字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

test, try, attempt, experiment, ordeal

On’yomi シ
Kun’yomi こころ.みる、ため.す

Origin

The left side, 言, means "words" or "speech" and suggests this character relates to language or speaking. The right side, 式, provides a sound hint for pronunciation — it doesn't add meaning but tells you roughly how to say the character (シ). Together, when you put a word-related component with this sound hint, you get a character meaning "to test" or "to try" — the idea of testing something through words, like questioning or examining by speaking. This captures how trials and experiments often involve asking questions and checking results through language.

試 13 strokes

Components

  • 言 radical left
  • 式 sound hint right

A sound hint component points at the character’s pronunciation, not its meaning — don’t read a meaning into it.

Common words

  • 試し ためし trial; test
  • 試す ためす to try (out); to have a try (at)
  • 試み こころみ attempt; trial
  • 試案 しあん tentative plan; draft plan
  • 試験 しけん examination; exam
  • 試行 しこう making an attempt; trial run
  • 試合 しあい match; game
  • 試作 しさく trial manufacture; experiment

Related kanji

Same sound component 式
Same radical

Reference

Strokes
13
Kangxi radical
149
Formation type
Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint)
Grade
Grade 4 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#392 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 3
Unicode
U+08A66