测试 (cè shì) is a verb meaning 'to test' or 'to examine'—often in contexts involving evaluation, verification, or assessment. The character 测 (cè) means 'to measure' or 'to estimate', while 试 (shì) means 'to try' or 'to attempt'. Together, they convey the idea of actively trying something out or measuring its performance, quality, or condition. It’s commonly used in academic, medical, technological, and professional settings—for example, testing software, taking an exam, or undergoing a medical screening.

Unlike the more casual 试 (shì) alone—which implies a light, exploratory 'try'—测试 suggests a structured, purposeful, and often formal process. It can also function as a noun ('a test') when preceded by a determiner like 这个 or 一次, e.g., 这个测试 (zhè ge cè shì, 'this test'). While it appears in everyday speech, it carries neutral-to-formal register and rarely occurs in highly colloquial or emotional expressions.