amastan
- 明天我们有一场重要的考试。We have an important exam tomorrow.
- 数学考试Math exam
- 尊敬的老师，我们的考试时间改变了吗？Respected teacher, has our exam time changed?
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A student is talking to a friend about their upcoming school test.
- 俊杰 Junjie明天的考试很难吗？Míngtiān de kǎoshì hěn nán ma?Is tomorrow's exam difficult?
- 雨婷 Yuting我觉得考试很有挑战性。Wǒ juédé kǎoshì hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng.I think the exam is quite challenging.
- 俊杰 Junjie别担心，你会通过的。Bié dānxīn, nǐ huì tōngguò de.Don't worry, you will pass it.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，俊杰。Xièxiè nǐ, Jùnjié.Thank you, Junjie.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
