Ming/Qing licentiate; scholar
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesnoun
licentiate; successful candidate in the imperial examination at the county level during the Ming and Qing dynasties
archaicRefers specifically to the lowest rank of government students in the imperial examination system who had passed the county-level examination.
Tā他
yé爷
ye爷
shì是
Qīng清
cháo朝
de的
xiù秀
cai才
。
His grandfather was a licentiate during the Qing Dynasty.
Kǎo考
zhòng中
xiù秀
cai才
hòu后
，
tā他
jì继
xù续
zhǔn准
bèi备
xiāng乡
shì试
。
After passing the county-level examination and becoming a licentiate, he continued to prepare for the provincial examination.
noun
scholar; intellectual; literate person; bookish person
literaryUsed broadly to refer to educated people or those who read books, often with a traditional or literary connotation. Can sometimes imply bookishness or lack of practical experience.
Tā他
shì是
gè个
lǎo老
xiù秀
cai才
，
zhěng整
tiān天
bào抱
zhe着
shū书
běn本
。
He is an old scholar, holding books all day long.
Bié别
kàn看
tā他
xiàng像
gè个
xiù秀
cai才
，
qí其
shí实
hěn很
yǒu有
pò魄
lì力
。
Don't let his bookish appearance fool you; he is actually very bold and decisive.