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실험하다
silheomhada
to experiment
과학자들은 새로운 약을 실험하고 있다.
Scientists are experimenting with a new drug.
formal
To conduct a scientific test or trial to discover or demonstrate something.
학생들은 화학 실험을 했다.
The students conducted a chemistry experiment.
이 약은 동물 실험을 거쳤다.
This medicine went through animal testing.
Commonly used in scientific, academic, or technical contexts. Can also imply trying something new in a non-scientific sense (e.g., 'He experimented with a new cooking technique').
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Don't confuse with '시험하다'
'시험하다' means 'to test' in a broader sense (e.g., exams, quizzes), while '실험하다' implies a scientific or controlled experiment. For example, '시험을 보다' = to take a test, but '실험을 하다' = to conduct an experiment.
Gold Rule
Rule: Use '실험하다' for systematic tests
Reserve '실험하다' for scenarios involving hypothesis testing, controlled variables, or scientific methodology. For everyday trials (e.g., trying a new hobby), use '시도하다' or '해 보다'.
Word Origin
From Sino-Korean '實驗' (silheom, meaning 'experiment') + '하다' (hada, meaning 'to do'). The root '實驗' originates from Chinese 實驗 (shíyàn), combining '實' (real/actual) and '驗' (to verify/test).
Usage Notes
In Korean, '실험하다' is typically used for systematic, controlled tests, especially in scientific contexts. For casual trials (e.g., trying a new recipe), '시험해 보다' or '해 보다' is more common. Avoid using '실험하다' for non-scientific contexts unless emphasizing a methodical approach.
Word Breakdown
실험
experiment/test
root하다
to do
suffix한영사전