测试
cè shì
to test (machinery etc)
to test (a person's skill in a particular area); a test; (computing) beta (version of software)
measure (测) + try (试) = systematic testing
The water radical in 测 hints at measurement's fluid, exploratory nature, while 则 provides the sound. The speech radical in 试 connects to verbal questioning and examination, with 式 giving the pronunciation.
老师给我们做了一个测试。
lǎo shī gěi wǒ men zuò le yí gè cè shì。
The teacher gave us a test.
工程师正在测试新的机器能不能正常工作。
gōng chéng shī zhèng zài cè shì xīn de jī qì néng bù néng zhèng cháng gōng zuò。
The engineer is testing whether the new machine can work normally.