How common it is
试用 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say shì yòng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
试用是试试看新东西好不好用，比如新玩具或新笔。
Shì yòng shì shì shì kàn xīn dōngxi hǎo bù hǎo yòng, bǐrú xīn wánjù huò xīn bǐ.
Trial use means trying out a new thing to see if it works well, like a new toy or a new pen.
Context note
商店里可以试用新玩具，看看喜不喜欢再买。
Shāngdiàn lǐ kěyǐ shì yòng xīn wánjù, kàn kàn xǐ bù xǐhuān zài mǎi.
In the store, you can trial use a new toy to see if you like it before buying.
5 examples
我可以试用这支铅笔吗？
wǒ kě yǐ shì yòng zhè zhī qiān bǐ ma？
Can I trial use this pencil?
这个软件可以免费试用七天。
zhè ge ruǎn jiàn kě yǐ miǎn fèi shì yòng qī tiān。
This software can be trial used for free for seven days.
试用新玩具很有趣。
shì yòng xīn wán jù hěn yǒu qù。
Trial using a new toy is very fun.
请先试用再决定。
qǐng xiān shì yòng zài jué dìng。
Please trial use first before deciding.
她试用了一款新香水。
tā shì yòng le yì kuǎn xīn xiāng shuǐ。
She trial used a new perfume.
5 mini stories
小文在文具店试用了一支新笔。他觉得很好写，就买了。
xiǎo wén zài wén jù diàn shì yòng le yì zhī xīn bǐ。 tā jué de hěn hǎo xiě， jiù mǎi le。
Xiao Wen trial used a new pen at the stationery store. He thought it wrote well, so he bought it.
妈妈带小美去玩具店试用新娃娃。小美玩得很开心。
mā ma dài xiǎo měi qù wán jù diàn shì yòng xīn wá wa。 xiǎo měi wán dé hěn kāi xīn。
Mom took Xiao Mei to the toy store to trial use a new doll. Xiao Mei had a lot of fun.
爸爸在手机店试用新手机。他喜欢拍照功能。
bà ba zài shǒu jī diàn shì yòng xīn shǒu jī。 tā xǐ huan pāi zhào gōng néng。
Dad trial used a new phone at the phone store. He liked the camera function.
小刚在图书馆试用新电脑。他玩了一个学习游戏。
xiǎo gāng zài tú shū guǎn shì yòng xīn diàn nǎo。 tā wán le yí gè xué xí yóu xì。
Xiao Gang trial used a new computer at the library. He played a learning game.
老师让同学们试用新橡皮。大家都说很好用。
lǎo shī ràng tóng xué men shì yòng xīn xiàng pí。 dà jiā dōu shuō hěn hǎo yòng。
The teacher let the students trial use a new eraser. Everyone said it worked well.