<p>Simply put:</p>

<p>实验 - An experiment</p>

<p>试验 - A trial</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-19T12:14:21.960Z
butwho, Welcome to Chinese SE. As the note below says, when providing an answer, please try to provide context/reasoning behind *why* you've answered as you have. Otherwise, you can leave a comment. Thanks
user3871
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-28T07:13:31.347Z
2012-05-28T07:13:31.347Z
butwho
<p>实验 is used for operations and activities done to test a scientific theory or hypothesis. An example: 经过反复实验，证明这一结论是正确的</p>

<p>试验 is used to inspect the function or effect of some physical thing (something that already exists). It's typically done in some lab.
Some examples:</p>

<ul>
<li>新农药要经过反复试验才能推广</li>
<li>试验新机器</li>
<li>新办法试验后推广</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-25T17:21:46.537Z
2012-05-25T17:38:56.077Z
2012-05-25T17:38:56.077Z
BertR
<p>Both 试验 and 实验 seems to be translated into "experiment". What is the difference between the two words? Can they be used interchangeably or not?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-25T12:56:08.767Z
I thought you were native Chinese born and raised near Beijing? On Baidu there are many pages explaining the difference.
BertR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-25T14:33:45.957Z
Anyone can propose a question here even he knows the answer already, as long as the question can benefit the community. This site is a little quiet now and I think more such questions are welcomed,at least in my opinion.
Huang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-25T21:37:15.820Z
Well said, Huang!
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-26T03:27:27.773Z
@BertR  I am a native. But one day I came cross this I had to reference a dictionary. So I think this would benefit the learners also.
fefe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-20T11:20:48.803Z
Me too, I mess up these two since I was in 珊瑚實驗小學 and later 某中學實驗班
George
<synonyms><nuance>
What is the difference between 试验 and 实验?
# What is the difference between 试验 and 实验?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-25)

Both 试验 and 实验 seems to be translated into "experiment". What is the difference between the two words? Can they be used interchangeably or not?

**Tags:** synonyms, nuance
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I thought you were native Chinese born and raised near Beijing? On Baidu there are many pages explaining the difference.  
> **username_2**: Anyone can propose a question here even he knows the answer already, as long as the question can benefit the community. This site is a little quiet now and I think more such questions are welcomed,at least in my opinion.  
> **username_3**: Well said, Huang!  
> **username_0**: @BertR  I am a native. But one day I came cross this I had to reference a dictionary. So I think this would benefit the learners also.  
> **username_4**: Me too, I mess up these two since I was in 珊瑚實驗小學 and later 某中學實驗班  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-05-25. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

实验 is used for operations and activities done to test a scientific theory or hypothesis. An example: 经过反复实验，证明这一结论是正确的

试验 is used to inspect the function or effect of some physical thing (something that already exists). It's typically done in some lab.
Some examples:

* 新农药要经过反复试验才能推广
* 试验新机器
* 新办法试验后推广


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### Answer by username_5 on 2012-05-28. Score: 3

Simply put:

实验 - An experiment

试验 - A trial

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: butwho, Welcome to Chinese SE. As the note below says, when providing an answer, please try to provide context/reasoning behind *why* you've answered as you have. Otherwise, you can leave a comment. Thanks  

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