How to Say "Exam" in Japanese

試験

shiken[ɕikẽ̞ɴ]

The Japanese word for exam is 試験 (shiken).

試験 refers to a formal test used to evaluate a person's knowledge or skill in a particular subject.

How do you pronounce it?

shiken

Students often buy katsu (fried pork cutlet) before a 試験 because the word katsu sounds like the Japanese verb 'to win'.
Japanese culture has a unique concept called 受験戦争 (juken sensō), which literally translates to 'entrance exam war'.
If you fail a test, you might hear someone say they 落ちた (ochita), which literally means 'fell' or 'dropped'.

来週は試験だ。
The exam is coming up next week.
This sentence is useful for mentioning that an exam is approaching.
Tatoeba #78625 by bunbuku, translation #325091 by CK
試験を受けます。
I'm taking an exam.
This sentence is useful for saying that you are taking an exam.
Tatoeba #13155663 by say123, translation #13155661 by say123
試験はどうだった？
How did the exam go?
This sentence is useful for asking how an exam went.
Tatoeba #151085 by bunbuku, translation #263436 by CK
今週の土曜日に試験があります。
We have an exam this Saturday.
大学入学試験は難しいです。
University entrance exams are difficult.
今週テストがあるんだよ。
We have a test this week.
昨日のテストは簡単だったね。
Yesterday's test was easy, wasn't it?
149 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two students are talking about their upcoming academic schedule in a library.

美咲 Misaki

試験はいつですか？
Shiken wa itsu desu ka?
When is the exam?
陽太 Yota

来週の月曜日です。
Raishū no getsuyōbi desu.
It is next Monday.
美咲 Misaki

陽太さんは準備できましたか？
Yōta-san wa junbi dekimashita ka?
Yōta, are you prepared?
陽太 Yota

いいえ、まだ全然です。
Iie, mada zenzen desu.
No, not at all yet.

Sources

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