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March 24, 2026
验(騐)yàn(yan4)
The character 验 (yàn) means 'to examine' or 'to test.' It is commonly used in contexts such as medical exams, academic testing, and quality inspections. This character emphasizes the process of verification and validation in various fields.
Strokes10Radical马Frequency#7822DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of examination is highly emphasized in educational settings, particularly during the gaokao (national college entrance examination), which is a pivotal moment for students' futures.
Memory Tip
Think of 验 (yàn) as a combination of the radical '牛' (niú) meaning 'cow' and '言' (yán) meaning 'speech.' Imagine a doctor testing a cow's health by speaking to the farmer about its condition—this can help you remember that 验 relates to testing and examination.
Meanings of 验
yàn(yan4)
1to examine
2to test
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 验
验Simplified
騐Traditional
10Strokes
马Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7822Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 验
Podcast: 验
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AI Study Notes for 验
Quick Contrast
验 (yàn) vs 检 (jiǎn) — use 验 when the focus is on testing for validity or correctness, while 检 emphasizes inspection or checking.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 验 (yàn) as a combination of the radical '牛' (niú) meaning 'cow' and '言' (yán) meaning 'speech.' Imagine a doctor testing a cow's health by speaking to the farmer about its condition—this can help you remember that 验 relates to testing and examination.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 验 with its variant 驗, which is less commonly used in modern Mandarin. The tone is important; remember to use the falling tone 'yàn' (fourth tone) to avoid confusion. Common collocations include '检查验' (jiǎnchá yàn - to check and examine) and '实验验证' (shíyàn yànzhèng - experimental verification).
HSK Study Tips
Although 验 is not included in the HSK lists, it connects well with HSK Level 4 vocabulary focused on verbs related to actions and processes. Students should pay attention to related terms in testing and verification contexts to build a broader understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of examination is highly emphasized in educational settings, particularly during the gaokao (national college entrance examination), which is a pivotal moment for students' futures.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 驗 instead of 验, thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 验 is the modern standard form, while 驗 is considered archaic in most contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 验
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Grammar Patterns of 验
验 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The exhibition is an enjoyable and, ultimately, life-affirming experience.
9
他虽然经验不足，但还是获得了这份工作。
tā suī rán jīng yàn bù zú， ， dàn huán shì huò dé le zhè fèn gōng。
Despite his lack of experience, he got the job.
10
他不仅给这一工作带来了不少经验，而且倾注了极大的热情。
tā bù jǐn gěi zhè yī gōng zuò dài lái le bù shǎo jīng yàn， ， ér qiě qīng zhù le jí dà de rè。
He brought to the job not just considerable experience but passionate enthusiasm.
Cultural Notes for 验
💡Did you know?
The character 验 (yàn) includes the radical for horse (马), which reflects the traditional association of horses with testing and verification in historical contexts, such as in military or agricultural assessments.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of examination is highly emphasized in educational settings, particularly during the gaokao (national college entrance examination), which is a pivotal moment for students' futures.
Word Family of 验
Words Containing This Character20
经验jīngyànexperience經驗
实验shíyàntest實驗
实验室shíyànshìlaboratory實驗室
试验shìyàntest試驗
体验tǐyànto experience for oneself體驗
检验jiǎnyànto inspect檢驗
考验kǎoyànto test考驗
验尸autopsy驗屍
验证yànzhèngto inspect and verify驗證
测验cèyàntest測驗
验yànto test驗
化验huàyànchemical examination化驗
验收yànshōuacceptance驗收
验血to do a blood test驗血
查验inspection查驗
应验to come true應驗
核试验nuclear test核試驗
灵验efficacious靈驗
民意测验opinion poll民意測驗
验光optometry驗光
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 经验 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 验
验 (yàn) means 'to test' or 'to check', while 验证 (yànzhèng) means 'to verify' or 'to validate'. The latter is often used in more formal or technical contexts, such as verifying data or credentials.
Yes, 验 (yàn) can be used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing checking or testing something. For example, you might say '我想验一下这个信息' (Wǒ xiǎng yàn yīxià zhège xìnxī), meaning 'I want to check this information.'
验 (yàn) means 'to test' or 'to check'. It is used in contexts such as examining something or verifying information. It is also a variant form of the character 驗, which carries the same meanings.
To use 验 (yàn) in a sentence, you might say: '我需要验一下这个产品的质量' (Wǒ xūyào yàn yīxià zhège chǎnpǐn de zhìliàng)', which translates to 'I need to check the quality of this product.' It often appears in contexts involving testing or verification.
It is pronounced 'yàn' with a falling tone.
Yes, it can be used in contexts like medical checks and academic tests.
Common phrases include '验血' (yànxiě - to test blood) and '验收' (yànshōu - to accept after inspection).
