Meaning and Usage
"試験" (しけん) primarily means "exam" or "test" in Japanese. It is commonly used in academic contexts to refer to school or qualification exams.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "試験" when talking about studying for school tests, entrance exams, or professional qualification tests. It can refer to both written and practical exams.
Collocations and Patterns
- 試験に合格する: to pass an exam
- 試験を受ける: to take an exam
- 試験の結果: exam results
These phrases are very common and useful for everyday conversation about exams.
Register and Politeness
"試験" is a neutral and standard word suitable for formal and informal situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "試験" with "テスト". While both mean "test," "試験" is more formal and often used for official or important exams, whereas "テスト" is more casual and used for quizzes or classroom tests.