試験|しけんshiken[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbexamination; exam; test
    とにかく、試験しけんが終おわってほっとしたよ。↗
    Anyhow, I'm relieved the test is over.
  2. noun, suru verb, transitive verbtrial; experiment; test
Conjugation
Dictionary form試験する(しけんする)
Polite (masu)試験します(しけんします)
Negative (nai)試験しない(しけんしない)
polite (masen)試験しません(しけんしません)
classical zu / nu試験せず・試験せぬ(しけんせず・しけんせぬ)
Past (ta)試験した(しけんした)
polite (mashita)試験しました(しけんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)試験しなかった(しけんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)試験しませんでした(しけんしませんでした)
Te form試験して(しけんして)
Potential試験できる(しけんできる)
Passive試験される(しけんされる)
Causative試験させる(しけんさせる)
Causative passive試験させられる(しけんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)試験すれば(しけんすれば)
tara試験したら(しけんしたら)
Volitional試験しよう(しけんしよう)
polite (mashou)試験しましょう(しけんしましょう)
Imperative試験しろ(しけんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymテストNeutralNeutral loanword for everyday quizzes and product tests, as in 「漢字テスト」; 試験 points to formal exams such as entrance or qualification tests.
  • Synonym考査こうさWrittenWritten word for school periodic tests, as in 「期末考査」, and for assessing people; in speech 試験 is the usual word.
  • SynonymトライアルNeutralLoanword for a trial run or trial use, as in 「無料トライアル」.
  • Synonym試しためしCasualNoun for giving something a try, as in 「試しにやってみる」; leans colloquial.
  • Synonym試すためすNeutralVerb for trying or testing something out, as in 「実力を試す」.
  • Synonym考試こうしWrittenWritten-style word for a pass/fail examination; rarely seen today, with 試験 the everyday choice.
  • Synonym試問しもんWrittenAn assessment by putting questions to someone, usually as 「口頭試問」; the emphasis is on face-to-face questioning.
  • Related検定けんていFormalFormal word for certification and approval: proficiency exams like 「漢字検定」 or vetting such as 「教科書検定」; not every qualification exam is a 検定.
  • Related審査しんさFormalFormal word for screening and judging, as in 「書類審査」 or 「入国審査」; the focus is on deciding whether something passes.
  • Related試みこころみWrittenWritten-style noun for a new attempt or initiative, as in 「新しい試み」.
  • Related試しWrittenMostly used as a prefix, as in 「試作」 or 「試運転」; hardly ever stands alone.
  • RelatedテスティングWrittenLoanword for the testing of software or products; mostly a technical term.
  • Related小手調べこてしらべCasualColloquial word for a light warm-up try before the real thing, as in 「小手調べに一曲」.
  • Related験するけんするWrittenWritten verb for testing or verifying something; quite rare, with 「確かめる」 the everyday choice.

Use 「試験」 for formal exams like 「入学試験」 and 「定期試験」. For everyday quizzes or product tests say 「テスト」; for school periodic tests 「考査」; for certification exams 「検定」; for screening 「審査」. To try something out, use the verb 「試す」 or noun 「試み」, and 「トライアル」 for trial use.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 物事ものごとの性質せいしつ・性能せいのうを試ためしてみること。
  2. 能力のうりょく・学力がくりょくを試ためしたり入学にゅうがく・入社にゅうしゃなどの合否ごうひを決きめるために問題もんだいを出だして解答かいとうさせること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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