How to say “exam,” or “test” in Japanese | 試験 (しけん、shiken)

The Japanese vocabulary「試験 (しけん、shiken)」means “exam,” or “test.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese Vocabulary and the Meaning

Key Word試験
Hiraganaしけん
Romaji Readingshiken
English Meaningexam, test

The Correct Japanese Pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

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The Example Japanese Sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

I took the JLPT exam and passed.

Plain Form:

JLPTの試験しけんを受うけて合格ごうかくした。
JLPT no shiken o ukete gōkaku shita.

Polite Form:

JLPTの試験を受けて合格しました。
JLPT no shiken o ukete gōkaku shimashita.

I have an important exam next week.

Plain Form:

来週らいしゅう、大切たいせつな試験しけんがある。
Raishū, taisetsu na shiken ga aru.

Polite Form:

来週、大切な試験があります。
Raishū, taisetsu na shiken ga arimasu.

I was so nervous during the exam that my mind went blank.

Plain Form:

試験しけんで緊張きんちょうしすぎて頭あたまが真まっ白しろになった。
Shiken de kinchō shi sugite atama ga masshiro ni natta.

Polite Form:

試験で緊張しすぎて頭が真っ白になりました。
Shiken de kinchō shi sugite atama ga masshiro ni narimashita.

I took mock exams many times to prepare.

Plain Form:

模擬もぎ試験しけんを何度なんども受うけて対策たいさくをした。
Mogi-shiken o nando mo ukete taisaku o shita.

Polite Form:

模擬試験を何度も受けて対策をしました。
Mogi-shiken o nando mo ukete taisaku o shimashita.

I tried to grade myself after the exam.

Plain Form:

試験しけん後ごに自己じこ採点さいてんをしてみた。
Shiken-go ni jiko-saiten o shitemita.

Polite Form:

試験後に自己採点をしてみました。
Shiken-go ni jiko-saiten o shite mimashita.

Recently, I’ve been concentrating on studying for exams.

Plain Form:

最近さいきんは、試験しけんに向むけて集中しゅうちゅうして勉強べんきょうしている。
Saikin wa shiken ni mukete shūchū shite benkyō shite iru.

Polite Form:

最近は、試験に向けて集中して勉強しています。
Saikin wa shiken ni mukete shūchū shite benkyō shite imasu.

I bought a new reference book for the exam.

Plain Form:

試験しけんのために新あたらしい参考書さんこうしょを買かった。
Shiken no tame ni atarashī sankōsho o katta.

Polite Form:

試験のために新しい参考書を買いました。
Shiken no tame ni atarashī sankōsho o kaimashita.

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