fail imperial exam; fall in rankings
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to fail the imperial examinations; to fall in the rankings
archaicHistorical term used specifically during the imperial examination era (科举时代). Not used in modern contexts except when discussing history or metaphorically.
Tā他
duō多
cì次
cān参
jiā加
huì会
shì试
，
què却
lǚ屡
cì次
xià下
dì第
。
He took the metropolitan exams many times but repeatedly failed.
Xià下
dì第
de的
kǎo考
shēng生
wǎng往
wǎng往
yù郁
yù郁
bù不
dé得
zhì志
，
guī归
xiāng乡
hòu后
qián潜
xīn心
dú读
shū书
。
Candidates who failed the exams were often depressed and frustrated, returning home to devote themselves to study.
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Suī虽
rán然
xià下
dì第
，
tā他
bìng并
wèi未
fàng放
qì弃
zhuī追
qiú求
gōng功
míng名
。
Although he failed the exam, he did not give up pursuing official rank.