Readings: ケン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: test, examine, verify, effect, validity
The kanji 験 is formed from 馬 (uma: horse) and 僉 (ken: all, together, to examine). The original meaning was “to inspect horses,” especially to check their quality or to verify their breed. Over time, its meaning broadened to “test,” “examine,” or “verify” in a general sense, and also “effect” or “result” as in something that has been tested or proven.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 験 consists of 18 strokes. The radical 馬 (horse) is on the left, written first, followed by 僉 on the right. Write 馬 (horse) starting with the top horizontal stroke, then the vertical, then the three dots, then the bottom horizontal, and finally the hook. For 僉, start with the roof radical (人 then 一), then the two vertical strokes inside, then the horizontal closing stroke, and finally the bottom two strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 馬 (うま) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 18 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | Grade 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ケン (KEN)
Common Words Using 験
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 試験 | しけん | exam, test |
| 経験 | けいけん | experience |
| 実験 | じっけん | experiment |
| 受験 | じゅけん | taking an exam, sitting for an examination |
| 経験者 | けいけんしゃ | experienced person |
| 試験問題 | しけんもんだい | exam question |
| 試験勉強 | しけんべんきょう | studying for an exam |
| 試験日 | しけんび | exam day |
| 試験結果 | しけんけっか | exam result |
| 体験 | たいけん | personal experience, firsthand experience |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 日本語能力試験は年に二回あります。
Kana: にほんごのうりょくしけんはとしににかいあります。
Romaji: Nihongo nōryoku shiken wa toshi ni nikai arimasu.
English: The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is held twice a year.
Japanese: 新しい仕事は経験がなくても大丈夫です。
Kana: あたらしいしごとはけいけんがなくてもだいじょうぶです。
Romaji: Atarashii shigoto wa keiken ga nakute mo daijōbu desu.
English: It’s okay even if you don’t have experience for the new job.
Japanese: この実験の結果は予想通りでした。
Kana: このじっけんのけっかはよそうどおりでした。
Romaji: Kono jikken no kekka wa yosō dōri deshita.
English: The results of this experiment were as expected.
Japanese: 彼は毎日、受験勉強をしています。
Kana: かれはまいにち、じゅけんべんきょうをしています。
Romaji: Kare wa mainichi, juken benkyō o shiteimasu.
English: He studies for his entrance exams every day.
Japanese: 留学の経験は私にとって貴重です。
Kana: りゅうがくのけいけんはわたしにとってきちょうです。
Romaji: Ryūgaku no keiken wa watashi ni totte kichō desu.
English: My study abroad experience is precious to me.
Japanese: 車の運転試験に合格しました。
Kana: くるまのうんてんしけんにごうかくしました。
Romaji: Kuruma no unten shiken ni goukaku shimashita.
English: I passed the car driving test.
Japanese: この実験は成功しました。
Kana: このじっけんはせいこうしました。
Romaji: Kono jikken wa seikō shimashita.
English: This experiment was successful.
Japanese: 彼は様々な国の生活経験があります。
Kana: かれはさまざまなくにのせいかつけいけんがあります。
Romaji: Kare wa samazama na kuni no seikatsu keiken ga arimasu.
English: He has life experiences from various countries.
Japanese: 次の試験日は来週の月曜日です。
Kana: つぎのしけんびはらいしゅうのげつようびです。
Romaji: Tsugi no shikenbi wa raishū no getsuyōbi desu.
English: The next exam day is next Monday.
Japanese: その経験談を聞いて感動しました。
Kana: そのけいけんだんをきいてかんどうしました。
Romaji: Sono keikendan o kiite kandou shimashita.
English: I was moved listening to that story of experience.
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