If something is testing, it is hard, and it is hard in a way that finds out how strong you are. A testing week at work, a testing time after someone dies, a testing question in an interview. The word carries the idea of a test: the difficulty is not just unpleasant, it shows what you are made of.

If something is testing一件事如果是 testing, it它 is hard就是難, and而且 is hard難的方式 in a way that finds out會試出 how strong you are你有多強。 A testing week at work工作上難熬的一週、 a testing time after someone dies喪親後難熬的一段時間、 a testing question in an interview面試裡逼出實力的一題。 The word這個字 carries the idea of a test帶著「測驗」的影子: the difficulty這個難 is not just unpleasant不只是不好受, it shows它會照出 what you are made of你是什麼做的。

Because of that, we usually say it about things that go on for a while and that a person must get through — a testing period, testing conditions, a testing few months. We do not usually say it about one small annoying moment; a broken zip is annoying, not testing.

Because of that因為這樣, we我們 usually通常 about things拿它說那種 that go on for a while會持續一陣子、 and that a person must get through人必須熬過去的事 say it — a testing period一段難熬的時期、 testing conditions嚴苛的條件、 a testing few months艱難的幾個月。 We usually do not say it我們通常不會拿它 about one small annoying moment來說一個小小惱人的瞬間; a broken zip拉鍊壞掉 is annoying是煩, not testing談不上 testing。

It is a little formal and rather British. You will meet it in newspapers, in reports, and in the polite speech of someone who does not want to say 'terrible' — 'It has been a testing year for the company' means the year was bad, said gently.

It它 is a little formal有一點正式, and rather British而且相當英國。 You你 in newspapers在報紙、 in reports報告裡, and in the polite speech of和不想把 'terrible' 說出口的人的客氣話裡 will meet it會遇到它 — 'It has been a testing year for the company'「這一年對公司是一場考驗」 means意思是 the year was bad這一年很糟, said gently只是說得委婉。

Two more things worth knowing. First, it often carries a quiet compliment: calling a time testing suggests the person came through it, or is expected to. Second, sports writers love it — 'a testing match', 'testing conditions' — where it means the other side, or the wind and rain, made the players work hard.

Two more things worth knowing還有兩件值得知道的事。 First第一, it它 often常常 carries a quiet compliment藏著一句安靜的稱讚: calling a time testing說一段日子是 testing, suggests是在暗示 the person這個人 came through it熬過來了, or is expected to或大家相信他會熬過。 Second第二, sports writers體育記者 love it很愛用 — 'a testing match'「一場硬仗」、 'testing conditions'「嚴苛的條件」 — where it means在那裡它是說 the other side對手, or the wind and rain或風雨, made the players work hard讓球員費盡了力。

Note that this is an adjective, and it comes before the noun far more often than after it. 'A testing question' sounds normal; 'the question was testing' is possible but less common, and many speakers would say 'the question was difficult' instead.

Note that注意 this這 is an adjective是形容詞, and it它 before the noun放在名詞前面, than after it比放在後面 far more often常得多。 'A testing question' sounds normal聽起來自然; 'the question was testing' is possible說得通 but less common但比較少見, and many speakers很多人 instead會改說 would say 'the question was difficult'。