What it means
امتحان کردن (emtehân kardan) means to try something out or to test it. The noun امتحان (emtehân) entered Persian from Arabic, where it comes from the root م-ح-ن (m-h-n) relating to trial and hardship. In everyday Persian it has shed that heavy meaning and simply means a test or attempt. You امتحان کردن a new recipe, a new app, or a new route to work. It is also the standard word for sitting a school exam: امتحان دادن (emtehân dâdan) means to take a test, while امتحان کردن leans more toward trying or experimenting. A close synonym for the trying sense is سعی کردن (sa’i kardan), which means to try or to attempt, though that word stresses effort rather than testing.
How to use it
- این رستوران رو امتحان کردی؟ (in restorân ro emtehân kardi?) “Have you tried this restaurant?”
- بذار امتحانش کنم ببینم خوبه. (bezâr emtehânesh konam bebinam khube.) “Let me test it and see if it’s good.”
- یه بار دیگه امتحان کن. (ye bâr dige emtehân kon.) “Try one more time.”
- داری چی امتحان میکنی؟ (dâri chi emtehân mikoni?) “What are you trying out?”
Cultural note
The word امتحان is deeply woven into Iranian school culture, where exam season (فصل امتحانات, fasl-e emtehânât) is a major household event. Students use امتحان دادن for taking a test and امتحان گرفتن (emtehân gereftan) for giving or administering one, so the light verb shifts to carry different meanings. In casual speech, امتحان کردن often replaces the more effort-flavored سعی کردن when the speaker wants to convey experimentation rather than striving, as in trying a dish or testing a new app.