及第

jídì

verb

Meanings

1 to pass the imperial examination
2 to make the list of successful candidates

Characters

rank; list of successful candidates

Examples

HSK 6

古代的读书人苦读多年，就是为了有一天能及第做官。

Gǔdài de dúshūrén kǔdú duō nián, jiùshì wèile yǒu yì tiān néng jídì zuòguān.

Scholars of old studied hard for years so that one day they could pass the exam and become officials.

HSK 7-9

他考了三次，终于进士及第。

Tā kǎo le sān cì, zhōngyú jìnshì jídì.

He took the exam three times and finally passed as a jinshi.

Tips

history

第 was the ranked list of those who passed, and 及 means to reach it. Coming first in the palace examination was 状元及第; failing was 落第. Guangzhou's 及第粥 is named after it and is still eaten for luck before exams.

Stroke Order

及 jí

第 dì